Oath of Betrayal (The Broken Bonds: Slavic Fantasy #1)

W hy does everything hurt?

I lay still, holding my breath, trying to collect my thoughts as if that would help ease the pain. It felt like I had the worst hangover ever, but I didn’t remember drinking. I was lying on something hard and hairy, and the tickling sensation on my nose forced me to change position. The sun was obnoxiously shining in my eyes even after I moved, so I squeezed my eyes tighter in annoyance and pushed my face into the hard pillow, wincing at the feeling of knives stabbing my brain.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’d woken up in the stables, cuddling whatever animal was confined there. Though, I’d thought I was past that dark period in my life. Clearly, that wasn’t the case and I’d lapsed into old habits. I hated sleeping alone, but as with everything in life, I had gotten used to it. However, the heartbeat beneath my cheek reminded me of just how good it felt to not have to.

I remembered little from the past few hours, only fever dreams of fire and pain. I knew Orm had stayed with me because his voice seemed to be the one constant throughout the ordeal … There had also been another man who touched my mind and soothed the flames—and a dragon.