by Lee Savino
Dagg growled, until Svein nudged him. Then the sound cut off.
“The pack must know of this,” Svein said. “Soon. We must send a message.”
“But then they will find you,” I quavered.
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. Maybe they’ll see how our mate returned us to sanity. How you saved us.”
“I have not saved you. I have brought evil into your midst.”
“Enough. It is not your fault. We know how to drive the Corpse King away.”
I lifted my head. “How?”
“We will mark you. Claim you forever as ours.”
Dagg knelt. His eyes were bright, his beard unruly, but he was every inch a man. Rough fingers brushed at my cheeks, dashing away my tears. “You belong to us.”
I shook my head sadly.
“Once you begged for our mark.”
Before. Now I could not stand the thought of sharing my nightmares with them. They should cast me out as my family had.
I covered my face and wept.
“Enough,” Dagg said and tugged me to his lap. He held me a long time, rubbing my back, soothing me. Svein brought me a cup of tea, and then a plate of stew. Dagg fed me.
As I ate, the two conversed without speaking. This was the brother bond I’d so hoped would return. The fact that I could hear it meant our mating bond was almost complete. All that was missing was the mating mark.
We must claim her. If the Corpse King wages war in her mind, we must defend her. Both of us. If I fall—
I will not let you, brother. If we fall, we fall together. Together we will be stronger, Svein vowed.
Perhaps the Alphas will help us.
And if they do not? What if the pack comes for her?
Dagg bared his teeth. We will fight.
After dinner, Svein washed my face and hands, then cupped my cheek and studied me for a long time.
“You belong to us,” he murmured. “We won’t let you go.”
I roused a little. “It’s too late,” I said tiredly. “Let me leave. He will come and find me, and I will lead him to you, and the others. That’s what he wants. He needs a bride to fuel his power.” As I spoke the words, I realized they were true. My instincts to run from the mountain, the heart of the Berserker territory, would save my friends. I would not be the weakness that allowed the Corpse King access to them.
Svein lifted the hair from my neck and cradled the base of my skull. One twist and he’d snap my neck. I closed my eyes. I should beg him to do it.
“No. You are safe here. We will defend you with our lives.”
“You belong to us, little dove,” Dagg murmured at my back. His large hands skimmed down my legs, outlining them under my gown. “Your body is ours.” Even in my despair, my body responded, quickening. “It knows its masters.”
Svein started to lift me and I struggled. It was like a leaf fighting a gale.
“Do not hurt yourself,” the warriors crooned as they stripped me bare and laid me down. Dagg lay down behind me and pulled me against his body, surrounding me with his strength. For a while we lay like that, his warmth infusing me. He played with my hair, stroking it from the back of my neck until I was attuned to his touch.
Hot breath blew over the vulnerable spot at the base of my neck. “Tonight we show you how much we own your body.”
I let out a sigh. Excitement buzzed through me despite myself.
His fingers strayed to my front, finding my breasts and rolling the nipples one by one. “You brought us back to ourselves. Now we will claim you. The circle will be complete.”
A few nuzzling kisses at my nape and I was so relaxed I barely protested when Dagg rose and Svein arranged me on my back.
“I trust you will not move from where I place you.”
I shook my head languidly.
“If you do I will tie you down.”
A quiver went through me. Svein bent and kissed me, trailing kisses down my body. He settled between my legs, nibbling the inside of one thigh, then the other, holding me down when I jerked. He licked me teasingly and then flipped me over, kissing down my sensitive spine. My bottom rocked against him, pushing up against his hard cock. He grasped my hips to keep me still, trailing his tongue down past the apex of my buttocks to dip into the cleft.
“What?” I gasped and wriggled to get away.
A hard hand cracked against my bottom. Svein pulled back and took his time dispensing correction, spanking my bare cheeks until the stinging heat made me drip shamefully.
“Will you submit to me?”
“Yes,” I cried.
