Page 64 of Oath of Betrayal
She shook her head and rolled her eyes so hard I had to smile.
‘Let me guess, you jumped on Vahin and flew here as soon as you realised I’d left. So, should we sit by the fire, or are weexpecting the dragon and Alaric to show up any moment now as the second half of your rescue party?’
‘Vahin is flying back to the fortress as we speak, and Alaric stayed behind. I came alone on my kirbai. I wanted to have time with you alone, to talk—’ I began, taken aback when she squealed.
‘You have a kirbai?! Here? Why didn’t I see it in the fortress?’ Annika’s smile instantly made every problem disappear. She grabbed my arms, steadying herself as she looked past me. I whistled quietly, and my mount trotted forward to stand beside me, hissing when Ani tried to stroke him.
I grasped her hand before it ended up in the stomach of the temperamental beast, gently placing it on the kirbai’s neck, just like I did when introducing her to Vahin. I kept my other hand on his bridle, ensuring he wouldn’t attack as Ani stroked his fur with wonder in her eyes.
‘He is so beautiful and soft. What is his name?’
‘He doesn’t have a name. I don’t like naming other beings,’ I answered simply.
‘You named me after a flower,’ her voice was barely a whisper, but I felt it deep in my soul.
‘And see where that got us? I grew attached to you.’
I slid her hand over the soft fur, letting our fingers entwine, feeling her body relax as she leaned towards me.
‘Please … don’t leave me like that ever again. I care for you, Nivale. I have tried to fight it, but I can’t help how I feel around you. You bring peace into my mind and laughter into my life. I’ve even begun wishing I could be your Anchor. I can’t stop thinking about how much I would give for it to be possible. I’m so afraid to lose you.’
Ani turned towards me and bit her lip before she finally nodded. ‘You won’t lose me. I want to make the fortress my home if you’ll let me. After the year passes, I want to stay here.My friends are here. Katja likes the fortress and wants to settle there, and Bryna—well, she just arrived. Prolonged absence from Vahin is difficult …wouldbe difficult, but you and Alaric aren’t making it easy.’
‘You want to stay? With me? With us? Even after the year ends?’ I tried to stay calm, but the mere thought of Annika even considering it filled me with hope.
‘W—well, in the fortress, yes. I’m not sorry for leaving today, but I do apologise for the way I did it.’ As her words stuttered into silence, I let go of the kirbai and locked her in my arms. The world could fucking burn around us for all I cared. I had Annika here, leaning towards me, and that meant more to me than anything else I could imagine.
‘Orm, what are you doing?’ came the muffled query, and I felt hands pressing against my chest.
‘Apologising,’ I said, letting go of all reason.
I kissed her.
Ani tasted amazing, like honey mead that caressed your tongue before going straight to your head, leaving you dizzy. I felt arousal wash over me when she gasped, parting her lips and yielding to my touch. I was lost, drunk on her taste, and craved more.
Then I felt it, the sting of her magic, my skin shivering as it wrapped itself around me. I welcomed the feeling, hoping for more,needingmore. ‘Gods, you’re perfect,’ I groaned, her power lighting me on fire until Ani abruptly gasped and pushed me away.
‘Could you apologise and let me breathe at the same time?’ she said. Annika licked her lips, refusing to look me in the eye, and I had to use all of my willpower not to grab her again. A tentative smile ghosted over her lips as she smoothed down her braid, tussled from our passionate kiss.
I immediately reached out and wrapped my hand around the silk tresses, pulling her closer. ‘Orm, no. That was very pleasant, but shockingly unwise,’ she rebuked, though she didn’t pull away from my touch. If anything, her breathing sped up. Cheeks flushed, she looked up and pulled the braid from my grasp.
‘Not for me, Nivale. I want to do it again … and so much more,’ I said, her braid sliding over my palm.
‘I can’t,’ Ani murmured, shaking her head and stepping away from me. I inhaled slowly, calming my thoughts, determined to find the reason behind her refusal. The pull was there. The desire I saw in her eyes was unmistakable. She wanted me, and I was ready to do anything to be with her.
‘Tell me why, Ani, I … I can’t promise my nature won’t get the better of me, but I’m done with sheltering you. I will happily employ you as garrison battle mage if you want.’ She looked at me sharply.
‘You would employ me as a battle mage? Even if I only have Vahin as my Anchor?’ she asked. I nodded, pleased with myself as I sensed the hope in her voice.
‘I would, although I think he’d be upset if he heard you say “only” Vahin,’ I teased. As she smiled at me, I added, ‘You can always add more Anchors, Ani. Alaric is eager … and so am I.’
‘I know, but I’m not ready. I need to be sure. I can’t risk what happened with Vahin happening again. If I’d been conscious, maybe then I’d know what went wrong,’ she pondered while playing with her braid. ‘The way my emotions seem to have changed is unnatural. You can’t just switch yourself off like the pain that dictated the last ten years of your life never happened. Without knowing how I truly felt, how can I know I won’t reject Alaric? I can’t risk anyone else. I can’t bond with someone unless I’m sure I’d accept them.’
That was it—the key to Annika’s refusal. I knew the moment we returned to the fortress, I would ask Alaric to help Ani; butbefore he could do that, she needed an explanation of what happened that fateful night. My reckless kiss opened my eyes to a simple truth: if I wanted Annika, I needed to come clean about what we’d done.
‘Ani, the way you feel is my fault.’
She frowned, ‘Your fault? You don’t have that kind of power …What do you mean?’
