Page 59 of Oath of Betrayal
‘I know you can, but—fuck, that’s tight—but what if our enemy comes armed with your geas? How can I help if that happens?’
‘How can you help if that happens? No one can help if they use that damn phrase. Thankfully, there’s only one copy of the geas, and you have it.’
‘But what if, Annika? I can’t risk that. I can’t risk … you,’ he elaborated. His voice was filled with tension and need as he leaned forward, brushing my lip with his thumb. ‘Ani … that kiss,’ he started, frowning when I pulled away to busy my hands with packing the medical supplies.
I had to bite my lip because I still felt his touch and I wanted to feel it more, but not like this. Not when he was injured and I was angry about being blindsided by his secrecy. ‘I always kissed Tal after we won. It was just the heat of the moment, and I forgot myself. I’m sorry,’ I said, avoiding his eyes.
‘I’m not … but I understand.’
‘If you do, you’ll let me fight as I was trained to,’ I replied, and he sighed heavily.
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Fine.’ I finished my work in silence, but when I went to help Orm back to his room, he stopped me. ‘Ani … allow me to stay, please,’ he mumbled, giving me a coy, almost embarrassed smile when I frowned.
‘I know you are angry, but … being near you helps me,’ he added when I continued to look at him, surprised by his words. He exhaled slowly. ‘No, I’m sorry, I know it’s an unreasonable request.’ Orm reached down to pick up the torn remains of his clothes from the seat, but I grasped his hand, stopping him.
‘No, if it helps you, it is the right thing to do. Stay Ormond, be my guest tonight.’
It was the first time I’d seen him so timid, vulnerable. As angry as I felt at the tight-lipped, overprotective bastard, something in Orm’s eyes had prompted me to agree. I helped him with supper when I saw him wince every time he moved his arm and even offered him my bed, willing to sleep on the couch, but he refused.At least I tried,I thought, as I slipped into bed.
‘Goodnight, my fearless mage.’
I was grateful for the pillow as my cheeks flushed red upon hearing his soft-spoken words. Despite Orm being the one injured, I fell asleep first, so I expected to be the first one up. However, when I awoke, the chaise lounge was empty, and the blankets I had given him were folded neatly on the seat, leaving me strangely disappointed.
It had happened three more times since. The days were silent, both of us too stubborn to talk first, but every evening, I waited for the knock on my door, followed by Orm looking at me with that silent question in his eyes, then him slipping inside when I moved back to let him in.
I didn’t know why Orm needed it, or what was disturbing him so much that he sought refuge in my presence, but from the hushed discussions he had with his men, I knew things weren’t looking good.
I saw him conversing quietly with Alaric, who soothed Orm’s headaches with his healing touch. But the damn man still wouldn’t talk to me, and that was why I was going to go with himon the next patrol. I was determined to help him with whatever problem he might have and fix it before our disagreement fractured these budding feelings I had for him.
Four days. Four days without a word. When I finally cornered him, Orm had acted like such an idiot that I wanted to slap him.
Now I stood next to Vahin, watching Orm brief his men while I tried to control my frustration. The dragon nudged my shoulder, interrupting my thoughts.
‘He will listen. Just give him time.’
‘When? After the Lich King knocks down the doors? I get it. He’s worried about someone coming and stealing away his precious conduit mage, but I’ve been cooped up in this fortress for so long that it’s driving me mad. I may not have a dragon, but I’m a better fighter—well, ground fighter—than half his men. He saw me fight and knows I can deal with almost any human or demon, not just the ones breaching the Barrier.’
‘Oh, but you do have a dragon, Little Flame,’ Vahin answered with amusement, rubbing his snout on my hair. ‘He knows you can fight but doesn’t want you to. Orm has realised there’ssomething he is afraid of losing. For him, you are the calm in the storm, somewhere he can feel the emotions he’s bottled up for decades. It is all very new to him, so have a little patience with his fumbling attempts of showing you he cares.’
‘Well, good luck with that. Patience is not my strong suit.’
‘Ani? I thought you would be working with Alaric today?’ I looked up to see Orm in front of me and gestured towards my riding gear, paired with a fur-lined cloak. ‘Oh, don’t be dense. I’m coming with you. I know you’re going to the Rift, and I want to see what’s going on. I promise to listen to your orders and behave like a proper soldier,’ I raised two fingers to reaffirm my promise, but he didn’t smile back.
‘I can tell you what’s going on. The magic is fading and more creatures are passing through. I suspect they’re tunnelling beneath the Barrier because the ground around the Rift is different every time we return. With the vjesci we captured in the mines, I believe what we see from the air is just the tip of the iceberg. All I can do is patrol the area and destroy anything that emerges.’ Orm came so close that I had to raise my head to look at him.
He pulled my hood over my head when a cold gust of wind from the mountaintop blew in our direction. ‘I’ll be back this afternoon. We’ll talk about you joining our patrols during dinner and share some wine together in the library afterwards. I would really like that,’ he said after I was sufficiently bundled against the cold.
‘And we’ll reach the same conclusion we did during our shouting match at breakfast. No, Orm, this is my line in the sand. We are going together now, or I’ll go alone on horseback.’ I turned to climb onto Vahin’s back.
It was interesting how Anchoring the dragon had stripped away my fear of heights, as well as the other feelings that hadoverwhelmed me before we bonded. It felt as if the old me had died that day, taking my past with her.
It bothered me, but there was no one I could talk to, no one who could explain why I felt like an observer of my own life.
‘Not this time, Ani.’ Orm grabbed my belt. The sudden jolt made me stumble and fall back onto his chest. His arms trapped me there while he dropped his head. I felt his breath caressing my earlobe when he whispered, ‘Don’t argue with me, Nivale. Please, not here. I will explain everything when I get back.’
‘I’m not your prisoner; I’m your mage,’ I snapped, wishing he could get it through that thick skull of his.