He explored between my legs. “Wet,” he announced with satisfaction.
“Barely a punishment,” Dagg chuckled.
“So sweet. Your body knows who owns it.” Svein parted my bottom cheeks and licked between them.
“Oh no,” I moaned as his tongue circled my lower hole. It was shameful, how good it felt.
“You love it. You’re soaking,” he said in wonder. His other hand stroked over my wet lower lips as his mouth plundered my naughty back hole. He paused to nibble on my left buttock. “I like your cheeks red. When you disobey I’ll take pleasure correcting you.”
“She takes pleasure, too,” Dagg murmured. His hands brushed my swaying breasts, just enough touch to make me want more.
“Please,” I breathed.
“What is it you want, little red?” Svein asked, wicked humor in his voice.
I lifted my bottom. Flushed hot as I begged silently for them to take me.
“And if I decide I wish to claim you here?” He probed my back hole with a thick finger. I pressed my face into the pelts and moaned.
“So sweet and obedient. I’ll make you come with my mouth on your cunny and my fingers in your bottom hole.”
“Ohhh…”
“Beg me.”
“Please make me cum…”
He laid a light slap on my throbbing cheek. “How?”
“With your mouth... on my cunny.”
“And?”
“Your fingers in my bottom,” I whispered, cheeks aflame.
“Good girl. Roll over. I’ll give you what you need.”
I was spared the sight of Svein’s wicked mouth and fingers stroking me by Dagg, who bent and claimed my mouth. He waited until I gasped my pleasure to present his cock to my lips.
“Your turn to please us,” he murmured and came into me slowly as I moaned. Svein kept fondling me as I sucked Dagg’s cock. I clenched around his fingers.
“Greedy,” Svein murmured, and took his hand away. A second later, he set his cock at my wet entrance. “I’ll give you what you need.”
For all their size, the two warriors were gentle. Dagg kept light fingers on my face, guiding me to lick him as he pleased. I would’ve blushed to serve him this way, but with Svein thrusting the promise of pleasure hovering just out of reach, I was eager to please.
All too soon, Dagg withdrew from my mouth, his rod hard and stiff.
“What—” I started to ask, when they propped me up between them. Svein settled me firmly on him, filling me even more. Dagg pressed against my back, playing with my hair.
“The mating bite,” he breathed at my nape. Prickles went up and down my neck.
“I am not—”
Svein rolled his hips under me, sending his cock surging deeper, and I lost the ability to speak.
Twin canines pressed against my vulnerable shoulder. Svein rose up and smoothed my hair away from the other side. His hips kept rocking, making me ride him to completion as the two held me fast with firm hands, and bit down.
A second of pain, an instant of hovering on the precipice. My breath whistled between my teeth, body clenching. It was too much for Svein, who came, bucking wildly
He bent me forward and Dagg worked his cock at my back, grunting as his seed splashed me. He spread it around, dipping between my buttocks to tease my back hole.
“One day soon we will take you here,” he promised.
I lay limp on Svei
n, panting. The marks on my shoulders sizzled and burned, but the skin had already healed. Four slight red weals were the only sign I’d been marked.
It’ll be enough to warn any Berserker away from you. And the Corpse King, should he trespass where he doesn’t belong.
I blinked at Dagg, realizing he’d heard my thoughts.
That’s right, little dove. We’re joined now. Svein and I will make sure nothing keeps us apart.
I’d never be alone again. Never wake from a bad dream and have no one to comfort me. My mates would bear the burden along with me. There was no way to stop it. There was nothing I could do but to wait for a vision to come.
28
Dagg
A man who escapes death takes no moment for granted. When I woke beside my mate, her red hair spilled across my chest, I did not hurry to rise. The fire needed tending, Svein and I needed to hunt, but it wouldn’t do to risk waking Fern. She slept as if wrung out from fighting a great battle. Which, in a way, we had. I stroked her soft hair and savored the moment. After all, it was the least I could do to let her rest.
