“More than one reason.”
I can’t stop a growl from entering my voice, my frustration rising at his evasion. “Name one.”
He tips his chin at me. “Your wolf’s voice is very effective, Erik, but it doesn’t work on me.”
My eyes were already narrowed, but now my brow furrows because he called meErik. “You know my name.”
“Of course. Graviter told us. You should get used to hearing it.”
I ignore his suggestion. “I don’t know yours.”
“I am Vargo Vanem.”
My forehead creases as I attempt to interpret his name’s meaning. “‘Wise Light’?”
“Simply translated, yes. Now that Lysander Rex has perished, my son will be the next dragon king. When he hatches, that is.”
It takes me a second to remember that dragons hatch from eggs.
Vargo continues. “He will not hatch for another three hundred years. So until then, we must guard our future carefully.”
I’m surprised by Vargo’s admission of vulnerability. “That’s a long time.”
“We count our generations in centuries, not decades.” Vargo shakes his head, a surprisingly forlorn movement. “Graviter and his mate have two more eggs. They are twin boys, both firedragons. They should have been next in line, but they will not hatch for another seven hundred years. We cannot wait that long for our next monarch.”
“Convincing the Einherjar to join your human army will be impossible,” I say.
Vargo doesn’t seem surprised by my abrupt change of subject. “Why impossible?”
“They’re separated into clans that are at war with each other. They don’t fight for any cause but their own.”
“You can unite them.”
I can’t stop my growl. “The son of a traitor? They will vie for the honor of killing me.”
Vargo makes a rumbling sound in the back of his throat. “Not now that the Valkyrie Queen has reserved a place for you at the head of the table.”
“Even more so now.” My lips twist with bitterness. “The Valkyrie Queen may as well have painted a target on my back. The Einherjar will come after me simply for the fight. To die at my hand will guarantee them a place in the Hall.”
“Well, you were dead.” The dragon shrugs. “She didn’t do it deliberately.”
He isn’t wrong. Even so, I succumb to my frustration and give another growl.
“You have no choice, Erik the Vandawolf,” he says, staring me down.
No choice?
Oh… Fuck.
The Einherjar strive only for glory in death. They will come for me no matter what, and if I’m with Asha…
Ah, but if I’m with Asha.
I can’t stop the rumble of laughter in my chest.
She would say,Let them come. She will fight beside me. We will take them down together.
But my humor quickly fades because her hammer will not kill.
