Valkyrie's Conquest by Sharon Ashwood Read Free Book Online Page A

yourself food and drink. I will let you know when she is fit to see you.”
    The door slammed again, and he heard the thunk of the iron bar that locked him out. Bron dropped the bundle of clothes, balling his fingers into fists. There was a helpless ache in his chest unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Nothing would ease it until he held Tyra in his arms.
    â€œThere is a saying that even dragons have nightmares,” said Odin, appearing from nowhere at Bron’s elbow.
    Bron jumped, then scowled to hide it. The Allfather had the appearance of an old man, with long gray hair and a patch over one blue eye. Still, there was nothing weak about him. He looked fit enough to wrestle a bear.
    â€œEveryone has nightmares,” said Bron. “Especially dragons. After all, we hold enough fire in our bellies to burn down the world.”
    He grabbed at the fallen clothes, pulling them on with haste. They were simple but good quality, more than a fair replacement for the ones he’d lost when he’d shifted to his dragon form.
    â€œWalk with me, Bron of the Flameborn,” Odin gestured with his staff toward a meadow, where the first stars pricked an indigo sky.
    As they walked together, Odin studied him, his one eye keen and glittering. A raven flew down from the branches above, and Odin stroked its shining feathers. “Do you understand what Tyra is?”
    â€œA Valkyrie. A reaper of warriors’ souls.”
    â€œAnd my maiden daughter.”
    Bron could hear the unspoken message:
She is not for the likes of you
.
    â€œI trust that you are merely comrades in arms,” Odin said acidly.
    Bron bristled, but stepped around that trap. “She’s a good fighter. It is an honor to battle at her side.” And then he remembered Odin forbade the Valkyries to join his demon war.
    Odin fell silent for so long that Bron wondered if the conversation was over. But then Odin spoke in an almost distant tone, as if he was remembering something from long ago. “Do not imagine that my daughter will ever offer you more than her sword. At the time of their creation, I wrought a spell that repressed the Valkyries’ souls.”
    Thunderstruck, Bron stopped dead in his tracks. “You did
what
?”
    Odin held up a hand to silence his outrage. “They are perfect, untainted and indestructible. Sworn entirely to the service of my glory. There was a time when they would not even bleed when wounded.”
    Bron’s vision had gone red with anger. “Tyra bled. She was close to death when we arrived.”
    â€œAnd she is the purest of them.” Odin closed his eye as if the starlight pained him. “My spells fade, and my daughters turn weak and vulnerable.”
    Odin thought Tyra was weak? Bron struggled to get his temper under control. “Maybe the loss of your magic will bring a different kind of strength.”
    Odin looked away so quickly that Bron was sure his words had struck a nerve. “You risk much, dragon,” said the Allfather, “but you saved her. This once I will forgive your insolence.”
    Part of Bron considered that reason enough to keep going, but his smarter instincts told him to shut up. He released his breath in a rush. He would let Odin interpret his silence any way the god liked.
    After a moment, Odin went on. “Demons no longer obey my laws because they no longer fear my magic. The old order fails, and there will be chaos.”
    â€œThere are others you could call. You do not need to fight alone.”
    â€œWho would I call?”
    â€œThere are the Valkyries. There are dragons.”
    Odin cast a glance at him. “I do not think much of your kind, hiding in the mountains and shunning the rest of the world. You had nerve enough to bring my daughter here when she needed aid, but true heroes are more than flame and shiny scales.”
    The arrogance of the statement surprised a laugh out of Bron. Dragon magic was strong, their