“Right,” Preyna agreed, and she bit her lip for just a split second.
“Will it also allow me to alert you when I need to speak to you?” I asked.
“It will,” she said, and she reached to her neck and pulled an identical amulet out of her ample cleavage. “All you have to do is hold the stone and focus on me.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard,” I said before I could think of something less obvious.
“Why don’t you give it a try,” she suggested with a gesture to the amulet in my hand.
“Of course,” I agreed, and I pulled the chain over my neck and grasped the crystal with one hand.
I closed my eyes and focused on Preyna in my mind. It wasn’t difficult since she was just inches away from me, but it did nothing to help my accelerated heart rate. All I could think about was how incredibly beautiful she was, how her long golden hair would cover her breasts if she were naked, and how her perfect hourglass figure would fit up against my own body.
“It’s working,” she whispered, and I opened my eyes to see her amulet was now glowing with a bright goldish-white light.
“Incredible,” I breathed as I took in the sight of the glowing amulet against her chest. “Thank you very much.”
“It’s part of my job,” she chuckled. “I am the sorceress for the castle, after all.”
“Right,” I laughed. “But you’ve also taken on the task of assisting me with dismantling the dragon trade, and while I understand you’re doing it because you believe it to be the right thing--”
“It is the right thing,” Preyna cut me off. “It’s the only thing we can do.”
“I know.” I smiled softly at her. “I was just going to say I know the secrecy of it puts some strain on your relationship with Odin and your job as castle sorceress, so I appreciate your making me this amulet even more.”
“Oh, well, yes, I suppose it does.” She nodded and looked down.
“Are you alright?” I asked, and I so badly wanted to reach out and lift her chin so she would look at me, but I held my hands back.
“I’m fine,” Preyna said with a small smile, and her light-brown eyes met mine. “I was just thinking about the new little dragon you’ve found.”
“Svass,” I said. “I think she will fit in well.”
“Yes,” the golden-haired sorceress said. “She made me think about all the eggs we’ve accumulated over the years. I hope someday you can hatch them, and they can live a full life like Svass will get. I know they won’t have a mother, but we will all help take care of them.”
“I know you would,” I said. “I hope one day I can hatch them, too.”
“Soon,” she sighed, but then she looked up at me and smiled. “You said you all took out a dealer earlier today? You don’t look too bloody.”
“No,” I chuckled. “Kas used her magic to clean us up, but yes, we took out one of the smaller dealers.”
“I am always so incredibly impressed with you,” Preyna said, and her brown eyes narrowed as she looked me over. “You never asked for greatness, yet it appeared in your life anyways. You were destined for much larger things than you ever realized.”
“Isn’t that how it always is?” I laughed.
“Hardly,” the golden-haired sorceress said seriously. “From the time I was little, I showed such a control over my magic that I began training to take over as the castle sorceress when I was only twelve years old.”
“Oh.” My brow furrowed, and I cocked my head to the side as I saw Preyna in a new light. “I never knew that. It must have been a lot of pressure.”
“It was.” She smiled. “But it was well worth it. My point is, I, and many others who achieve high stations in life, have prepared for them for decades. You were a warrior, yes, but I checked into your history. You never once applied to be a leader, though you had all the right skills to do so.”
“I just never felt like it was for me.” I shrugged. “I was happy under Eira’s leadership.”
“Ah, yes.” Preyna pursed her lips and looked down. “How is it working with her?”
I sensed a bit of jealousy in her response, and I couldn’t help the smile that came over my face.
“She’s very valuable to my team,” I said honestly. “Thank you for suggesting she come with us.”
“Anything to help the cause,” Preyna said with a small nod.
“Speaking of that,” I said. “We should probably get going soon. Kas and Asta are alone in Alfheim, and I don’t want to leave them past dark.”
“Mm, yes, I think it’s best if you get back to them,” the golden-haired woman agreed. “They are fierce, but they are not warriors like you are.”
“Not yet, anyway,” I chuckled and stood up.
“Be sure to use that amulet when you need to,” she told me as we walked out of her chambers and down the hallway to where Rinbar, Beyer, and Eira all stood and chatted.
“I will,” I assured her. “Eira, I think it’s time we get back to Kas and Asta.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” the redhead said as she turned to me. “It’s nearly dark.”
Blar ran over to me, licked his lips, and flew up on my shoulder.
“Yes,” I laughed. “We’ll get you some dinner. I’m sure Kas has made something delicious.”
The little blue dragon wrinkled his nose, but I just chuckled and shook my head.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Preyna offered.
“Oh, thank you,” I said, and I followed her swaying hips to the double doors across the great hall.
