the realms, hoping he’ll like one of their daughters. Some didn’t even challenge him, yet were first to arrive, the self-seeking opportunists.” Litr’s voice rose with anger, his face growing redder. “They heard he defeated challengers and refused to bite and bind them to him. They expected him to stoop that low. The Rising Star is honorable just like his father.” He started for Eirik’s place, his voice lowering to a whisper. “I’m happy he refused to attend the ball. Don’t make him go, Miss Celestia.”
Litr was so cute and loyal, but matchmaking mothers with troll daughters were exactly what Eirik needed. I had to bite my tongue to stop from laughing.
“You know I can’t go against Baldur and the goddess’ wishes.”
“Then go with him, Miss Celestia. You should see them. Some are as old as my grandmother and uglier than a Dökkálfr .”
I had no idea what a Dökkálfr was, but Litr didn’t think highly of it. He continued to berate their guests as he led the way to Eirik’s quarters, and I tried not to grin. Eirik hated to be told what to do, so he must be pissed.
“Some are barely weaned from their mama’s milk. Shameless mamas and papas sneaking around, asking servants questions.” He stopped outside Eirik’s door and glanced at me. “Get him out of this, Miss Celestia,” he begged. “Please.”
I stared after the Dwarf. He was crazy if he thought I’d dare advise Eirik to disobey his mother. Goddess Hel scared the crap out of me. Baldur was much nicer, and I liked his plan better. I had no interest in attending a ball in this realm. Represent Midgard, my butt. Trudy had known, the faker.
Okay, I needed to focus. I hadn’t seen Eirik in four months, and maybe he didn’t want to see me after I kicked him out of my hospital room. I wouldn’t blame him. I shouldn’t have lashed out like that. On the other hand, he shouldn’t have listened to me. I had just been attacked and was hurting. Any moron would have known I wasn’t myself.
I stared at his door and tried for calm. Instead, my heartbeat hiked with anticipation and my mouth went dry. Do it and get it over with . I blew out air and knocked.
There was no response. Was he asleep?
I turned the handle and peered into the room. He was fast asleep on top of the bed, one arm under his pillow and the other flung across the covers. He wore sweatpants and a black T-shirt that hugged his muscular upper arms and rode up to reveal serious abs. He must still be working out like a maniac.
Heart pounding, I entered the room, closed the door behind me, and walked to the edge of the bed. Nothing had changed in the room, but Eirik… Wow!
The man I’d known was gone. In his place was a buff guy with an angular face that wasn’t relaxed even in sleep. He was a little less pretty boy and harder around the edges, which sent tingling feelings to my stomach. His head shifted restlessly, his hand fisting. He was definitely having a bad dream.
An innate urge to calm him caught me off guard, and I crawled on the bed, reached out, and stroked the back of his hand.
A growl rumbled through his chest and scales appeared on his fingers and knuckles. Fear slammed through me, followed by the instinct to hop off the bed and run. I even leaned back, but other feelings took over. Fascination. Exhilaration. A need to touch him.
Could this be the effect of the dragon bond? I knew it made one loyal and devoted to the dragon. What if there was more? I was supposed to hate everything scaly and slitty-eyed, yet here I was drawn to him, a dragon shifter. Fascinated by him. In total awe of what he was.
The scales had appeared like the runes, lifting to the surface fully formed. They were made of different shades of brown—from beige to gold—and shimmered as they caught the light from the crystals. More scales raced up the arm I’d touched.
My next action made no sense either, unless the damn dragon bond was making me stupid. Maybe I wanted to overcome my
Litr was so cute and loyal, but matchmaking mothers with troll daughters were exactly what Eirik needed. I had to bite my tongue to stop from laughing.
“You know I can’t go against Baldur and the goddess’ wishes.”
“Then go with him, Miss Celestia. You should see them. Some are as old as my grandmother and uglier than a Dökkálfr .”
I had no idea what a Dökkálfr was, but Litr didn’t think highly of it. He continued to berate their guests as he led the way to Eirik’s quarters, and I tried not to grin. Eirik hated to be told what to do, so he must be pissed.
“Some are barely weaned from their mama’s milk. Shameless mamas and papas sneaking around, asking servants questions.” He stopped outside Eirik’s door and glanced at me. “Get him out of this, Miss Celestia,” he begged. “Please.”
I stared after the Dwarf. He was crazy if he thought I’d dare advise Eirik to disobey his mother. Goddess Hel scared the crap out of me. Baldur was much nicer, and I liked his plan better. I had no interest in attending a ball in this realm. Represent Midgard, my butt. Trudy had known, the faker.
Okay, I needed to focus. I hadn’t seen Eirik in four months, and maybe he didn’t want to see me after I kicked him out of my hospital room. I wouldn’t blame him. I shouldn’t have lashed out like that. On the other hand, he shouldn’t have listened to me. I had just been attacked and was hurting. Any moron would have known I wasn’t myself.
I stared at his door and tried for calm. Instead, my heartbeat hiked with anticipation and my mouth went dry. Do it and get it over with . I blew out air and knocked.
There was no response. Was he asleep?
I turned the handle and peered into the room. He was fast asleep on top of the bed, one arm under his pillow and the other flung across the covers. He wore sweatpants and a black T-shirt that hugged his muscular upper arms and rode up to reveal serious abs. He must still be working out like a maniac.
Heart pounding, I entered the room, closed the door behind me, and walked to the edge of the bed. Nothing had changed in the room, but Eirik… Wow!
The man I’d known was gone. In his place was a buff guy with an angular face that wasn’t relaxed even in sleep. He was a little less pretty boy and harder around the edges, which sent tingling feelings to my stomach. His head shifted restlessly, his hand fisting. He was definitely having a bad dream.
An innate urge to calm him caught me off guard, and I crawled on the bed, reached out, and stroked the back of his hand.
A growl rumbled through his chest and scales appeared on his fingers and knuckles. Fear slammed through me, followed by the instinct to hop off the bed and run. I even leaned back, but other feelings took over. Fascination. Exhilaration. A need to touch him.
Could this be the effect of the dragon bond? I knew it made one loyal and devoted to the dragon. What if there was more? I was supposed to hate everything scaly and slitty-eyed, yet here I was drawn to him, a dragon shifter. Fascinated by him. In total awe of what he was.
The scales had appeared like the runes, lifting to the surface fully formed. They were made of different shades of brown—from beige to gold—and shimmered as they caught the light from the crystals. More scales raced up the arm I’d touched.
My next action made no sense either, unless the damn dragon bond was making me stupid. Maybe I wanted to overcome my
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