Weaving Fate - Nora Ash Page 0,97

underneath our feet, and what had first sounded like distant thunder soon became distinguishable as animalistic roars.

“Sounds like he’s in a bad mood,” Bjarni murmured.

“Shh,” I shushed, pointing out a shadow on the top of Yggdrasil’s root. “So long as he stays up there, we should be able to slip by underneath him without being detected. How is the cover holding up, Anna?”

She nodded, but the sweat beading on her forehead told its own story. Gently I cradled the back of her neck and let a small part of my magic bolster her. She gave me a brief smile in response.

“I’m okay,” she rasped, voice low. “Save your strength, Modi. If this doesn’t go to plan…”

“It will,” Bjarni assured from behind her, placing his rope-free hand on her lower back. “Okay, let’s focus. See that thin strip of land below the root, by that large body of water to the left? That will take us past Hvergelmir. We follow that past the well, it will lead us directly to the portal.”

“And right past Níðhöggr,” I mumbled. “But so long as he stays up on the rim… We will not get a better chance. Okay. It is time. Everyone—keep quiet. Not a word until we are at the portal. Move fast and light-footed. Ready?”

Annabel and Bjarni nodded solemnly—only Loki frantically shook his head, but even he kept his protests muted this time. When Bjarni gave his rope a yank, he followed along without further objections.

It did not take us long before we were close enough to get a better view of Níðhöggr. Even from so far below, he made a formidable figure.

I had never actually seen him before—when my father brought me to Niflheim, we had stayed in the colder regions—and the sight of him struck me with awe. He had to be at least the size of that carriage station we had arrived at in the settlement of Seattle, his scales inky black against the sky. When he roared, he extended his massive wingspan, casting a threatening shadow over the ground below as he sent a spire of flames into the sky.

A pang in my chest was followed by the acrid scent of my omega’s fear. I reached back, instinctively looking to soothe Annabel, and bumped my fingers into Bjarni’s.

A quick look over my shoulder confirmed he had reacted on the same instincts, our hands colliding on her shoulder. He gave me a wry smile and nodded, urging me to continue forward.

Right. Annabel’s fear was natural, and slowing down to try and comfort her here would only prolong the danger.

I turned back to the path and led us forward.

We kept a good pace, and soon we reached the edge of the great well Hvergelmir. Annabel gasped from behind me, and I could not blame her. The great stone circle spanned several hundred yards across, sitting like a dark, yawning maw surrounded by steaming springs pooling around its outer walls. It was truly a wonder to behold.

A bone-chilling screech from high above tore us from our reverence. The ground shook, making Annabel stumble into my back, but it only lasted for a moment.

Then a chilling shadow spread above us, plunging us into darkness. The wind pressure that followed flattened us against the grass.

I forced my way back up to my knees and looked up. The sight that met me lodged my heart in my throat.

Níðhöggr was directly above us, gliding down from his perch atop the mighty root. Every beat of his terrible wings pressed another gust of wind down upon us, getting stronger the closer he came.

Annabel whimpered, and when I turned to look, she had both hands pressed against her mouth and tears of terror trickling from the corners of her eyes. I grasped her shoulder and let my power meld with hers, ensuring she did not drop the magical barrier.

From her other side, Bjarni leaned halfway over her, using his body to shield her from the terrible beast. I felt him through our bond, felt him push soothing calmness at her until she stopped trembling and gently nudged my presence from within her, resuming control just as the dragon landed on the edge of the mighty well.

A great thud made the ground shudder underneath us, screeching of claws against stones sending painful jabs through my brain. He roared again, shaking his great, serpentine head as if angry with something, but folded his wings in tight against his body. He had settled on the edge of the well less