Page 9 of Vicar
“I don’t know what to tell you.” Trinity’s voice shook as though she felt what her tiny dragon felt. “I think I’ve been there, though...I think I’ve been somewhere extraordinarily different than this world.” She cringed. “Somewhere hellishly sinister.”
Though unsettled, Vicar couldn’t help but notice that Trinity’s gaze flickered to his tiny dragon more often than not.
“Well, that sucks, sis.” Jade gave Trinity a sympathetic look as Vicar’s tiny dragon drew closer and closer to tiny Jade. When his young dragon’s face lit up with more and more anticipation, he felt his other self’s excitement. His eagerness at finding the stunning little fiery amber dragon.
“Seriously, though,” Jade went on. “Vicar’s right. How could you have been subjected to Múspellsheimr and be the positive woman you are today, Trinity?” The corner of her mouth shot up. “The positive yet properly naughty woman, that is.”
“Which I imagine is something worth looking at.” Loki stepped out of the crackling flames and sat beside Trinity, his tone curious. “Why do you have such positive energy, dragon? And what are we to make of this naughty side?” He grinned and looked her over with appreciation. “I’m Loki, by the way.” His gaze settled on her chest. “Here to help you in any way I can.”
Where Vicar had applauded Loki’s lustful behavior with Jade, something about the hopeful desire in the god’s eyes when he looked at Trinity set his inner dragon on edge. That and how Loki sat far too close.
While Vicar would have liked to think Trinity shifted away from Loki for his benefit, he knew better. The god was simply overwhelming her with his flirtatious ways.
“I don’t have a naughty side,” Trinity shot back at Loki, yet there was no missing the hesitation in her eyes. “Not that I’m aware of, anyway.”
Vicar’s tiny dragon finally locked onto Trinity’s dragon and leapt around the rock at her. She, in turn, scrambled back in renewed terror before the memory faded.
“I think youareaware of your other side, sis,” Jade replied and gave her a knowing look. “And I say we get back to that. Back to everything you’ve been up to lately and why you won’t just admit you’ve got more than a little dominatrix in you.”
Though Trinity appeared to have no reaction to that, he sensed she’d like to crawl under a rock. Maybe even fly out of here and never look back. Anything to put distance between her and this conversation.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Trinity lied because Jade was right. Shewasaware. He could feel it inside her. The version of her he’d seen in the fire. And she knew exactly what Jade was talking about. Reveled in the fact it was finally breaking free. Finally clawing its way to the surface.
“Bull, you don’t know,” Jade returned, calling her on it, sensing Trinity’s inner struggle as well. “But something tells me I’m not going to get much more out of you quite yet.” She eyed their surroundings. “Not here.” Her gaze slid Vicar’s way. “I get why hanging here a while longer isn’t such a bad thing, though. Especially considering how level it’s keeping you two. I’m not sensing the magnets attracting repelling thing here at all. Attracting? Yes. Repelling?” She shook her head. “No.”
Trinity frowned. “What magnets attracting repelling thing?”
When Loki went to shift closer to Trinity again, Vicar cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes. Loki, of course, did precisely what Vicar’s Múspellsheimr half would have done and ignored him. Instead, he continued eyeing Trinity with a mix of curiosity and lust.
“Your sister refers to both the friction and connection that exists between you and Vicar.” Loki rested his hand on Trinity’s thigh. “Surely you feel it, dragon. The push and pull. The lust and repulsion.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She brushed Loki’s hand away and avoided looking at Vicar. “What Idoknow is I feel safe here, so this is where I’m staying.”
“Maybe for tonight.” Loki shook his head. “But no longer. There’s no time for that.” He frowned at the cave. “Besides, this is no place for dragons and will ultimately hold you back from discovering what you need to know for the Forge.”
“Assuming I’m meant for it,” Trinity said weakly, realizing how futile her hope was.
“Seeing your younger self confirmed it.” Loki gestured loosely at Vicar. “Seeing his younger self following more than confirmed it.”
“You would think,” Vicar replied dryly, scowling at the god, not afraid of him in the least. “Yet here you sit wanting to sample Trinity every bit as much as you did Jade.”
“Just like you wanted to sample Jade,” Loki reminded, shooting him a sly grin. “So let’s not cast stones.”
“Vicar’s Múspellsheimr side wanted to sample me,” Jade corrected, noting how Trinity tensed then seemed to force herself to relax. She looked at her sister with reassurance. “And I’d say it was all a show to kill time until he got to you, sis. I wasn’t the dragon he wanted to—”
“Enough.” Trinity’s cheeks flamed red in what could be either frustration or embarrassment. “I don't care either way.”
Another lie. So said the turbulence in her inner beast.
“Yeah, sure, whatever you want to tell yourself.” Jade winked at Trinity again. “I get it.” She bumped her shoulder against Thorulf’s. “I played the denial card when I arrived, too.”
Evidently sensing she needed saving from just about everyone here, Tor gestured at the cave. “Would you like me to show you around, Trinity?”
“I would.” She stood up so quickly there could be no doubting her discomfort nor her trust in Tor. “Thank you.”
Vicar might have had something to say about it if any other male had asked her, but he trusted Tor. More than that, he knew his cousin would protect her.
“You mean not lust after her like Loki,”Tor corrected telepathically.“Because I know you would find a way to protect her no matter where we go in this cave.”
Vicar offered no response, but he didn’t need to. Tor was right.
They had only just left the main cave when Jade looked at Vicar in astonishment. “Whoareyou?” She shook her head. “Because the Vicar I’ve come to know and love would’ve never allowed her to go off with another guy. Not even the Sigdir side.”
“Ja, it would have,” he countered, then relented, knowing full well something was off with him. Typically he would have insisted on joining Tor and Trinity. Not because he distrusted his cousin but because he wouldn’t want Trinity out of his sight. “Okay, maybe I wouldn't have.” He shrugged. “Whichever way you look at it, I’m sure your sister appreciates my ever improved Sigdir side.”
“Probably,” Jade conceded, perplexed. Her curious gaze went from him to Loki. “What do you make of this?” She looked around at the cave again. “Because I get the sense it has to do with this place.”
“Most certainly.” Loki contemplated Vicar. “Or more specifically what this place does to Vicar when Trinity’s in it.”
When Jade arched her brows in question, Loki presented a theory that surprised them all.
