Fury of a Viking (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors' Kin Book 4)

by Sky Purington

She made a lot of interesting points. Ones he would be sure to share with his kin.

  “Your thoughts are very good, Shannon.” He enjoyed the jolt of excitement she felt. “You like solving puzzles, yes?”

  “I do.” She grinned. “Believe it or not, at one point in time I wanted to be a cop. Preferably a homicide detective. That way I could help solve murders and at the same time help victims move on. Two birds with one stone.” She sighed. “I was going to gather the evidence and arrest them. Erica was going to prosecute and make sure they got what they deserved.”

  “But that never happened,” he murmured, sensing her sadness. “You did not pursue your dream, but your sister still did, yes?”

  “Yes, except she became a defense attorney instead,” she said. “I never faulted her for following her dreams. I just figured out at a young age how much energy it was going to take to help spirits move on. They were going to need my undivided attention. In retrospect, I’m glad I made the choices I did. Dealing with the confused and often angry spirits of murder victims would have really taken its toll.”

  Matthew nodded, more and more impressed by her. He said nothing but watched her out of the corner of his eye, again taken by her appearance. Her slender body. The fine lines of her profile.

  She possessed a quiet, mesmerizing sort of elegance and he found himself imagining what her dragon might look like. Would it match the sleek blackness of her hair or would it be the addictive blue of her eyes? He imagined she would make a stunning addition to his homeland as she flew over its turbulent waters, the sea spray coating her body in shimmering moisture.

  “Matthew?” she said softly with that tempting tone she was so good at. It was designed to be soothing and compassionate for those going through difficult times, but his dragon heard a little something else as well. A seductiveness he was fairly certain she didn’t know she emitted. A sensuality he suspected was her inner beast responding to his.

  “Matthew?” she repeated, tilting her head ever-so-slightly in question. “Are you with me?”

  Oh, he was with her all right.

  Just in the last way he intended. A way he thought he had been able to set aside. But all he could seem to focus on now were her lips. How much he wanted to kiss them again.

  “Yes,” he managed, his voice a little gruff as he became overly aware of her scent still lingering on him. “I am with you, Shannon.” He stood. “But as you said before, it is time to rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow, yes?”

  “Sure, if that’s what you’d prefer.” She looked at him with concern, obviously refocused on the battle and what had happened to him. “Whenever you need to talk, I’ll do my best to listen. What you’ve experienced, what you’re going through, isn’t easy.”

  Much to his dismay, sexual frustration only grew as he pulled on his tunic and boots. He didn’t want to talk but do something else entirely. And that only fed his aggravation. He should want to get to the bottom of things.

  Yet his muddled mind remained focused on her scent.

  Her looks.

  On how she would feel beneath him.

  “It’s only normal to be feeling what you are right now,” she murmured as they headed back. “It’s normal to want to find relief from all the stress you’re under.”

  At first, he didn’t realize what she was talking about until he heard the switch of her breathing in the darkness and caught the sweetness of her arousal. She was catching glimpses of his thoughts and referring to his untimely lust. As they cut through a narrow corridor of rock and were forced to walk single file, his eyes dropped to her shapely backside, and he almost groaned.

  Was it normal to feel so strongly about her right now? To imagine pressing her against the wall and closing his lips over hers more firmly this time? Then to fall to his knees and inhale her desire? When Shannon cleared her throat, and her heart rate increased even more, he knew for certain she heard his thoughts. And was likely even well aware of his arousal through senses alone.

  Especially if they were dragon mates.

  He could deny it all he wanted, but there was no mistaking the way he responded to her. The jealousy he felt not only when Kodran pulled her close but when Cameron put his arm around her. He might have a real problem. Though he assumed he was well in control of himself around female dragons, it seemed he was wrong. Because the last thing he felt when she stopped short, and he came against her back, was in control.

  “What is it?” he murmured, lowering his head and inhaling the warmth of her skin. “Why did you stop?”

  “I just had the strangest feeling,” she whispered.

  A shiver of awareness rippled through her when his hands landed on either side of her slim waist. She liked the feeling of him behind her like this. And he liked it just as much.

