Entrapment (Thor's Dragon Rider #3) - Katrina Cope Page 0,9

“What can I say? It was defending itself.”

The answer doesn’t sit right with me, but I didn’t see what unfolded when I was within the tunnel’s confines. Although I knew my heart was always going to believe Elan.

He must have read the disbelief on my face. “My pet turned up to collect you. It would have sensed you and followed you. Except your dragon blocked the tunnel you disappeared into, and she attacked it. My pet, or what you call a lava monster, was attacked by your dragon. It was only retaliating and trying to get rid of your dragon so it could get to you.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “That's a rather extravagant way to try to collect me. I don’t understand how you would even know that when you weren’t there.”

His lava-filled smile sends a chill down my spine. “I have my ways.”

“How?” Raising an eyebrow, I press the point. “How could you possibly know what happened?”

“Let's just say I have friends in places, and I received a message.”

Moving out from under Elan’s protection, I uncross my arms. “I still don't understand why you'd be bothered to get me. If you're after Thor, he was there trying to stop this monster from getting me. He was protecting me, and the monster could have grabbed him instead.”

Surt chuckles. “I’m not after Thor.”

I flail my arms out to the sides. “I can think of no other reason why you would want me here.”

Surt gazes at Elan. “Despite that you’ve befriended the dragons and turned them into friends, for not only yourself but also all the other Valkyries and the gods and Asgard.”

I need all my might to clamp my mouth shut and stop my jaw from dropping. Has the result of my small personal quest spread through the nine realms? “Well, yes. I don't see how that is your business.”

He huffs, and light embers shoot out of his nose and float on the air. “That is mostly true. It doesn’t involve me. But the reason I've grabbed you is that, for many years, I’ve been looking for a mate.”

Despite my situation, I laugh, shaking my head. “Your mate is certainly not going to be me.”

“You.” He scowls with disapproval. “No. It's not you. You are too violent and aggressive. You aren’t the most beautiful maiden that I have seen.”

I lay on the sarcasm. “Gee, thanks. I still don't get why you would want to grab me.”

“It’s because you have access to the most beautiful maiden in the world.” His gaze turns dreamy as he focuses on the lava-lit sky.

My mind swirls, trying to figure out who he is thinking about. Unable to come to any conclusions, I say, “You’ll have to help me out. The only maidens I know are Valkyries—and some goddesses, but I have little to do with them.”

He leans over the gap above the cave, his burning lava eyes narrowing on me again. “And that is where you are lying.”

“What?” I bellow in outrage. “I'm not lying!”

“Hmmm!” He sounds unconvinced. “I have it on good authority that you know who I am talking about and you have access to her.”

As though sensing a threat, Elan steps protectively over me, ready to block me from anything he may send my way. I rest a hand on the scales on her chest, a silent thank you before stepping out from under her protection. With nothing to hide, I face him directly. “I honestly don't know who you are talking about. I have contact with hardly any other females, and the goddesses don't pay me any attention.”

“And that is where you are wrong.” His voice thunders down the hole, and his brows crowd angrily over his burning eyes.

With one swift movement, Elan wraps her wings around me, leaving only my face exposed, giving me room to assess the situation.

Something hits the side of the cave, and rocks drop into the cave, narrowly missing us. “I know you have access to Freya.” A threat stains Surt’s voice. “I want her to be my wife, and I can never find her. But one day, she will be my wife.”

The sides of the cave shake again as more rocks drop around us. I wriggle under Elan’s protection to free my arms and blast the falling stones away with my magic.

With an open-mouthed gaze, I find my voice faltering. Pushing past the blockage takes a few moments, but I say, “I don't know why you think I'd know her. As far as