Rise of a Viking (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors' Kin Book 1)

by Sky Purington

Cybil noticed Matthew’s expression had shifted. Whatever Heidrek was about to share clearly made his brother envious.

  “Oh, man.” Erin’s eyes were trained on Heidrek. “So who was your grandfather?”

  “More importantly,” Kjar said. “Who was his great grandfather.”

  “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Cybil murmured, sensing how protective Heidrek was of the information.

  “But he does.” Kjar’s eyes stayed on Heidrek. “You do, Nephew.”

  Heidrek nodded and kept his eyes on Cybil. “As it turns out, Thor is my great grandfather.”

  “Holy shit,” Erin whispered. “The God of Thunder…and war?”

  For some reason, all Cybil could think of at that moment were all the storms in Winter Harbor every time she made some sort of connection with Heidrek. The lightning flashes and rumbling thunder.

  “Thor has never made contact with me,” Heidrek said. “Nor have any gods.”

  The way he said it was so indifferent. Not upset but disconnected altogether. As though he spoke of a relative who couldn’t be bothered to reach out for years on end.

  “Wow,” Cybil whispered, speechless. Lord, she’d been having nothing but erotic fantasies about Thor’s great grandson for months now. Super. “So you’re a…” Her eyes stayed with Heidrek as she tried to form the words. “You’re a demi-god?”

  Matthew scowled at her question, but Kjar eyed Heidrek with pride. “He is.” Then his focus turned her way. “Now let us talk about you and why my ash tree became a conduit instead of a point of safety.”

  A bizarre little chill went through her. “Okay.”

  “You don’t realize what you are, do you, Cybil?”

  “I can’t say that I do,” she said carefully, glancing at Erin.

  Erin, in exchange, shook her head and said, “Now that I’ve shifted, I know what you kept from me, Cyb. You knew I was a shifter but said nothing in order to keep me safe.” An unexpected flicker of emotion laced her voice. “Just like you’ve been doing for your sisters all these years.”

  “No biggie,” Cybil murmured, though it had been very big and had gone on for far too long. But only because she worried so much about them. “I’m just glad everything worked out for you, Erin. I hope things do for my sisters as well.”

  “They will, Cybil,” Kjar said. “With your guidance.”

  “Of course.” She did her best not to glance at Heidrek. “So I’ll be going home?”

  “Maybe,” Kjar said. “But before you do, there are things that you need to understand. Things that will change everything.”

  Cybil went to set her drink aside but realized Erin had been clever in handing her a horn. She could hold it or drink it. So she held it, determined to keep her mind perfectly clear.

  “You are not just a prophet, Cybil,” Kjar said. “Like Heidrek but on a slightly different level, you are also a Dragon Seer.”

  All right, that made sense in a weird sort of way considering her sisters. She decided a small sip or two of ale wouldn’t hurt and kept her expression flinch free as the bitter liquid slid down her throat. “What does a different level mean?”

  Kjar considered her for a moment before speaking. “It means that the darker side of what you are will likely never affect you because the Celtic gods you are related to are less intense than Thor.”

  Cybil chuckled. Come again? She flat out laughed as she shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

  “You share a different mother than your sisters,” Kjar said gently. “Your real mother’s grandfather was born of a union made between a mortal and a Celtic god. That god was born of Goddess Brigit and Fionn Mac Cumhail. Brigit is a peaceful god of love, inspiration, and imagination. And though a great warrior, Fionn is of the Earth and nature.”

  Cybil chuckled again. “You’re joking, right?” Her eyes shot to Heidrek. “Tell me he’s joking...” she started but trailed off at the shocked expression on his face.

  “No, Cybil,” Kjar said, deadly serious. “Just like Heidrek, you are a Dragon Seer. The difference between you two is that you are a Celtic demi-god where he is a Norse demi-god.”

  “But,” she whispered and shook her head before she sipped from her horn again…and again…until it was empty. She stared at Kjar blankly. “That’s why you greeted me like you did. Because I’m a demi-god too.”

  “Yes.”

  “Where did you find this out, Kjar?” Heidrek said, clearly upset.

