“It does not need to be serious. You can lay with other men if you desire.” He pulled on a tunic. “But you will be mine.”
Her brows shot up higher. Bjorn wasn’t messing around in the least. He meant every word. Or so most would think. She had heard the slight shift in his voice when he said she could sleep with other men. The human ear couldn’t detect it, but her dragon did.
Enough with this. All of it.
“Okay, sounds like it’s time to get a few things straight,” she said as she laced up her pants. “For starters, I’ll reiterate that I am not looking for anything serious. I’ve only been single for a little over a year, and I intend to keep it that way until I’m damn well ready. Fully healed. In a mentally healthy place.” She pulled on a shirt. “Secondly? When I do decide to get serious again, it’ll be with one man and one man only. I don’t sleep around.” Still standing, she braced herself against the wall as she pulled on a boot. “And third,” she narrowed her eyes, “when I do hook up, I won’t belong to that man, especially not you.”
A stormy look entered his eyes though his voice remained emotionless. “Then you would prefer one of my kin?”
“No.” She pulled on her other boot. “I would prefer you to be the guy I thought you were.” Sam shook her head and shot him a look. “One who believes a woman should be able to make up her own mind about who she wants to be with…and when she wants to be with him.”
She felt slightly uncomfortable using the reference to his past with Katla but found justification considering he thought he could own her for real. Was he serious? Based on his ever darkening expression, there could be no doubt.
“I thought you made up your mind when you laid with me,” he said, wrapping a black fur over his shoulders. As she teetered with one shoe half on, he closed the distance far too quickly and held her in place with a firm hand around her upper arm. Heat flared beneath her skin not only due to his proximity but because of the confused, hurt look in his eyes. “I mean you no harm, woman. I just want to keep you.” His eyes searched hers. “Do you not want to be my mate?”
Again, she opened her mouth then snapped it shut when she realized Bjorn truly had no idea he was offending her. He had a one track mind that made sense for this era but made less than no sense considering his unusual upbringing.
So instead of yanking her arm away, she frowned at him. “Your mom and aunts are from the twenty-first century, so I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around you being so…” She shook her head. “So barbaric with someone like me. With anyone really.”
Any emotion he might have shown before vanished as he released her and stepped away. He was about to speak when a strange sound came from outside. Like a bird chirping but off an octave.
Bjorn half growled, half muttered under his breath and shoved her behind him moments before the last person she wanted to see ducked into the cave.
Vigdis.
The seer inhaled deeply then shot Samantha a sly grin. “So you finally took him then, did you, woman?”
“I did,” Sam confirmed as she peeked around his shoulder. Far past playing games with the seer, she kept going. “And to answer your next inappropriate question, it wasn’t half bad.”
“Only half bad then?” A slow smile crept onto the seer’s face as she sauntered closer and eyed him over, whispering, “The son of the infamous Viking King was only half bad was he?”
“Why are you here.” Bjorn angled his body to keep Sam behind him as he glowered. “You should be at the lair.”
“I should be at a great number of places,” she murmured, trying to see past him to Sam. “Are you well then, woman? Do you feel better after hitting me like you did?”
“I do,” Sam responded, not concerned in the least by how threatened Bjorn seemed by the seer. “You were a real bitch, and I wasn’t having it.”
“No.” Vigdis smiled broadly, displaying surprisingly straight, white teeth. “And you took care of my cruelty with vengeance,” the seer whispered. Her voice almost sounded knowing. As if she had instigated Sam on purpose. “You took care of me with violence.”
Sam clenched her jaw. Why did Vigdis seem so pleased? Then again, the seer liked the fight she brought out in Sam at Bjorn’s lair. It was almost as if Vigdis was pushing her to finally let out long-repressed anger.
“Stop being so cruel to others,” Sam replied to Vigdis, “and maybe violence won’t be necessary.”
“Why are you here?” Bjorn repeated, still not allowing Vigdis anywhere near Sam.
The seer eyed them, her gaze no longer curious but displeased. “I tried to tell you back at your lair.” She said the word lair as if it fit uncomfortably on her tongue. “But you could not see past your distrust.”
