Chapter Sixteen #2
“When and where, áma?” Katana said, her brow furrowed in distress. “And though I somehow doubt it, did he say if Frey and Taro were okay?”
“He said they were alive and that Taro was more of a fighter than he should have been,” áma said softly, looking at my mate with what seemed like genuine sympathy. “But he’s alive.”
“Hell, Taro,” Katana cursed under her breath. “Of course, he would’ve fought back and tried to defend Frey.”
“My sister needs no defending,” I said, though I would acknowledge her friend’s courage in whatever form it took.
“Even so, ‘tis clear he's an admirable warrior.” I gave Drakkar a look I knew he would understand.
“Please ensure my weaker side gives him a good position when he succeeds to the throne.”
“When and where, áma?” Katana repeated, growing impatient, giving Drakkar no chance to respond to me.
“North of here and he wants you to come right away,” áma finally replied to Katana. “You’re to go alone to make the exchange.”
“Which will not be happening,” Drakkar made clear, taking his vow to me seriously.
“Whilst I intend to remain out of sight, I will be there to keep your mate safe in any way I can, Torsten.” He nodded once, giving me a look that told me he would be there because he knew what I intended to do.
“Until they are safely back to the Keep with or without you, brother.”
I nodded once in return and thanked him for his loyalty before eyeing áma once more. “And where do you intend to be?”
“By Drakkar’s side, whether you want me there or not,” she returned, standing a little taller, trying not to show how much I had offended her, but I still felt it, even though I did not particularly care.
“I, too, intend to see Katana safely back to the Keep,” she went on. “And your other half if you succeed.”
“You better,” I ground out. “’Tis the least you can do for me.”
“Now that’s settled,” Katana muttered, frowning at me in a way I could only surmise was disappointment in my distrust of áma, but there was no way around it. “We should go.”
“They are in the woodland just north of the Dragon Lair.” Drakkar gestured toward the Ygdrassil. “áma says ‘tis best you travel through that. We will go our own way and be there to aid you when ‘tis time.”
“And how can you be so sure of that?” I countered, eyeing the tree uneasily. What was áma up to? “There's no need for us to travel this way if—”
“There is,” áma said, cutting me off, looking at my mate with compassion that may or may not be genuine. “Or else he will finish Taro off.” Her gaze returned to me. “And you will never see your sister again.”
“What do you mean, finish Taro off?” Katana began before she seemed to realize and swallowed hard. “He’s not doing well, is he?”
“Not according to Skarde,” áma replied. “Whilst he might be lying, I get the sense your friend is someone who’s willing to die to protect another, ja?”
“He is,” she said without hesitation, giving me a pointed look. “And he was drawn to your sister on top of that, so there’s no doubt in my mind he would’ve done anything to save her.” She headed for the tree. “Which means we need to go now.”
“Where will this tree lead?” I asked áma, doubting she would give me the truth, but I had to ask.
“Wherever you wish it to,” she replied unflinchingly. “Outside of the great Ygdrassil, ‘tis one of the most powerful trees in the land, so ‘twill listen to you.”
I thought about that for a moment. “So if I wish it to take us directly to Skarde’s location, ‘twill?”
“Ja,” she confirmed. “Or at least to the nearest ash tree, whether ‘tis a Ygdrassil or not.”
“’Tis the element of surprise you hope for, then?” Drakkar assumed.
“’Tis,” I confirmed, seeing it as the best possible plan of attack. “I don’t want to give Skarde or his darkness much time to figure out we’re there, given he’s connected to us.”
“Sounds good,” Katana said, nodding thanks when Drakkar handed us both more daggers.
“You need but touch the tree when you are ready,” áma said. “Drakkar and I will travel another way that is just as fast and bring our own element of surprise.”
While I didn’t like not knowing how she intended to travel so fast any more than I liked the idea of subjecting my pregnant mate to the likes of Skarde, I would not waste this chance to conquer the enemy and fulfill the prophecy.
So I joined Katana by the tree, stopping her before she could touch it.
I wanted these last few moments with her, saying words that, while they might sound weak, needed to be said, knowing she would only ever see me as strong once I was gone.
“I meant what I said earlier.” I ran my fingers along her jawline and gazed into her eyes in a way I never quite had before, making sure she knew I loved her and our child. “You understand, ja? And will raise him or her to be a great warrior and leader?”
“I would if I thought you weren’t going to be around.” She shook her head in denial and stood up straighter, as if going to war, in a fashion I greatly admired. “But you will be right by my side every step of the way, so you can help me raise him or her to be great yourself, yes?”
Understanding she needed me to agree, even if it wasn’t true, I offered a single nod, warned her telepathically to keep quiet no matter where we ended up, and brushed my lips across hers one last time.
Then I touched the tree, and she did the same, our gazes locked as I finally did what I had wanted to do from the start and readied myself to face off with the enemy.