  Why was he upset? Shouldn’t he be happy that they were the same? Hadn’t he, like her, been looking for someone to relate to?

  “Why did you not know of this sooner when you created the Yggdrasill in Winter Harbor?” Heidrek continued.

  “Because I am a Norse demi-god.” Kjar’s stern eyes met Heidrek’s. “And she is Celtic. I only know now because she traveled through the magic of the tree. My tree.”

  “And there is that, yes Uncle?” Matthew’s eyes were a little too clever as he looked between Heidrek and Cybil. “The difference between their gods and how it will affect things?”

  When Cybil stared at her empty horn in dismay, Erin handed her another. “Have mine, Sweetie. You’re gonna need it.”

  That didn’t sound promising.

  Kjar eyed them both before settling on Heidrek. “Since you are becoming king, it would be unwise for you to claim Cybil. People will be very superstitious when they realize she is not only a Dragon Seer but born of rival gods. Being with you gives her too much authority.” His voice lowered. “But they will like the idea of her being part of your realm.”

  Kjar’s eyes went to Cybil. “As the wife of Matthew.” His gaze returned to Heidrek. “But still under your control.” The demi-god’s eyes went from Matthew to Heidrek. “Like your mother and aunts, she is from the future. Give her to your brother, the first born dragon-shifter from those unions, and you will see very good things come from your new sovereignty.”

  “Give me,” Cybil stuttered. “Give me?” she said again, incredulous before she managed to say, “Nobody gives me to anyone!”

  Erin leaned over, tapped her horn and reminded, “I told you, you were going to need that.”

  Cybil’s eyes rounded on Erin yet when she tried to stand she slumped back down because her legs were shaking so badly. God, she was angry. “How can you be so nonchalant about this, Erin? You’re my family!”

  “Aw, shit, hon. I’m sorry. I’ve been through a lot since traveling through time so I’m sort of immune to how crazy everything can get.” Erin crouched beside her, took her hand and met her eyes. “I can’t say much about your situation except that everyone in this room has your best interest at heart. They’ll go above and beyond to keep you safe. And a little piece of advice? If Kjar says something, you should listen.”

  “Are you out of your mind?” Cybil said softly and shook her head. “You must be. You have to be.” She kept shaking her head. “I’m going home, and I’m certainly not marrying anyone!”

  Before Erin could respond, Cybil tossed aside the horn, not interested in numbing her senses anymore. She narrowed her eyes on Kjar. “How dare you talk about me as though I’m a pawn in a game. You have no right.” She stood, grateful her legs worked as she started toward Matthew. “And you!”

  She stopped short when a small, excited voice cried, “Father, father, where are you?” moments before a little boy peeked around the corner, raced into the room and flung his arms around Matthew’s leg.

  Everything conniving and hateful vanished from Matthew’s face as he crouched to hug the boy. Caught between rage and disbelief, Cybil set aside all emotion when the boy peeked at her and smiled. He was a little replica of both his father and Heidrek.

  Before Matthew could stop him, the boy ducked away and stopped in front of her, his eyes wide and worshiping before he dropped to a knee and lowered his head. “I am Håkon, first born son of Matthew Sigdir and Sigrunn.”

  Her eyes flickered to Heidrek and Matthew. Both looked concerned
as they watched him. It seemed the brothers still shared at least one bond. Their love for this child.

  Totally smitten with her five-year-old niece, Emily, this was one part of her ridiculous set of circumstances that Cybil might be able to handle. So she held out her hand. “Very nice to meet you, Håkon. I would much rather you stand.”

  The boy peered up at her discreetly, undecided, before he nearly fell over backward, trying to peek at Heidrek. “Only if it is correct?”

  “It is.” Heidrek winked and smiled. “Very correct.”

  “Yes, then.” Håkon stood and came to attention so quickly a thick lock of blond hair flopped in his eyes. Not brushing it aside, he smiled at Cybil, his little cheeks rosy. “You are very kind and,” his grin widened and she knew he thought it a treat to say, “and very beautiful.”

  All the frightening news she had received went on sabbatical beneath the guilelessness of his words. “Thank you, Håkon. You are kind and very handsome as well.”