“Because you are no longer serving and protecting my king,” Bjorn bit out.
“But I am.” Vigdis cocked her head, eager to keep her eyes on Sam though she spoke to Bjorn. “With my bones that is. They hold more power than my stones.”
“Right, that.” Sam stepped around Bjorn and confronted the seer. “How is it again that Heidrek only has the bones but can still control you?” Though she was upset, she kept her voice level, monotone. A little trick she had picked up from Bjorn without him knowing. It seemed to keep people on edge. “Stop hedging, Vigdis. Just tell us why you’re here. Why you’re following us when you should be protecting the Fortress, more so Heidrek and my sister?”
Vigdis leaned close to Sam and inhaled deeply. Her eyes crossed then uncrossed before she crooned, “Play by nigh, feel his frigh. Frolick by day…” The corner of her mouth curled up slowly, and her eyes snapped to Bjorn. “And you will pay.”
“What the hell does that mean?” She shook her head as the hairs on the back of her neck lifted. She might not like Bjorn’s overly assertive nature when it came to claiming her, but she’d be damned if anyone threatened him. “What do you mean Bjorn will pay?” Sam came nose to nose with the seer, her eyes still narrowed as she said something alarmingly territorial. “Because that won’t be happening on my watch.”
“Your watch?” Vigdis ran her tongue along her lips as she looked at Bjorn. “So she watches you that closely, does she?”
“Tell us why you are here,” Bjorn replied bluntly, his eye on the ball. “Tell us what purpose you serve.”
“My purpose it to serve my people,” she replied, incredulous. There was an odd glint in her eyes. A devious frustration. “My fellow seers.” Vigdis’ eyes went from him to Sam before she did the last thing Samantha expected and roared, “I serve her.”
Bjorn yanked Sam behind him and aimed a dagger at the seer. “If you serve Samantha, tell me why. Because right now you are no friend but a traitor to my king and people.”
“Unlike you,” Vigdis purred, fluttering her eyelashes. “Who abandons his king and best friend in his hour of greatest need.”
Bjorn tensed, but his voice and expression remained unwavering. “I will not be baited by you.” Sam staggered back as he released her and grabbed the seer, his blade to her neck in an instant. “Tell me the truth!”
Here they were again.
Back in the same situation they were in at the Dragon Lair.
No matter how dire her circumstances, the seer’s eyes never left Sam’s. “What truth would you have, Samantha?”
“I believe Bjorn asked you, not me,” Sam shot back.
Vigdis shrugged. “But I am not here to give him answers.”
“Then give Samantha answers,” he growled, his blade pressed tighter.
The seers’ eyes held Sam’s though she spoke to Bjorn. “Why will you not call her by her nickname, Bjorn? Why will you not call Samantha, Sam like all those close to her do?” Vigdis’ eyes returned to his. “You must know she prefers it.”
“Answer my question,” Bjorn repeated.
“I will if you will,” the seer said.
“There is no—”
Sam and the seer might have their moments, but she was genuinely curious about this too so she
interrupted. “I’d like an answer to this one too, Bjorn.” She sidled around and tried to meet his eyes. “Why don’t you call me Sam like everyone else?”
Bjorn never met Sam’s eyes but remained focused on Vigdis, his voice deadpan. “This will be the last time I ask. Tell me why you’re here.”
“Bjorn,” Vigdis chimed, a silly grin on her face as she looked between him and Sam. “Why don’t you tell her why you do not call her by the name she wishes?” Her coy look swiftly transformed to bemused surprise as she seemingly figured something out. “Oh my, you don’t quite know why you are determined to call her Samantha, do you?”
Sam knew then and there that any hope of a straight answer was lost because Bjorn simply wouldn’t deal with the seer’s antics. As expected, he drove Vigdis back against the wall until his face was inches from hers.
“I. Have. Had. Enough,” he ground out, his hand firmly wrapped around her windpipe.
“Then let us get out of here,” Vigdis murmured, her eyes still on Sam. “Let us leave so that you can stay safe, and we can learn why Samantha cannot be Sam to you.”
Sam shuddered. She had a strong feeling that something was about to happen. Something very bad.
