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

culture rich, and their warriors beyond measure—but Odin Allfather saw nothing but his own renown. “And the war is a matter for gods and heroes and no one else is fit to help?”
    â€œDo you have a different answer?”
    â€œI chose to leave the mountains. I could choose to help you. Whether you accept my assistance is your decision.”
    Odin gave him a look from his one good eye. “You have nerve, dragon. I wonder if your fire is as hot as your pride.”
    â€œIt is hot enough to roast a demon or two, if you decide I’m worthy. Sleep on it.”
    Odin made a noise that might have been a rueful laugh. “You think dragons have nightmares. The dreams of gods would turn your blood to ice.”

Chapter Six
    â€œValkyries don’t bleed!” Tyra protested.
    Sigrid gave her a look that would have meant death to mortal man. “Sister, you are brave as a hawk and as beautiful as a lake at sunrise, but you stink like an ancient goat when it comes to lies. You bleed.”
    Tyra shuddered. Valkyries were supposed to be indestructible, but Sigrid was right. “You must not tell Father.”
    Sigrid smoothed Tyra’s hair, a rare gesture from her. “He already knows.”
    Tyra groaned. “No doubt he is disappointed with me.”
    â€œIt is the least of his worries.”
    With the war and his failing magic, no doubt that was true, but Tyra wouldn’t underestimate her father’s pride. She would have to be cautious of his temper.
    She watched her eldest sister move efficiently about the small, plain chamber, refilling the washbasin from a pitcher of water. Tyra had moved from the Healer’s Hall to her own room, which reflected her warrior status. There were no fripperies, no bright colors, none of the feminine clutter one normally found in a woman’s bower. Except that the human clothes she had worn lay crumpled on the floor like an accusation.
    Sigrid pushed them with her foot. “What are these?”
    â€œI went below.”
    â€œI know that.” Sigrid gave her that look again. “That has never interested you before. Why did you go?”
    â€œI was curious.”
    â€œAnd you found yourself a dragon. The one that saved you. Quite the heroic part he played.”
    â€œHe is a great warrior.”
    â€œI’ll grant that he is a great
something
, especially without clothes. You know better than that.”
    â€œYou truly sound like an elder sister.” Tyra looked away. Too much had happened: Bron, the demon, getting hurt. “Something is wrong with me.”
    Sigrid set the pitcher down and drew near, expertly checking the bandage around Tyra’s ribs. “And what is that?”
    The truth came out before Tyra could hold back. “It happens when I hold the newly dead.”
    Sigrid frowned. “I understand. For that instant, you feel what they feel. That is common enough.”
    â€œBut sometimes it is
my
heart that comes to life. Suddenly it is as if I am a human, seeing all with the fires of their feelings.”
    Sigrid’s eyes darted away. It was the first time Tyra had ever seen guilt on her sister’s face.
It happens to her, too
. That gave Tyra courage to say more. “Sometimes the feeling lingers. Sometimes it takes a long time to fade.” Like ever since she’d met Bron.
    â€œNo,” said Sigrid softly. “You can’t live that way. You can’t reap soul after soul and ache for every one you must gather. That is why the Allfather changed us. We would suffer too much.”
    But wasn’t that suffering worth it? In the coffee shop, Bron had held Tyra’s hands in his and gazed at her as if she were a rare jewel. She’d never felt like that before, and she wanted more. And she didn’t believe Odin had altered the Valkyries just to save them pain. As Sigrid herself had said, he relished their obedience. He wanted to be first in their hearts and