  His cheeks reddened even more before he flew toward his uncle. Heidrek crouched, embraced the child, and whispered something in his ear.

  Matthew’s expression was nothing less than loving as he watched his son. It was obvious the brothers set aside their differences when it came to the child, and she gave them a lot of credit for that.

  Håkon kissed Heidrek’s cheek then flew to Matthew, who lifted him into his arms.

  “Would everybody mind if I took a few moments alone with Cybil?” Erin piped up, taking advantage of the lighthearted moment.

  Kjar nodded, and his eyes met Cybil’s one last time before he ushered everyone out. The second they were gone, and she didn’t need to repress her emotions anymore, she staggered to the bed and sat.

  Everything the demi-god shared could not be true. Could it? Erin said nothing at first but pulled a chair over and straddled it, her eyes locked on Cybil.

  “Cybil.”

  It sounded like her cousin spoke from a great distance though she saw her lips moving.

  “This numb feeling you’re experiencing won’t last long,” Erin said, her voice an echo. “Just look at me until you find your way back to you, okay? Because that’s the best way to do it.”

  Erin made a motion with two fingers between her eyes and Cybil’s. “You were always a stubborn bitch who spit in the face of any challenge. Do that now.” She made the motion again. “Focus on all our endless pissing contests and pull yourself out of your stupor.”

  Cybil knew she was in a state of shock. That everything she just learned had ripped her from reality. But she also knew this wasn’t the first time this had happened. No, she had experienced something similar when she learned her sisters were dragons. Then again when Lauren almost shifted.

  But this?

  This feeling was a whole new level of ‘stunned.’ And Erin knew it.

  “Do you remember slalom skiing on the lake that summer?” Erin said. “It was our first time and hell if we didn’t have two separate boats pull us side by side.” Her cousin narrowed her eyes. “We made sure it was rough out there because we wanted to show the whole damn world we could beat not only each other but the elements.”

  Cybil tried to focus on Erin but couldn’t.

  The Celts? She was a Celtic demi-god?

  “You screwed with the gas line on the boat pulling me,” Erin continued. “So there wasn’t enough fuel to beat you.”

  Her eyes snapped to Erin, confused. “No.”

  “Yeah, you did.” A wry grin crawled onto Erin’s face. “And there was nothing magical about it. You trimmed the line.” Her brows drew down. “It was perfectly timed. I lost. You won.”

  Cybil shook her head, suddenly caught up in the memory. “That was a pretty awesome moment in time.”

  “For you.” Erin snorted and shook her head. “But I suppose I had it coming.”

  “You did, didn’t you?” Cybil murmured. Her thoughts began wandering back to what she’d just learned about herself before Erin snapped her fingers in front of her face and said, “Remember why I had it coming?"

  Cybil narrowed her eyes on Erin, and the memory of a handsome snow ski instructor arose. “Yeah, because you were a total jerk.”

  “I was,” Erin conceded with a grin. “I didn’t just get the guy but managed to drive your ass right out of the competition.”

  Flashes of going down the wrong path and ending up in a ditch with her skis in the air filtered through her mind. Though she was livid at the time, she vividly remembered seeing it on YouTube later because Erin had hired someone to capture it all.

  “That was cruel of you.” Cybil chuckled. “Downright mean.”

  Erin shrugged a shoulder. “Only because you were free flying that day thinkin’ you were gonna get some.”

  Cybil scrunched her nose and shook her head. “Our instructor was hot but not that hot.”

  “Nope.” Erin scrunched her nose too. “Not in the end anyway.”

  That snapped her right out of her stupor. “Did you sleep with him?”

  “Maybe.” Erin held up her pinky finger and wiggled it. “Hard to know.”

  Cybil laughed and shook her head. “You never told me that.”

  “Not worth telling. He was a cheating bastard.” Erin shrugged. “So definitely not worth talking about.”

  “He was?”

  “Yup.”

  Her mind caught onto the word cheat, and she frowned. “Have I cheated my sisters somehow? By not telling them what they really are after all this time?” She stared at Erin, confused, suddenly numb again. More than that, she was frightened. “What am I?”

