Page 36 of Bred By Fafnir

He settles,reluctantly,his heavy back end slamming to the ground, his eyes tracking the males who are looking at me like I’ve just birthed a unicorn and then rode it into battle. When I start toward the building, their befuddlement wears off abruptly.

One barks at me in his native language. Due to the war contracts, most Bhaurnuls have been taught universal, forgoing translator implants. Which means it’s shoddy at best. “I don’t speak horned giant. Let me through.” I command him, holding my chin up, but I’m dizzy.

So dizzy. Their heads look tiny compared to their bodies, coming in and out of focus, and I can’t fathom that’s a good sign. My head swims, and I think I might pass out.

“There is a trial in order, you may not—"

I move back toward Val. He snarls as they reach for me. “You will not fucking touch me, or I will let him kill the lot of you,” I warn.

I have no idea how to command, or evenpolitelyask Val to do a damn thing. They probably know that.

Oh hell.

They eye my injuries, starting for me again.

“I’m pregnant! Take me to speak with the Elder immediately. I need to see Fafnir.” It comes out pleading, desperate. Everything I’m not supposed to be. A spasm of pain lynches my heart. The adrenaline is wearing off and fast. “Please. I’ve come so far. It’s cold and I’mhurt.”

The words tumble out of me, hopelessness heavy in my voice, and to my amazement, they all but scurry to usher me inside. The warmth is immediate, my muscles throbbing as they ache. When I enter, the space looks different. No tables of supplies, nor the warm spiced smell of prepped ingredients. It’s warm, but cold, cavernous. Empty. My eyes find him quickly, my heart cracking in my chest, because he’s already found me.

Of course he has.

Fafnir’s eyes are a blanket of deep red. There’s no battle, no swirling of brown against crimson. Not a hint of gold. He’s lost. My chin wobbles at the state of him. He’s filthy, covered in dried blood, the spears at his shoulders, sides, and back digging in despite him being chained. The ends are held by several males on either side. “Mine.” He snarls, lunging. The sound of the chains makes me wince.

“Why is she in here? Have her removed.”

“No!” He bellows, snarling, going for the elderly woman. She looks unaffected, but I don’t miss the way she flinches as he jerks forward, making the sharp tips of the spears puncture his flesh.

I rush forward, my legs nearly giving out as I dart for him, only to be snagged by a male. He hauls me against his chest, and the sound that comes from my Fafnir is wicked and haunting. “You will release her, or I’ll break these bonds and rip your entrails from your gut! I will eviscerate you so thoroughly your ancestors will scream as you pass to the next life!”

“You cannot go to him; he is not as you remember.” The male hisses in my ear.

“Let me down now! I am pregnant, you’re hurting me! Faf, I’m pregnant!” I yell at him, watching as he suddenly goes very still. For the first time since I laid eyes on him, the chains are not taut.

“Release her. She will not do anything foolish, correct?” The woman says it like a warning instead of a question, and I nod. My mind wobbles at the quick descent, making me stumble a bit. Her eyes widen in horror. “What has been done to you?”

“Blue wolves,” I answer absently, as I try to steady my swaying as I walk to her. My entire body shakes as I thrust the pen test into her lap, smearing blood on her skirt as I go.

“Female, come to me,” Fafnir orders. The males shove him violently, making his chin connect roughly with the ground as they bark something out in their language. “Come.Now.”

I tremble, wanting so badly to listen. To calm him, but I can’t. He needs to show them he can do it himself. That’s why we’re here. They think he’s a lost cause, a monster in his own mind. He’s proving them right. “You’re going to need to remember how to breathe before I can do that, big guy,” I call out, not looking at him.

He growls in response.

My eyes are on the only person with any authority here.

Her.

The bloody test trembles in her hands as she steels herself. “Get her a medical kit, quickly.” She barks. Hooves beat on the ground as the doors fly open, letting in another blast of cold air.

“What is awolf… how has it done this to you?”

I open my mouth before a booming familiar voice calls from the back, sounding more than a little winded andextremelyirritated. “A wandering pack of Shivarn. She left them in mangled chunks, no doubt thanks to her mount.”

My mount? No. “Fafnir’s mount.” I correct, my eyes still on hers.

“It obeys you; you have bonded to him.”

I nod.Mostlyobeys, he does more or less what he wants, but I keep that to myself.

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