Page 40 of The Viking in the Vault
I frown. “What is a–”
The door slides open and Elena strides back in, her face flushed with triumph and a hint of irritation. A Merati velraen in a white coat follows her, shaking their head and conferring with her via translator. The Merati comes around to my side and gives Elena a fearful look before sighing and undoing my restraints as Elena speaks to Ves.
“Elena says you will not be restrained,” Ves says. “But have to stay. Understand?”
My lip curls and I bare my teeth at the Merati. They make a quick move toward the door. “Wait!” I shout.
They do not wait, slipping back through the door.
“I want Fenrik awake,” I tell Ves. “He is an obedient companion; he will not harm anyone here so long as I bid him not to.”
Ves nods and relays my word to Elena.
Elena listens, her gaze flicking toward Fenrik’s unconscious form on the nearby table. She glances at the machines surrounding him, her expression softening. She says something back to Ves, who translates for me.
“She says she will ask. But they need time to make sure he is…uh…” Ves pauses, searching for the right word. “Safe.”
I grunt, dissatisfied but understanding. My gaze lingers on Fenrik, his chest rising and falling with the shallow rhythm of his breath. It grates on me to see him so still, but I force myself to focus on Elena.
She steps closer, her voice lowering as she speaks to Ves. They translate again, this time slower. “She wants you to promise…no more fighting.”
I arch an eyebrow at Ves. “Do I seem unreasonable to her?”
Ves rolls their eyes. “You ripped dart out of chest. What you think?”
I grumble but relent. “Fine. Tell her I will not fight, but only if Fenrik wakes soon.”
Ves delivers the message, and Elena lets out a breath of relief. She nods, her hand brushing her forehead before she turns back to the Merati doctor on the other side of the glass. She’s speaking rapidly, her gestures animated as she continues to advocate for me—no, for us.
She’s fierce, unyielding, and entirely captivating.
Ves looks between me and the door, sighing deeply. “You make more demands, Ragnar. Like you not already cause enough trouble.”
I glare at them, my patience fraying. “Fenrik is part of me. He should not be treated like some experiment. Tell Elena.”
Ves nods reluctantly and relays my words to her. Elena listens, her gaze flicking toward Fenrik’s unconscious form on the nearby table. She glances at the machines surrounding him, her expression softening. She says something back to Ves, who translates for me.
“She says she will ask. But they need time to make sure he is…uh…” Ves pauses, searching for the right word. “Safe.”
I grunt, dissatisfied but understanding. My gaze lingers on Fenrik, his chest rising and falling with the shallow rhythm of his breath. It grates on me to see him so still, but I force myself to focus on Elena.
She steps closer, her voice lowering as she speaks to Ves. They translate again, this time slower. “She wants you to promise…no more fighting.”
I arch an eyebrow at Ves. “Do I seem unreasonable to her?”
Ves rolls their eyes. “You ripped a dart out of chest. What you think?”
I grumble but relent. “Fine. Tell her I will not fight, but only if Fenrik wakes soon.”
Ves delivers the message, and Elena lets out a breath of relief. She nods, her hand brushing her forehead before she turns back to the Merati doctor on the other side of the glass. She’s speaking rapidly, her gestures animated as she continues to advocate for me—no, for us. She’s fierce, unyielding, and entirely captivating.
I sit up slowly, the ache in my shoulders easing as the restraints are fully removed. My muscles groan in protest, but I shake it off.
“Elena,” I say.
She turns to me, startled for a moment before stepping closer. Her hand instinctively reaches out, brushing against my arm as if to reassure herself that I’m okay.
“You fight for me,” I say, my voice low. “For Fenrik. Fenvarra.”