  “What kind of feeling?” he managed as he stepped even closer and kept inhaling. He was so aroused he could barely remember why he shouldn’t be. In fact, any sense of decency was just about gone. All he wanted to do was yank her pants down and…

  “Oh no,” she whispered. “Do you feel it?”

  “I do.” His voice turned rough. “And I want to feel more.”

  When Shannon tilted her head, and their eyes met in the darkness, he knew they weren’t talking about the same thing. Not in the least. No, there was a genuine flicker of fear in her eyes before she bolted.

  “Something’s wrong,” she said into his mind. “We’ve crossed over into the land of the dead.”

  He raced after her, only now aware that the dark colors of the cave had shifted. Brightened. It alarmed him that he had become so consumed by her that he missed it.

  “Emily?” Shannon called out as she flew into the original cave. She might be trying to mask her panic, but he heard it. And he felt it just as readily as he withdrew both his sword and dagger.

  “She’s right here,” Sven called out. Like Matthew, he had a weapon drawn to protect Emily as the air grew icier. Not just pockets of cold air but chilled everywhere.

  “What’s happening?” Matthew growled. He took up position beside Sven in front of Shannon and Emily. “This doesn’t feel like it did before when Freydis and Sigrunn were here.”

  “It’s nothing like that,” Shannon murmured as she looked around. “That was the dead visiting us. This is the land of the dead itself.”

  If Shannon’s theory held true, then he would have felt this chill during battle. But he didn’t. Not to the best of his recollection. He looked at Sven. “Do you see it as well, Nephew? Do you see Helheim?”

  Sven nodded. “It is not what I expected.”

  “No,” Matthew agreed as he scanned the cave for everyone else.

  “They’re not here,” Shannon whispered. “It’s only us four.”

  “Who enters my world uninvited,” came a soft whistling whisper on the wind in the cracks high above. “Is that you, Matthew Sigdir?” All of a sudden the sound was far sharper and came from right beside him. “It is, isn’t it? All grown up.”

  When he spun, he was hit with such an icy blast of cold that his weapons dropped from limp fingers. Shadowed and unnaturally beautiful, a woman drifted and shifted in front of him. Her curious eyes looked him over with approval.

  “Welcome back, Matthew Sigdir,” she purred. “Welcome home.”

  “Why is this his home, Mama?” came Emily’s sleepy voice. “And why is the pretty lady looking at him like that?”

  “Shh, baby,” Shannon said. When she took a step back, Sven and Matthew did the same, determined to protect. The only problem? He had no idea how to protect them from this. Whatever she was. He could barely keep his eyes focused on any one piece of her she shifted and undulated so quickly.

  “It’s her,” Shannon said into his mind, her fear palpable. “This is Hel, Matthew.”

  He narrowed his eyes, unwilling to let fear claim him. It had no place in his life. Not anymore. Even if the goddess of the underworld wanted him. As it was, he had, for the most part, felt like he lived in her realm sinc
e the raid. And maybe he had on and off if Shannon was right. So he met those unnatural eyes only feet away from him and said, “Let my family and friends go. I will stay. I will do whatever you ask of me.”

  “Whatever I ask, is it?” she murmured, eying him over again. “You are large and dragon,” she whispered. “Sigdir dragon.”

  Matthew knew she didn’t expect or want an answer. He remained perfectly still as she came so close he could feel her icy breath fan across his skin. Even up close her face was hard to catch a glimpse of. As if she moved so quickly she was never in any one place at a time.

  “Are you brave enough to fight my enemy, I wonder?” she murmured. “Are you brave enough to fight his pesky mistress who thinks she belongs in my Helheim. That she might rule my kingdom?”

  Was Hallstein her enemy too? Because it sounded like she might be talking about Maeva. But he had to be sure.

  “Who is your enemy—” he started to say but she exhaled sharply and his mouth grew so cold he was unable to finish his sentence.

  “You know who my enemy is,” she hissed. “You all know who he is.”

