by Lee Savino
My nipples tightened.
“Don’t tell her that,” Rolf snorted. “Then she’ll be smiling at men left and right, just so we’ll spank her—ow!”
He rubbed his arm where I’d whacked him with a piece of kindling.
“Someone needs to be punished now,” Thorbjorn remarked. He hoisted the meat and set it to cook while Rolf stalked me around the fire pit. The scout caught me easily, but after a bout of tickling, he flopped back onto the bed.
“No more fucking, no more punishment. I am tired.”
My mouth dropped open. “You are?”
“Do not look so surprised. We traveled far for the Alphas, and pushed hard so we could rescue your friend.”
“Of course,” I said.
“We cared for you,” Thorbjorn said as he lay down next to Rolf. “Now you can care for us.”
I smiled and finished making the stew, before banking the fire and settling down beside my mates for a nap.
A whimper woke me. I rolled over quickly, before Thorbjorn could stop me. Rolf lay on his back, his head twitching, his face a mask of despair.
“Sage?” Thorbjorn startled awake. His travels must have made him weary, otherwise he would’ve caught me before I crouched next to Rolf as he thrashed and moaned.
“No,” I said, shaking him. “She cannot have you. You are mine.”
His eyes snapped open, wide with fear. Slowly they focused. “Sage?”
“Rolf,” I held his face in my hands. “Rolf, I’m here. Come back to me, my love.”
“Sage. My mate.” He rubbed his forehead against mine.
“I’m here,” I told him, and kissed him. He drank of me slowly, shyly at first, then boldly slipping his tongue into my mouth, dominating, exploring. We rolled together and he came on top, sliding inside me as if he belonged. He fucked me slowly, with lazy strokes, as I smiled at him with eyes half open. I hooked my leg around his and pulled him so we lay face to face. His hips slowly moved him in and out of me until at last he shuddered with pleasure. Before he could speak, I put my arms around him.
“Go to sleep,” I whispered. “I’m here. No one will take you from me.”
Later, the men took me outside. They showed me where to get water, the stream ran alongside a path. We followed it until it forked, one way heading towards the place of the bonfire. The other kept following the stream.
“Where does this go?” I asked.
“Let’s find out.” Rolf threw an arm around my shoulder, and we climbed higher. Little paths curved off the main one, but the men kept on until we came to a ledge.
“Here, Sage,” Rolf pulled me up beside him. I stayed well away from the edge.
“Look.”
The plain spread out before us. Beyond a certain point the mist drifted in patches.
“The Corpse King is still trying to find you. But there is magic in this place to keep you safe.” I shivered.
“But that is not what we wished to show you,” Thorbjorn rumbled.
“Look there.” Rolf pointed. It took me a moment—at first I only caught the wisp of smoke rising above the green heads of trees. Craning my neck, I saw the brown lines of hewn boards. A building. And there, another.
“All of these are lodges?”
“Yes. That lodge is for Brokk and Leif—who have claimed Willow. And there is Knut—whose mate is your friend Hazel. Ulf and Haakon built their lodge there, and they have claimed Laurel.” He went on naming warriors while I blinked at the many buildings, all built into the woods, private, yet sharing the same stream.
“They are homes, Sage,” Thorbjorn said. “For Berserkers, and their mates.”
“Their mates,” Rolf repeated. “Your friends.”
“My friends.” Suddenly my eyes stung.
“Your family,” Thorbjorn murmured. “I told you. We will give you everything. You will want for nothing in our care.”
My vision blurred. I hugged Thorbjorn, pushing my face into his chest. I swallowed once, twice, breathing until I was able to look up and meet his gaze. “Your family, too.”
He kissed my forehead. I laughed a little, swiping at my tears. When I drew away, Thorbjorn caught my hand. Rolf took my other, and together my mates led me down the path to see my friends.
The End
Excerpt from Bonded to the Berserkers
Laurel
The first cry came from the dormitory. It was loud and clear, ringing through the kitchen where I stood with my arms elbow-deep in soapy water.
“Curses,” I muttered, grabbing a cloth to wipe my hands. Who was awake and shouting at this late hour? What orphan had cried out? We all knew to stay quiet, even when being punished.
Sage rushed in. She was my age, but small and frail, and much too thin.
“What is it? What is happening?” I asked.
“Somebody cried out,” she said. “One of the girls must be having a nightmare.”
That could not be it. No orphan would dare.
