Page 15 of Drengr
"I'll tell you once your mate stops fighting back." She rolled her eyes. "Aren't they adorable when they go full hulk? In a tough, testosterone-filled way."
I couldn't suppress a chuckle. She was right. It was adorable - and hot. To see how Errik fought his own friends just so he wasn't parted from me... it was touching. Sexy.
"If I let the two of you hold hands, will that stop you from overreacting?" Njal asked with a tired sigh. "But no kissing. You need to focus. We need you both alert."
I exchanged a look with Errik. His eyes were wild as he stared at me from top to bottom, as if to make sure I hadn't been harmed. He clearly wasn't thinking clearly. Was this thefýst?
I took a step towards him. Steff put a hand on my shoulder, but I looked at her, and she realised I was in full control of my faculties. She let go. I set my hands on Errik's chest, looking up at him with what I hoped was a reassuring, calming expression.
"It's fine. You can stop fighting them."
He flashed his pink teeth at the three warriors one last time before he ceased his struggle. They kept a tight grip on him just in case and I couldn't even blame them for it. One had a bleeding gash on his cheek, another a darkening bruise on his temple. While they'd tried to restrain Errik without hurting him, my mate hadn't had the same qualms.
My mate.
He was, wasn't he?
"She's mine," Errik growled as if he'd read my thoughts. "Never touch my mate again."
This was the moment when fireworks set off in the distance, snow began to fall in the most romantic way, and everyone began to clap - if this had been a cheesy romance film.
I smiled at him, my Vikingr, and tasted the word for the first time. "Mate."
He stilled, taken aback, before his expression melted from fury into nothing but innocent adoration.
"Mate," he whispered hoarsely.
"You may not kiss the bride," Steff said wryly from behind me. "Focus, both of you."
"Porting to the bridge in three..." Njal began, but his mate interrupted him.
"Only you guys. Holly and I will walk. I hate porting."
She took me by the arm and pulled me away from Errik. With one wistful look at him, I let her. We hurried out of the room before I could change my mind.
"I'm really sorry for disrupting your first date like that," she said while we hurried along the corridor. "I wouldn't have done so if it wasn't an emergency."
"What's going on?"
"It's the Intergalactic Authority. They found us and they're not happy. Njal is worried they might shoot first and ask questions later. Vikingar and the IGA have never been on friendly terms, and Earth is a protected planet. Njal took a big risk staying in orbit for so long, and that's partly my fault. I persuaded him that you ladies need time to acclimatise. But now most of his crew is on Earth, and even if they were here, it's too late to run."
Her words swept over me like a cold shower. The dreaminess disappeared in an instant.
"Why do you need us?" I asked.
"They didn't believe that the Vikingar didn't take you all by force. So, we're going to show them that you and I are not just here voluntarily, but also that we found our soulmates. It's our only chance. If this doesn't work, they will attack the Valkyr."
12
Errik
My mating axe was on fire. I wanted to tear off my breeches so it would stop chafing against the rough fabric, but Njal would have beheaded me if I flashed his mate in public. Or not in public. Now that I had my own mate, I understood why he was so protective of her. The thought of anyone touching Holly made me fume with anger. Imagining her seeing another male's cock - I clenched my fists to stop me from punching something. I wanted her in my arms again. I needed to feel her to know that she was close, that she was mine, that she wasn't just a cruel dream.
Porting had made the pain even worse. I scanned the bridge for my mate, but she wasn't here.
"Where is she?" I barked at Njal. "Where is my mate?"
He checked one of the screens. "Calm yourself. They're almost here. You have to focus. A display like just now and the Intergalactic Authority won't believe us that we've come in peace. They outgun us. It's not just one IGA scout ship. They came prepared."