  Erin eyed her for a long, intense moment before she said, “Put out your hand, palm up, Cybil.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it.”

  She and Erin might have challenged each other endlessly in the past, but when her cousin used her ex-military tone, Cybil knew she meant business. And in light of everything she had just learned, a possible ‘Erin’ prank couldn’t compare

  So she did as asked.

  “You wanna know what you are?” Erin reached into her back pocket, pulled out a dagger and placed the hilt in Cybil’s hand, her eyes serious. “You are a warrior first and foremost. That’s all you should focus on right now.” She wrapped Cybil’s hands firmly around the hilt. “If you ever find yourself in a position with no way out, use this blade.”

  “I know Karate,” she whispered. “That doesn’t make me a warrior.”

  “You’re not only a black belt but the highest level in Judo and Japanese Style,” Erin said softly. “You don’t even need a weapon. I only give you this so you can wrap your hand around something solid.”

  Cybil’s eyes fell to the blade. “Is this Heidrek’s?”

  The corner of Erin’s mouth hitched up. “Even I wouldn’t be bold enough to lift his blade.” Her eyes met Cybil’s. “This is Kjar’s.”

  “Did he give it to you?”

  “No, I lifted it from him.”

  “Erin,” she exclaimed.

  “What? I strongly suspect he knows and wanted me to do it.” The challenging glint that used to enter Erin’s eyes when they were younger wasn’t there anymore. Instead, something far more real. Something Cybil felt for the first time. And it had to do with the dragon.

  Erin’s eyes narrowed. “I’m giving you something that will protect you.” She pulled her hands away, voice stern. “A little something extra to remind you that you’re every inch a warrior, and you’ll get through this.” She stood. “You’ll get through whatever comes your way. You’ll face it head on.”

  She appreciated Erin’s support. Her faith. She didn’t coddle but encouraged Cybil to embrace strength rather than disbelief. Reality rather than fear. Things were changing. What Kjar had shared was real.

  “Okay,” Cybil whispered and nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime,” Erin said. “I’m just glad I had the chance to be here for you.” She shook her head. “I thought for sure I’d never be returning
considering what happened to Heidrek in the tapestry.”

  Cybil frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  Erin seemed surprised that she didn’t know. “From what I saw, he really put his ass on the line to save the MacLomains, Clan Hamilton, and my MacLeods.” She shook her head again. “He trapped some really nasty bastards in a Viking tapestry. Jackie got the feeling she’d never see Heidrek again so I assumed…”

  Cybil must have had an odd look on her face because Erin’s voice trailed off. She had heard Heidrek’s take on Jackie but was curious about Erin’s.

  “How close were Heidrek and Jackie?”

  Erin shrugged. “Does it really matter? She’s with Darach now, and that’s never gonna change.”

  No, it didn’t matter. It shouldn’t. Especially considering everything else she had just learned. Yet despite not being entirely of this world, she was still human…or at least she liked to think so. And despite everything, she was still capable of jealousy.

  She knew Erin and Jackie were best friends, so if Erin wasn’t going to be more forthcoming, she’d let it go. But she remained curious about a few other things.

  “Why did Jackie’s money go to me and my sisters?” Cybil narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you tell me at one point that she couldn’t access her inheritance unless she got married?”

  “And she did. For true love at that. Just like her parents wanted.” Erin grinned. “As to everything after that, I assume Grant handled it.”

  “He did,” Cybil muttered. “Cleverly at that.”

  “The man’s not very good at being retired.” Erin kept grinning. “He can’t sit still for long.”

  “I’d say.” Cybil cocked her head, finally feeling halfway normal. “Out of curiosity, how can Matthew claim me if he’s already with someone?” She frowned. “Is it a ‘Viking takes multiple women thing?'”

  “No, I’m afraid not.” Erin frowned as well. “His wife died in a raid a few years ago. Sadly enough, it was the same one his sister died in.”

  Chapter Six

  HEIDREK CLENCHED HIS fists, inhaled and kept his eyes anywhere but on his brother. Three days had passed since Cybil learned what she was. Three long days that he had not been with her.