Besides, my cock was so hard, the slightest brush against her legs while rising would have me spilling like an untried youth.
On the other side of our mate, Svein chuckled. Go ahead, Dagg. When she wakes, I’ll be the one to pleasure her. I’m man enough to wait.
Grabbing a pelt, I flung it hard enough to whip Svein in the face while missing Fern. He laughed louder.
Quiet, you lump. You’re as loud as a boar crashing in brush.
What am I then? Svein taunted. A lump or a boar?
You’re useless as a handless axe.
Those can be quite useful. I remember this one battle—
Between us our mate jerked in her sleep. The two of us were on instant alert, but after a moment she quieted. She settled against me again, her breathing going soft once more.
The Alphas need to know what she is. We need to tell them.
I know. I threaded red strands between my fingers. She’s a volva, a seeress.
I’m surprised we didn’t guess when she first had the dream. Remember, in the mists?
She must tell the pack of her visions. They may hold a clue to defeating the Corpse King. She may save us.
Not us. If we returned to the mountain, our fellow Berserkers may kill us, and take our mate from us.
The beast inside me said we must fight to prevent it. But with the whole pack against us, we would fail.
She cannot stay here. She is not meant to live in a cave.
I cursed to myself, but Svein was right.
We will return her to the pack. Today. The pelt slipped from one white shoulder and I covered her again, though it pained me to do it. In summer I would refuse to allow her to dress. I’d make her lay naked within the line of my sight, just so I could have beauty to look upon in every moment.
If I lived to summer.
When she wakes, we will bundle her up and carry her to the nearest scouting post. Perhaps we have a few friends among the pack who will vouch for us.
A twig snapped outside. The few winter birds sheltered in the bushes nearby flew away. Someone was approaching the cave.
“Or they will come to us,” Svein said, and cursed.
“See to our mate,” I rose as a Berserker called for me.
“Dagg the Black. Come out and show yourself.”
I rose, deliberately leaving my axe.
“Come out if you have honor.”
“I have honor,” I called and stepped out of the cave.
An arrow flew and lodged itself in my right shoulder. I grunted. It burned but hadn’t hit anything vital. Not that it mattered. My Berserker healing was back, returned to me by my mate.
As I pulled the arrow from my flesh, the leader, a strong warrior named Knut, turned and grabbed the bow from the attacking warrior. “You fool, why’d you shoot him? He isn’t a threat.”
“It’s all right,” I said, showing them I could be calm. “I don’t blame Grimr for being afraid of me. Besides, he’s a poor shot.”
The ensembled warriors chuckled, some of them nervously.
“So, Dagg.” Knut fixed me with a hard look. “You are well.”
“Well enough.”
“We are here because you are camped too close to the mountain. The Alphas wish you to move.”
I shrugged. “I am happy to go. Svein will come. It is only…” Gasps told me Svein had emerged, carrying Fern. “Our mate is very sensitive to the cold. And she wishes to be close to her friends. You understand.”
“You will hand the woman over,” Knut’s tone had changed. Become more dangerous.
“No,” Fern said softly. “I won’t go. Tell them, Svein.”
“She is our mate,” I declared.
“Lies,” the man who’d shot me called out. Grimr. He had not gotten a woman in the raid, and he coveted mine. I ignored him, and so did the rest of the warriors.
“This is not the place to keep a mate,” Knut said. He would try to carry out his orders and do the right thing. A good man, and a good warrior.
“I agree. We were upset when we learned she had come down the mountain to find us.”
“She came to us in a blizzard, Knut,” Svein added. “We had hoped the pack would take better care of her.”
A warrior, tall and lean with a tanned face, stepped out. “She was well cared for. She snuck out in the blizzard and her friends kept her absence a secret. Fern, come to me. Your friends are worried about you.”
“I won’t go,” she said, clutching Svein’s shoulders. “I am where I belong.”
