Page 31 of Oath of Revenge
Scarlet paused and rubbed her temples. She was getting whiplash from the conversation. “What are you talking about? Knox isn’t coming. He sent me to get you.”
The ground shook, causing them both to stumble on their feet. Scarlet looked through the open barn door. Faint light shone off green iridescent scales, blocking the view of the cottage. Scarlet’s heart raced. He wasn’t supposed to be there. Something must be wrong with Eirwyn.
Olive tossed the horse’s brush into an empty bucket and strode to the barn door, completely unfazed. “Ah, there you are. How’s Eirwyn?”
Scarlet followed Olive out of the barn as the dragon shifted, a curl of green smoke sweeping over him. When it dissipated, Knox stood in only a pair of pants. He raked his hands over his scaled temples, sliding along the topknot mohawk braided down his back. His green eyes flashed as he turned to the barn.
“She’s in labor. Please, can you help?” His eyes were wild with fright.
She hadn’t seen him this scared since they’d heard the screams of the first carriage accident on the Lone Road.
They’d been children when they’d saved Eirwyn as a baby. They’d been too late to save the king and queen, but she could see the same fear on his face now. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to save his wife.
“She’s going to be alright, Knox,” she said softly.
He stared at her, his brow furrowed as he shifted on his feet. “You’re probably right, but we have to go. Are you ready, Grandma?”
Olive handed her bag over to Knox and said, “Aye, of course, child.”
Knox put his hands on his hips and stepped back into the open clearing. Frowning, he pulled a small pouch from his pocket and held it out to them.
“Oh Lailant sent this for Scarlet. I don’t know why when you’ll be back at Hartsgrove tomorrow, right?”
Olive handed her bag over to Knox and took the pouch, “I’m trying to convince her to run an errand for me, so she might take a week or so to get back.”
Olive looked inside the small purse, then looked up at Scarlet with a mischievous grin. Scarlet’s spine straightened. That look never boded well. Olive stepped closer, gripped Scarlet’s wrist, and pressed the bag into her palm.
“There are no coincidences, child. Lailant knew you’d need this. I’ll see you soon. Do what you need to do, but don’t rush to get back to Eirwyn. She and the dragonling are going to be alright.”
“Did the dream tell you that too?” Scarlet asked, twisting the drawstring on the bag.
Olive nodded and smiled. “Yes, so stop worrying, and go figure out this situation.”
She jerked her head toward the cottage, then released Scarlet and turned to Knox. “Knox? I’m ready.”
Knox nodded once and disappeared in a flash of cold, green smoke, turning back into the giant, green dragon.
Olive waved her hand and coughed. Her green eyes looked into Scarlet’s soul, the soft daylight making them bright.
“Listen to me, Scarlet. All your life, you’ve been fiercely independent, but in this—with him—you must learn to work together. Talk to him. Get to know him before you reject the mate bond, child, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Trust me on this. Trust him.”
“But Grandma, a Growler? I can’t forget what they did to Mother.”
“Nor should you. But saying all Growlers are bad is like saying all humans are good. We both know neither of those are true. Give him a chance to prove himself. That’s all I’m asking. And use this if needed.”
She squeezed the bag in Scarlet’s hand, and Knox snorted his impatience. Green gas sank to the ground as he crouched on his four feet, belly to the ground and Grandma’s bag looped around one of his horns. His head jerked like an overly large impatient horse, and Olive stepped onto his wing and threw a leg over his back. She moved the bag and settled her skirts.
Scarlet didn’t want them to leave. Then she’d be alone with the Growler. Of course, she could handle him if he attacked. She didn’t doubt that. But what if the mate thing was true? Was it something she could resist? Or was it inevitable, fate, ordained by the gods?
“Be safe and listen to your gut,” Olive said as Knox lumbered onto his feet and tested the weight on his back.
Scarlet saw a movement by the cottage, and her heart jumped into her throat. No, he couldn’t be seen. Knox was too on edge with the impending birth and wouldn’t think clearly. He’d just snap Wulfric in half with his massive dragon jaw. Knox started to turn his head toward the cottage, and Scarlet jumped back into his line of sight.
She waved her arms to get Knox’s attention and yelled loudly, “Bye! I’ll be behind you soon! Go on, go to Eirwyn.”
Her heart hammered in her chest, driving her to make a commotion of saying goodbye as Knox launched them into the air. With a few heavy beats of his wings, Scarlet nearly buckled under the whipping frigid air. Then they disappeared into the pale sky, clouds heavy with snow shielding the sun.
Heart still racing, she glared across the glen at the Growler and slipped the pouch into her pants pocket. He stood by the back door to the kitchen, a blanket wrapped around his waist. She couldn’t quite make out his expression.