Ragnar looked at me—reallylooked. He studied my face, then looked over my shoulder at Reykur, his breath whistling between his clenched teeth.
“That’s a dragon,” he said in a ragged voice.
“His name is Reykur, and he means you no harm,” I said with as much confidence and strength as I could conjure.
Ragnar looked surprised, and then he laughed softly. “You’re protecting him. That’s what this is.”
“With my life,” I said fiercely. “And from you, if I must.”
“He’s a dragon, Lilia,” he said, more gently than he’d ever spoken to me before. “I think he can take care of himself, don’t you?”
“Against one person? Maybe so.” I gave him a pointed look, motioning for him to give us some space. “But what happens when a mob goes after him? What happens if they catch him when he’s sleeping? What happens if someone tries to shoot him out of the skies with a ship’s crossbow? All the things Isveig did.”
Ragnar spread his arms wide, holding up his hands in surrender. “You don’t have to worry about any of that with me. I swear it.”
“How can I trust you?” I whispered. “After everything.”
He came closer until he was only a hair’s breadth away. “Look into my eyes.”
Hands fisted, I met his piercing stare.
“I wouldneverharm a dragon, Lilia. I’d never let anyone else harm one, either.”
He wasn’t lying. That look—that haunted, tortured look—I knew it far too well. Heaving a sigh, I sagged against Reykur’s snout. All my pent-up fear rushed out of me like a wave, leaving me light-headed. I’d been ready to fight Ragnar if need be, I realized. I would have lost against a warrior like him, but I would have fought my bloody heart out.
And by the knowing glint in his eye, he understood I would have, too.
“This is why you didn’t want me to come into the woods,” said Ragnar. “You never touched my kegs.”
“Yeah. Does that disappoint you?”
He gazed up at my dragon’s powerful form. When he spoke, his voice was full of awe. “I’ve never been happier to be so incredibly wrong.”
And finally, I smiled.
10
LILIA
“What can I get you two?” Nilsa eyed us warily, one hand propped on her voluptuous right hip. In the woods, Ragnar and I had solidified our truce with another handshake before deciding to make it official by sharing a much-needed meal back at the inn. My stomach was cramping from my hunger. To punctuate its desperation, it emitted a particularly obnoxious growl.
“You know I’d love some more of your bean stew, and some bread if you’ve got it,” I said, cocking my head at Ragnar. “And he’ll have…let me guess. You’ll take some salted pork, two servings of roasted potatoes, and…” I smiled. “Some apple pie, if you’ve got it, Nilsa.”
She propped her other hand on her left hip. “Well, Ragnar? Is that what you want?”
“Pork, potatoes, and pie,” he said with a wink. “A man can’t say no to that.”
“Hmm.” Nilsa squinted at me. “You and me are going to have a chat later.”
I flushed, pretending to fold the cloth napkin into some kind of elaborate design, like a dragon or a whale. When she didn’t get a reply, Nilsa bustled off, but that didn’t lessen the weight of Ragnar’s stare.
Now that we were back inside, sitting here like two everyday folk having a meal, it felt like my skin wanted to leap off my bones. Maybe I could excuse myself and return to my room. It had been a long day, even though it was only late afternoon, and I was far too aware I was still wearing yesterday’s clothes.
Ragnar cleared his throat. “So.”
“So,” I repeated.
“Want to tell me how you got yourself a dragon?”
