Chapter 35

DIMITRI

My heart races as I glance between Valkyrie’s legs. There’s so much blood. It’s everywhere, soaking the sheets and my shirt. It’s like she’s been wounded. The sight of the blood makes Valkyrie scream in panic.

I quickly mind-link Damian and Michael.

“Valkyrie, calm down!” I tell her, pulling her to the other side of the bed.

She’s crying, her body shaking with fear. This is all so unexpected for her, and for me too. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

The sound of the doors slamming open makes me turn. Mia and Damian are standing in the doorway.

Mia rushes to Valkyrie’s side when she sees her crying. Her eyes widen in shock when she sees the blood.

“What happened?” Mia asks, her voice filled with confusion as she looks between Valkyrie’s legs.

I’ve covered Valkyrie with the sheets, but the blood is still seeping through.

“I need help. I don’t know what happened,” I tell her, my voice desperate. “I… I just don’t know…”

I’m so confused that I can’t even explain what happened. I look at my brother, but he’s just as shocked as I am, staring at the blood.

“Damian, snap out of it!” I yell. Damian’s gaze finally lands on Valkyrie.

He frowns, looking confused, and then glares at me. He’s about to say something when Michael rushes in, bumping into Damian.

“What the hell?” Michael curses. Damian doesn’t wait for an answer. He grabs Michael and pulls him over to the bed.

Michael looks at Valkyrie, his eyes wide with shock. He turns to me.

“What did you do?” he asks, his voice accusing. “Did you hurt her?”

“No!” I deny, trying to explain.

“Michael, that’s not it, look,” Mia interrupts, showing him where the blood is coming from.

Michael immediately kneels next to Valkyrie.

“What happened? Why are you bleeding?” he asks her.

“I… I don’t know. There’s…,” Valkyrie starts to answer, but then she flinches and grabs her lower abdomen.

Michael frowns.

“Damian, out. I just need Mia with me,” he orders. Damian scoffs.

“No,” he says. “I don’t know what this jerk did to her!”

“Damian, leave,” I tell him, annoyed. “This isn’t the time for jokes.” Damian glares at me and then storms out, slamming the doors behind him.

“Valkyrie, I need you to tell me what you’re feeling,” Michael says.

Mia is rubbing Valkyrie’s back in soothing circles, while Valkyrie holds her lower abdomen and cries.

Her eyes are red and puffy, and her nose is running. I’m worried about her.

“We... I don’t know. We were...,” Valkyrie stammers.

“Did you guys have sex?” Michael asks. Valkyrie nods, looking embarrassed. Mia looks surprised.

“You guys had sex. Wait, were you a virgin?” Mia asks, her eyes wide. She looks at Valkyrie, then at me.

“Yes…,” Valkyrie answers, her voice shy. She looks at me, and I give her a soft smile.

“Virgin?” Michael mutters, rubbing his chin. “What did you feel? I mean, during sex? Anything unusual?”

Valkyrie looks at me instead of answering. She stares at me, then starts crying again. I frown, not understanding. Did I do something wrong?

“I need you to tell me,” Michael says, lifting her chin to look at him. “What did you feel?”

“I…,” Valkyrie stammers, looking nervous. She looks at me again, and I frown. Why does she keep looking at me? “Well, when we were... uh, for some reason, his body felt like it was on fire.

“He was too hot, and it started hurting,” Valkyrie explains. “It started hurting and throbbing. I couldn’t handle it, and then this happened.”

“You sure you didn’t feel anything else?” Michael asks.

“Just a burning sensation and the throbbing pain. His body was too hot,” Valkyrie says, covering her face.

Hot? But I didn’t feel anything.

Michael stands up and tells Mia to get a clean cloth and some cool water to clean Valkyrie up.

Then he grabs my arm and pulls me away. I’m confused about what’s happening. Michael doesn’t say anything. He just drags me out to the balcony and sighs.

“Valkyrie was a virgin?” he asks again.

“Yes,” I answer, frowning.

“So that’s why you were holding back?” he asks.

“Yes…,” I mutter, looking away. The cool night air helps to calm my worried mind a little. “What did I do to her? Did I hurt her, Michael?”

“MICHAEL!” Mia suddenly yells from inside. Michael and I rush back in. “You need to come and see this.”

I walk over to the bed and look down at Valkyrie. I stop when I see her chest. What is that?

Michael quickly pulls down the sheets, revealing most of Valkyrie’s breasts.

“What happened to her mark?” I whisper, staring at the now larger mark.

The spot where Valkyrie has her cross mark now has another mark next to it. An upside-down cross is right under the other one. It’s the same style. The same size.

“Michael?” I ask. Michael’s eyes are glued to Valkyrie’s breast. He runs his finger over the mark.

“Do you feel anything?” he asks her.

“Feel?” Valkyrie asks, tilting her head to the side.

“Yes, do you feel anything here?” Michael repeats, his voice distant. He’s not looking at Valkyrie. His eyes are wide as he studies the new mark.

“No,” Valkyrie answers, looking at Mia. She looks confused, but she’s stopped crying and seems a bit more relaxed.

Michael sighs and closes his eyes.

“I’m calling Cian over,” he says, looking at me. “I need his help here.”

Just like clockwork, the doors swing open and in peeks Prince Cian.

“Step inside,” Michael invites, while Prince Cian’s gaze lands on Valkyrie.

His eyes snap to me, filled with fury.

“You son of a bitch! What have you done to her?” Prince Cian’s voice is a low growl directed at me.

“Back off, Cian,” I retort.

“Enough, get over here,” Mia interjects, shooting a warning look at Prince Cian.

Cian strides over to the bed, a smile for Valkyrie on his lips. But it fades, replaced by a tense expression when he spots the marks. Michael and I both catch the change. Sensing something’s off, Michael grabs his wrist.

“Cian?” Michael questions.

Prince Cian’s eyes are locked on Valkyrie. His face drains of color and he pulls away from Michael’s grip.

“What’s the matter, Cian?” Michael’s voice is laced with worry as he rises to his feet, his gaze darting between his brother and Valkyrie.

“Tamer,” Prince Cian murmurs. “Valkyrie is a tamer.”

Mia gasps, her hand flying to her mouth, while Michael’s eyes widen in surprise. I’m rooted to the spot, my mind racing to process Prince Cian’s revelation.

“What are you saying, Brother?” Michael’s voice is barely above a whisper, filled with apprehension.

“Saying?” Prince Cian spits out, his anger directed at Michael. “Can’t you see? That’s a tamer’s mark. Valkyrie has dragon blood coursing through her veins!”