  “Is it the man who took Auntie Lauren then?” Emily asked. “Because I could very well understand why he’s your enemy—” Shannon put a hand over Emily’s mouth to quiet her, but it was too late.

  A breath later, all were thrust back, and Emily was left standing alone in front of Hel. Everyone struggled to get closer, but he knew deep down, they would never get near the little girl again if that’s what the goddess wanted. Matthew wrapped his arms around Shannon and held her tight. Anything to help lessen her sobs.

  Emily, meanwhile, remained perfectly calm and guileless as she studied Hel, an innocent smile blossoming on her face. “You might not look like Auntie Warrioress’ Svala and Kadlin, but you’re the fiercest Viking warrioress ever, aren’t you?”

  Hel didn’t answer right away, but half floated, half sauntered around Emily, studying her thoroughly. When she, at last, stopped in front of Shannon’s daughter again, she answered. “I am all things Norse, and yes, there are none fiercer than me.”

  Emily planted her hands on her hips, cocked her head and considered the dark goddess. “Not even your daddy, Loki?”

  Matthew kept a firm hold on Shannon as her knees weakened and she struggled to hold back sobs. Sven’s jaw was locked and his eyes lethal with dragon rage as he remained braced to get to Emily the second he could.

  It seemed in Helheim, he could not embrace his dragon.

  Hel’s eyes narrowed as her face came within inches of Emily’s. “I am fiercer than my father when I am in the world I rule.” The goddess continued to study her. “And how fierce are you, child?”

  “You might find it hard to believe how fierce I am,” Emily said matter-of-factly. “Considering my size.”

  “But you seem so large to me,” Hel murmured, shrinking down until she was an inch tall. “Now you seem so small,” she said moments later as she towered over them all, slumping so her head didn’t hit the ceiling. Within a blink, she had returned to normal. “Size means nothing, child. All of what you are, your very power, has everything to do with something else entirely.”

  Clearly impressed, Emily’s eyes were wide. “And what is that, Auntie Warrioress Hel?”

  Shannon gasped, and Matthew held her tighter.

  He prayed to Odin the goddess didn’t end Emily for her insolence.

  As if she’d been hit by Thor’s hammer, Hel’s head whipped back at Emily’s words. This was it. A parent’s worst nightmare. Matthew tried to turn Shannon, to shield her eyes but stopped short when the goddess did the last thing he ever expected.

  Nothing.

  At least not to Emily.

  Instead, she turned to Matthew and Shannon, her words so crisp, clear and piercing, they echoed off the cave chambers far and wide. “Go north, Matthew Sigdir, and I will help you, but only if…” her eyes drifted from Emily to him. “You take the creature that thinks herself fierce considering her size.”

  While he knew Shannon was every bit as eager to deny her as he was, both were smart enough to keep their mouths shut. Anything to appease the goddess and get to Emily again. Anything to keep her safe.

  “Agreed.” Matthew nodded. “She will come.”

  “Good.” Hel started to dissipate, her words again part of the wind. “In the end, you will give me something in return for my help.”

  Seconds later, the chill left the air. When Matthew released Shannon, she was able to get to Emily.

  “Oh, sweetie,” she mumbled as she fell to her knees and pulled her daughter into her arms. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” A tear escaped as she held Emily’s head against her chest and closed her eyes. “So very glad.”

  Sven’s dragon eyes continued blazing with rage as he paced and kept glaring at the spot from which Hel had vanished. Matthew wasn’t all that surprised to see his cousins and Cameron reappear. All had been sleeping soundly, none-the-wiser until now.

  “What happened?” all three said at once as they came awake.

  He reigned in his animalistic response when Cameron crouched and put his arms around Shannon and Emily. The sharp possessiveness Matthew felt toward both of them alarmed him. If he could shift right now, he might very well have done something to the twenty-first century male that was damning. Irreversible. And that would have driven both Shannon and her daughter away from him forever.