Knut sighed. “I do not wish to spill blood.”
“I do not wish to fight, either. Our mate is delicate. She does not belong around violence.”
“But you will not give her up.”
Svein and I exchanged glances. We had a decision to make. One that might mean our death.
But Fern’s life was more important.
“Take us to the Alphas,” I said. “Let them pass judgement.”
29
Dagg
We were halfway up the mountain when it happened. A choking sound rose up. I whirled and found three spears pointed at my chest. They let Svein carry Fern, but we were surrounded.
“What is happening?” I bellowed to him.
Our mate lay limp in Svein’s arms. Her eyes rolled back, showing only whites under her lids. Her entire body convulsed.
We could only watch helpless as the vision took her.
Svein cradled Fern to him.
“Get them away from her. They’re hurting her.”
“Stop,” the warrior Jarl cried. He pushed through our guard to get close. “One of the spaewives says she often falls into trances. It happened before we raided the abbey.”
“What sort of fit is this?” Knut growled. I tried to step between him and our mate, sensing the threat in his voice. Simple warriors would distrust anything strange. Natural wolves would put a rabid one down.
Weapons swung toward me before I took two steps.
“It is not a fit,” Svein said. “Do not touch her.”
“Quickly,” I barked, frozen with my hands out to show I meant no harm. “We must get her to a witch.”
“Up the mountain,” the warriors ordered. I growled in frustration and the spears pricked my skin.
“There is a witch there. One of the Alphas mates,” Knut said quickly.
“How do we know they haven’t done this to her?” Grimr muttered but as we sped up the path, he fell behind. Knut’s friends, Leif, Rolf, and Thorbjorn, clustered around Svein.
I followed, gritting my teeth. My mate was in the throes of a vision, and I could not help her. The wind blew by, carrying the stench of corpses. Damn, but I did not like the mage’s hold on my mate.
We burst into the clearing, where the Alphas already assembled. Samuel sat on his throne, his mate sitting on a smaller rock beside him, holding his hand. The rest of the leaders stood beside them. Judge, jury,
and executioners, all arrayed.
Svein came to the center of the circle and crouched with Fern still his arms. I pushed to their side, helping him arrange her, supporting her head until someone said, “Enough.”
I growled, and an axe came to my throat. Just then Fern opened her eyes.
“Dagg,” she whispered.
“It’s all right,” I told her gruffly. “We are here on the mountain. You had a vision. The Alphas will ask you what you Saw.”
Her face went white.
“You do not have to tell them anything,” I spoke carefully around the axe edge at my throat. “But if you do, they will not hurt you, I swear it.”
30
Fern
My worst nightmare had come true. I’d fallen into a trance and woke up in the middle of a crowd. No one spoke, and everyone seemed to be watching me.
The Alphas were there, and all the warriors, death written on their faces. If someone gave the kill order, Dagg and Svein would not survive.
I had to speak. I had no choice.
“I will speak,” I said, and on the ledge beside the rocky mountain face, my voice carried.
Under the pelt I wore as a cloak, I found Svein’s hand and gripped it. His face betrayed no tension, but he held tight.
“I am Fern, a spaewife. I have... dreams.” Someone slipped to the lead Alpha’s side, leaned in and whispered. Perhaps explaining who I was, or perhaps giving an argument for my mate’s death. I had to say something that might sway the pack to my mate’s side.
“The Corpse King comes to me at night. In my dreams. I have met him there for some time. Ever since I left the abbey.”
Murmurs went around the pack, and one of the Alphas barked for silence.
That’s it, little dove. Tell them everything. We will keep you safe.
“There was a time when the dreams were under control—the days I was with Dagg and Svein. But then the Corpse King attacked them, and drove them mad, and they were banished.”
“They attacked a group of us,” a warrior spoke up. “Vik and I were there.”
On his throne, the lead Alpha waved his hand for silence.