When Bjorn’s hand tightened, she closed the distance and put a hand on his forearm. “No.” Her eyes met his before they swung to Vigdis and she repeated, “No.”
The seers’ eyes softened. “You have little time, Sam.”
“Samantha,” she corrected, not sure why in the least. She really did prefer Sam. But the seer was right. With Bjorn, it could only be Samantha. And right now, her thoughts were entirely on him so she figured that’s why she said it.
“Samantha,” the seer warned. “You have little time.”
Bjorn tightened his grip. “Time for what? Tell us what is happening.”
“Bad things,” Vigdis reported, her liquid eyes too alight given the circumstances. “I tried to tell you before. Why Heidrek sent me…I come to share a prophecy.”
“I do not believe that Heidrek sent you and I do not believe in your prophecies,” Bjorn said, never releasing her.
“But you might have to, Cousin,” came a soft voice from the corner. “Or all might be lost.”
Bjorn shook his head. His eyes never left Vigdis as he responded to the other seer who appeared. “No, Näv. You did as I asked and helped me. I owe you a debt and will repay you. Until such time, take your fellow seer and leave here. I have had enough of you both.”
“Cousin,” Näv whispered, clearly injured.
“No.” His eyes shot to Näv as if he just realized something. “Do not seem wounded when all along you were in league with Vigdis. When all along you knew that she would be leaving Heidrek and seeking us out.”
Näv’s eyes met Vigdis’ before they both lowered their heads in acknowledgment.
Bjorn was right.
“You need to go, Cousin,” Näv whispered. “You need to go so you can find Sam.”
Samantha and Bjorn glanced at each other before his frown deepened and he narrowed his eyes on the seers. “I have found her. Samantha is right here.”
“Go,” Vigdis hummed. “To find Sam.”
“And then once you do,” Näv said softly. “You must let her go to keep your kin safe. To protect them from the new enemy dragon clan.”
“I will not let her go,” Bjorn bit back.
Vigdis cocked her head, her unnatural gaze on him. “Right, because that would be yet another woman you let go of in a single lifetime.”
“Shut up,” Sam spat, her temper flaring. “It isn’t your place to say that.”
The seer perked one brow. “Did Bjorn not want me to be truthful then?”
“Enough, Vigdis,” Näv said.
“I have a higher position within our people.” Vigdis narrowed her eyes at the other seer. “Therefore, you do not tell me what to do. Because of your tricks, Näv,” her eyes returned sharply to Bjorn, “he brought Sam back in time when we both know she should have remained in the future. That there is nothing riskier than bringing a Gateway Seer together with a Sigdir dragon.”
Samantha frowned. “What are you talking about? I’ve been around several Sigdir dragons and everything’s been fine.”
“So far,” Vigdis said. “But not if you fall in love with one.” Her eyes narrowed on Näv again. “Something that might have already happened due to your meddling.”
Sam had never seen Vigdis act this way. Closer to normal than usual.
“Bjorn’s reasons for bringing her back in time were sound,” Näv defended, not intimidated by Vigdis. “She bears the mark of the Gungnir. Which meant the risk of falling under Loki’s influence and causing harm to our tribe was much higher than the risk of her falling in love.”
“Well, I’m definitely not in love so you two can stop throwing that out there,” Sam interjected. “But why would it be a threat if I was?”
“Because of your particular abilities. You are not only a conduit for time travel,” Vigdis said. “But a conduit for other things.” Her eyes found Sam’s. “Hence you becoming the enemy’s former lover, a woman who is as dark as him.”
“Or was,” Näv said. “She died several years ago.”
“What are you talking about?” Sam frowned. “When the hell did I become his former lover?”
Vigdis gave Bjorn a curious look. “So you did not tell her? How... compassionate of you.”
“It was brief.” Bjorn’s eyes met Sam’s. “And it was the reason you stabbed me. I saw no point in sharing until we knew more.”
Though tempted to get upset, she was warmed by his concern. He was trying to prevent her from worrying too much.
“So now I’ve had two people possess my mind. Flipping wonderful,” she murmured as her eyes returned to the seers. “So what’s that got to do with me falling in love?”
