Page 37 of The Viking in the Vault
My hands begin to shake as my fingers curl against his muscled chest, and his strong arm pulls me slightly closer, flush against him. I moan softly and our lips part purely so he can growl out my name.
“Elena…fenvarra…”
Then the kiss gets intense, needy. I hook my leg over his waist and he makes this low, masculine sound that sends a jolt of arousal straight between my thighs. Ragnar’s tongue slides along the seam of my lips and I open for him, pulling him toward me as he positions himself over me, between my legs–
Knock knock knock.
Fenrik growls as we jerk apart, and I can barely get myself together as my head swims. “What the heck?” I mutter, rolling out of bed. Ragnar is already getting up, right on my heels as I go to the main room–and through the frosted glass window beside the door, I see a whole bunch of people.
They’re wearing hazmat suits.
My heart races, the haze of the kiss evaporating instantly. Ragnar steps up beside me, his imposing frame towering, while Fenrik gets on my other side, hackles raised. I turn around, putting my hands up to try to calm them as I back toward the door.
“Stay calm, okay?” I beg, wishing he could understand me. “I’m going to talk to them.”
Another round of sharp, impatient knocks sounds, and Fenrik snarls. Ragnar doesn’t look any less threatening, glaring at the door, fists clenched at his sides.
“I’ll handle it,” I say. “Just…please stay calm.”
Ragnar relaxes just slightly, reaching down to hold Fenrik back, and I open the door.
The cold rush of air hits me first, followed by the sight of a small army of scientists and guards, all outfitted like they’re preparing for an outbreak. At the forefront is Renata Kallipso, her face half-hidden by a mask, but I can see her expression is tense.
“Elena,” she says, her voice clipped. “We need to speak with you.”
“Now?” I glance back at Ragnar, whose presence looms like a storm behind me. “This isn’t exactly the best?—”
“Step aside,” she cuts me off, gesturing to the group behind her. “We need to quarantine him immediately.”
My stomach drops. “Quarantine?” My voice rises, frantic. “What are you talking about? Ragnar isn’t?—”
“Potential pathogen exposure,” she interrupts. “We can’t risk him introducing ancient diseases to the general population. ”
I try to block the doorway, my arms spread wide. “He’s fine! He’s not sick. And he’s already been roaming around, Professor Ferhalda said it would be okay–”
“Elena,” Dr. Kallipso says sharply, her gaze cutting through me. “This isn’t up for debate. Step aside.”
Ragnar’s voice comes from behind me, deep and threatening. He steps forward and I see the look on Renata’s face–disapproving, shocked at seeing us like this. We haven’t even done anything, but I can already feel my funding slipping through my fingers.
“Ragnar,” I say quickly, turning to face him, palms up. “It’s okay. They’re just being cautious. We just need to stay calm and get dressed and go–”
“No!” his voice booms. “Stay…fenvarra–”
The sound of a tranquilizer gun cocking cuts him off. My blood runs cold as I whip around to see one of the guards raising a dart gun.
“Wait!” I shout, stepping in front of Ragnar. “You can’t just–”
It’s too late. The first dart flies.
Ragnar moves with inhuman speed, knocking the dart out of the air with his hand. The second one, aimed at Fenrik, hits its mark, and the skarnhound lets out a sharp yelp. He stumbles, his legs wobbling as he tries to stay upright, but the tranquilizer takes hold quickly. He collapses to the floor with a low whine.
Ragnar’s roar is deafening.
He charges forward, his eyes blazing with fury, but another dart hits his shoulder. He barely flinches, ripping it out and tossing it aside as though it were nothing. The guards backpedal, their movements frantic as they reload.
“Ragnar, stop!” I scream, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him back. “Please, you’re only making it worse!”
He looks down at me, his expression wild and betrayed, but the fight in his eyes falters. For a moment, I think he’s going to listen—until the third dart hits him square in the chest.
