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

T he soft, slow beat beneath my ear sent a shiver down my spine, and I smiled as I cuddled its reassuring rhythm. As consciousness slowly returned, memories of the previous day intruded on my peace: the freedom of wandering the forest, the argument and then the image of the olgoi erupting from the earth … When I saw Orm fall, his sword piercing the worm’s mouth, fear flooded my senses and I sprang up, screaming his name.

‘Orm!’

‘I’m here, Ani. Shh … it’s ok, you were just dreaming.’ Only then did I notice the muscular chest beneath my hands, the gentle stroking fingers easing the tight muscles of my back. ‘Deep breaths, Nivale.’ I looked around in confusion, but apart from the mystery of Orm’s presence in my bed, everything looked normal.

‘Shouldn’t you be elsewhere? In your own bed, perhaps?’ He slowly sat up, and my eyes dropped to the rugged chest I’d just been cuddling. When my gaze trailed lower, following a narrowing band of hair, I sighed with relief, seeing he at least wore silk trousers. Still, it didn’t explain why I was waking up splayed all over his chest again.