Footsteps stomped up the hall—the friar coming to investigate. He would be angry at being disturbed. I’d drugged his draught that night, but obviously not enough.
Out of habit I grabbed the mead jug. “I don’t think—”
Another shriek rang out.
“What’s going on?” the friar roared from beyond the inner door. Sage shot forward, running outside. I didn’t blame her. The friar would want answers, and while he treated me well enough—I was the only one who could make his favorite meals—Sage often bore the brunt of his rage.
Still, I backed into the corner. Maybe, in his haste, he wouldn’t see me, and Sage would also get away.
“Sage!” The friar entered the kitchen, to be greeted with another chorus of cries from the outside. Something was wrong.
Another scream from just beyond the door. It sounded like Sage. The friar turned white.
“It’s happening,” he muttered.
“What?” I pushed up, grabbing the closest thing I could to use to defend myself—a pot. “What’s happening?”
But the friar turned and ran back the way he came, robes and sandals flapping.
The door to the outside banged open. But it was only Sage, backing up, her face pale as the moon.
I gulped in a breath as a bearded giant entered the kitchen. He ducked through the doorway and rose up, taller than the tallest man I’d ever seen. Almost twice as tall as any of the orphans. He loomed over Sage, and then stepped aside, making room for his companion. A massive grey wolf.
If this was a nightmare, we were all having it, all at once. My grip tightened on the pot.
“Please,” Sage said. “Do not hurt us.” She shook, but stood her ground.
“No one will hurt them,” the warrior said, his voice a gravelly rumble.
“Leave them be,” Sage croaked.
The warrior advanced, the wolf stalking forward with him.
Sage glanced at me, and then away. She was so brave, and unwilling to give me up. The warrior had eyes for only her.
I had to help her.
I inched from the corner, trying to get closer without attracting attention. More pots sat stacked on a shelf. If I threw the one I held, I could quickly grab another.
The warrior kept talking to Sage, who looked as if she might faint.
“If you leave the others alone, I’ll come with you,” she said.
Sweet Sage, always trying to save others, at the risk of herself. I wouldn’t let her be taken, not without giving her a chance of escape.
I took a deep breath.
The warrior gave up talking and reached for my friend.
I flung the pot as hard as I could.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Sage, Thorbjorn, and Rolf’s story. I had no idea when I started to write it how angst-filled it would be. My characters come to me with their “lives” already formed, and I just sit back and watch their story unfold.
That said, Laurel, Ulf, and Haakon’s story is going to be a lot lighter--just good,
plain fun. :)
I hope you’re enjoying the Berserkers! I have many more books planned. After all, there are a lot of women to save from that abbey, and a whole pack of Berserkers who need mates. You can expect Laurel, Fern, and Sorrel’s story in the next few months. I’m writing them in between working on my new Draekon series with author Lili Zander.
Thank you to everyone who writes me and tells me they love the Berserkers. If you have a friend you think would like the series, you can point them to Sold to the Berserkers or Rescued by the Berserker.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Renee Rose, Aubrey Cara, and Margarita Coale for beta reading this book and providing insight that made the story better. Thank you, Miranda, for proofing.
Thanks to my hubby, sister and sis-in-law for babysitting bebe while I write.
Thank you, coffee, for always being there. And chocolate, for keeping me sane and happy. I love you.
Thanks to the Goddess Group, for cheerleading me on. <3
About the Author
Lee Savino is a USA today bestselling author. She’s also a mom and a choco-holic. She’s written a bunch of books—all of them are “smexy” romance. Smexy, as in “smart and sexy.”
She hopes you liked this book.
Find her at:
www.leesavino.com
Also by Lee Savino
The Berserker Saga
Sold to the Berserkers
Mated to the Berserkers
Bred by the Berserkers (FREE novella only available at www.leesavino.com)
Taken by the Berserkers
Given to the Berserkers
Claimed by the Berserkers
Rescued by the Berserkers
Captured by the Berserkers
Dragons in Exile (Sci-fi Menage Romance)
Draekon Mate: Exiled to the Prison Planet
Contemporary Romance
Rescuing Regina
Her Marine Daddy
Mafia Romance
Innocence in the Underworld: A Mafia Romance Trilogy
The Rocky Mountain Bride Series (19th century cowboys)
Rocky Mountain Dawn
Rocky Mountain Bride
Rocky Mountain Rose
Rocky Mountain Romp
Rocky Mountain Rogue
Rocky Mountain Wild
Rocky Mountain Ride
Historical Menage
Pearl's Possession