  He clenched his fists and shook his head. What was he thinking? He didn’t want a woman and certainly not another child. Not considering how poorly he was doing with the one he already had. Matthew ground his jaw and closed his eyes as an intense wave of pain hit him. What Shannon had just suffered was nearly as bad as what he had felt since Håkon went missing. A soul deep ache and fear there was no escaping…no reasoning with.

  Matthew had no idea when he moved or crouched beside Emily until he was there with his head hung and his hand on her back. Until he was sending a prayer of thanks to his All-Father Odin for protecting her.

  “You don’t have to be sad for me, Matthew,” she murmured, her cheek resting on Shannon’s shoulder as she stared at him. “Just keep being sad for Håkon so that you find him faster.”

  He nodded, and then let them be. When his cousins and nephew joined him, they quietly discussed what their next move should be.

  “It has only been a few hours,” Matthew said. “Shannon and Emily need more rest before we travel.”

  “The sun is setting, Cousin,” Kadlin informed. “You and Shannon were gone for many hours. Nearly the whole day.”

  “No.” Matthew frowned and shook his head. “It was but an hour or two at the most.”

  “No,” Kodran said. “It was as my sister says.” He kept eying Matthew with concern. Like Kadlin, he had already been in Sven and Matthew’s minds, so he knew what they missed. “We have rested for some time now. The sun is setting.”

  How had they missed so much time? That made no sense.

  “Then we will travel soon.” Being without sleep didn’t bother him, but he worried about Shannon. She must be exhausted.

  “I’m okay,” she said into his mind, seemingly following his every thought. “I’m used to keeping odd hours and not getting much rest.”

  Their eyes met as she held Emily and said aloud, “Really, we need to head north. Especially if it means we can help find Håkon.”

  That was about the last thing he wanted her and Emily to do. “It is too dangerous.”

  “But we have no choice,” Shannon said, her voice firm as she kissed Emily’s forehead and stood. “I’m not taking any chances where Hel is concerned. Because if I sensed nothing else about her, it’s that she can reach us anywhere we go.” Her eyes fell to her daughter, and she squeezed her hand. “So we need to do what Emily has been brave enough to do since the beginning.” Her eyes returned to Matthew. “We need to go find your son.”

  He understood her reasoning, but still.

  “It is not safe,” he started to argue,
but Shannon shook her head and cut him off. “Nowhere is safe anymore, Matthew, and now I realize that. It’s time we work together as a team to become safe again. And that means finding Håkon.” Her red-rimmed eyes were more compassionate than he felt he deserved. “Because until you’re reunited with your son, none of us will be strong enough to face anything.”

  “That’s right,” Emily chimed in, not upset or fazed in the least that she’d just conversed with the ruler of the Norse Underworld. Loki’s daughter. One of the most feared gods known to their people. “We need Håkon in order to face the enemy.” Her voice might still be unforgiving as she looked at Matthew, but her words were more than he expected. “And I’m pretty sure we need you too.”

  A small smile curled Shannon’s lips, and she arched a brow just enough to let him know that he should be mighty pleased with that. There was hope after all. Her daughter was giving him more than they both expected.

  Matthew did his best not to growl in frustration that they would be heading straight into trouble but managed a weak smile. “It looks like I am outnumbered in this decision, yes?”

  “Yay!” Emily smiled broadly at Shannon. “We’re going to save Håkon after all!”

  “Yes, we are,” Shannon confirmed and grinned.

  Though she sounded happy enough, Matthew didn’t miss the edge of worry in her voice. He didn’t blame her. She had been forced into putting her daughter in harm’s way. Because though it could be said with certainty that Hel could follow them anywhere, it didn’t lessen the fact they were heading toward an equally daunting threat.

  Hallstein. The reincarnate of Bard himself.

  And let them not forget, Maeva. His love from a century long gone. A woman who was evidently Shannon’s sister, Erica, in another life. While his kin had only ever witnessed an evil version of her, Lauren and Tait spoke of another. One who was kind. Good. Her only crime was being lusted after by Bard and becoming pregnant because of it. Yet the Maeva they had come across, the woman Hallstein kept trying to possess others with to bring her back, seemed as rotten as him.

  Was she the pesky mistress Hel referred to?