“According to seer folklore, a Gateway Seer should never fall in love, especially with a dragon,” Vigdis informed. “If she does, he will become as vulnerable as her to those who wish us harm. And through him, his fellow dragons. Because you’ve already been possessed it stands to reason the enemy is drawing closer and closer to you...” her eyes drifted to Bjorn. “And he who slowly but surely shares your mind.”
Bjorn frowned at Näv. “You knew of this?”
“I did,” she confirmed. “I did not tell you because it would not have made a difference. It was too late. And the larger threat, the Gungnir, still needed to be addressed.”
Troubled, Sam glanced from Bjorn to Näv. “I don’t know about that.” She rubbed the tattoo when it warmed. It was almost as if it knew it was being talked about. “I’d say making all the Sigdir’s more exposed to the enemy is worse than a tat connected to Loki.”
“Perhaps,” Näv murmured. “Perhaps not.”
“Do you know what I find strange considering what you and Vigdis just shared?” Sam’s eyes narrowed on Näv. “It might be me, but it almost feels like you’ve been trying to push Bjorn and I together. Traveling back in time was more erotic than it probably should’ve been, and I think you had something to do with that. Then you showed me Bjorn’s memory. That gave me a pretty intense look into his personal life. And now this…” She gestured at the cave. “It seems so…intimate.”
“Yes,” Vigdis murmured, her slippery eyes on Näv. “Ripe with the magic of the Place of Seers, with its power to incite desire and lust…” Her eyes went between Bjorn and Sam. “Mating.”
Sam kept eying Näv. “I was right. You’ve been pushing us together, haven’t you?”
Näv’s eyes went to Bjorn before returning to Sam. “Bjorn is a good man. One who deserves happiness. One who has been without it for far too long.”
“I will remain of the mind that Samantha needed to be under my control because of the threat of the Gungnir,” Bjorn said softly, his troubled eyes on Näv. “Because you should know better than any that my happiness depends on the welfare of our kin and people. Not my individual desires.”
&nb
sp; “Speaking of control,” Sam said. “I’ve never been under Bjorn’s control though I was supposed to be.” Her eyes went back and forth between Vigdis and Näv. “Any thoughts why?”
“Perhaps because you are a Gateway Seer, the same rules do not apply to you,” Näv said. “Or perhaps you not being under Bjorn’s control is part of Loki’s trick.”
“Super. This just gets more and more complicated.” Sam shook her head. “Well, at least we don’t have to worry about the love part.” She frowned at the seers, mostly Vigdis. “That said, why are you so eager for Bjorn to, she made quotes in the air, “find me,” when he clearly already has. And why are you so concerned about him calling me Sam instead of Samantha? The truth is, I’ve never pushed him to. I’m fine with either name.” She snorted. “Anything’s better than being called woman.”
She was being truthful about the label woman, but not so much about what people called her. Sam’s mother had called her Samantha, never Sam, so she related it with Mom. After her mother passed away, the nickname Sam was always preferable. Cybil found that strange. Wouldn’t Sam still want to hear her full name so she felt connected to her mother? But no. Samantha felt that base was covered somehow. Now she sort of wondered why.
Sam was about to speak when a commotion erupted outside.
Bjorn’s eyes snapped to the entrance and narrowed. “Loki’s Hel.”
“Here.” Näv opened a compartment that appeared out of nowhere, pulled out a sword and handed it to Bjorn. “You will need this.”
Bjorn eyed the blade then said, “Stay here, Samantha,” before he tucked the Gungnir dagger at his side and strode out.
Like hell, she would. Though she ignored the seers when they urged her to stop, she froze after she exited. Oh, damn. Several men already lay wounded at Tait’s feet, and more were heading his way. When did he get here? Why was he here? Questions she figured she already had the answer to. The Sigdir’s were tight. If one was in harm’s way, it wouldn’t be long before another came to help.
“What are you doing here, Cousin?” Bjorn groused, echoing her sentiments. “This is behind enemy lines.” When he saw that Samantha followed, he shot her a fierce scowl. “Get back in there, woman!”
Vengeance of a Viking (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors' Kin Book 2) Page 15
