by Kate Pearce
“Don’t do this to me, Steinn!”
His jaw twitched. “You will end me if you die tonight before I do, Dri.”
That stopped her flat. Her chest continued to heave and her anger rolled off her in waves, but she sensed his unease. They weren’t even touching but now they shared a bond that tethered their feelings, their anguish and their pleasures.
“Don’t you think I’d feel the same if you died before me? What makes you so special?” Her anger must’ve faded a bit since she smiled.
“Men will die tonight. Someone must be here to make a final stand in case any of them gets through.” He held her close. “You will be that final stand.”
“Have you seen the high priestess? That woman is scary with a blade.”
He grunted in amusement. “Well, you and the old women are the final line.”
“Now that you have manipulated me to remain behind I guess I have no choice but to stay.” He captured her lips, savoring them. Now he sensed her rising excitement, her breathless moment when they parted.
“I love you, woman.”
“I love you, too, Steinn.”
When he left her behind he didn’t look back. It’d be all the more difficult like the day they parted, but at least this time what needed to be said had been said.
The other warriors and their dragons waited for them.
Once everyone was gathered together they marched in single file out of the fortress to cross the snow. They veered far to the right, double-timing to get a good distance to go around them from the rear.
The wind picked up and visibility decreased. The others fell back while Steinn and Knurre took the lead. The dragons weren’t built to travel on land so they ambled about on foot with their wings tucked in their sides. The reds had trouble keeping up with Knurre so they sped ahead.
As they finally approached the hills near the back of the metal beast, they leapt onto the scarred, vibrating structure. Steinn glanced upward, taking in what had to be as tall as one hundred men. Maybe more. Now that they were up close the stench from the burnt crystals seared his nostrils. His dragon attacked first, clamping down on the building with its claws in an attempt to wrench it open. The invader spilled from an opening on the side, yelling out in their guttural tongue. Their weapons fired in their direction, but with such low visibility most of them missed their mark.
Bright light flashed near his dragon’s head.
Keep moving, Knurre.
Not far behind them Brimir and the others brought up the rear. Their element of surprise was successful. The others fought their way into the hole Knurre had made, but it was far too small for the larger dragon.
This time when he summoned the white dragon, Knurre came to him without delay. He jumped on the beast’s back and they scampered up the side.
Show them no mercy for all the deaths they have caused, Knurre.
Knurre complied. It bit and clawed viciously at anyone foolish enough to appear out of openings that emerged along the sheer face. They aimed their weapons, or swung wooden bats at the dragon, but it dodged their fire with blinding speed and crushed them between its jaws.
All the while, even with the howls of the wind it wouldn’t stop chattering away. “Ugh! That one tasted awful. Like an old boot.”
Once they reached near the top they crossed over from the back to the front. Only to spot the offworlders running from the structure. All of them raced for the fortress. Even after the attack at the Gates to the Frost, their numbers were many. More than he knew the words to count. They formed a river of bodies.
“Can you fly in this wind?” Steinn asked.
Knurre made a clicking noise. “Not well, but what fun would it be to stay here and try to eat men who taste like moldy boots?”
The white dragon jumped off the building and the wind pushed them precariously skyward. The shifting gusts jerked them all over the place, but Knurre was all the more eager to engage. He dove toward the racing army, his mouth open wide to spew a wide path of ice. The men shot a wave of fire upward. Another dragon joined them in the air, but landed again back on the structure. The red dragons couldn’t fly in this weather.
“There are too many of them,” Steinn grunted.
The invaders drew closer. Soon enough they’d reach their destination.
Suddenly, more shapes filled the sky from behind the fortress. Steinn couldn’t believe all the beautiful white dragons that descended upon the invaders and crashed into the snow, snapping and hissing at any men who got too close to them.
Oh, Freya what is this…
Her ice children had numbers way beyond anything he imagined. The reds supposedly were in the hundreds, but countless white dragons swarmed over the hillside and descended like a radiant wraith over the structure and men as they scattered away from this new enemy. Knurre joined them with Steinn riding along. He was no longer in control. The white dragons shrieked as they ripped the invaders apart, tossing their limbs and bloodied bodies into the snow. Their claws pulled the metal off the tower, mashing away at the contraption that stuttered before it came to a violent stop.
When the last man moved no more and the rolling enemy was nothing but a heap of snow-covered scraps, the dragons began to retreat. One moved and then all of them scattered over the hills or took flight into the murky darkness.
Knurre helped him find the others and guided them back to the fortress.
A lone woman waited on the landing and waved at them.
14
The next morning, it was time for them to face the high priestess. One matter had to be settled: Drifa’s obligation to them.
Now that the storm had cleared, the sisters took to the landing outside to hear her plea.
Steinn had all but expected the other warriors to leave, but they had stayed to observe.
Once the women took their place with Drifa standing before them, he stepped forward to have his thoughts known. “Before you speak, I want you to know I’m aware of her role with your sisterhood and I will respect whatever decision my woman will make.”
The witches whispered among themselves.
The older woman, who had to be the high priestess, didn’t appear amused. “She is of no use to the sisterhood any longer.”
At his side Drifa didn’t react only casting her gaze to the ground out of respect.
“What are you saying?” he asked.
“The moment you took her as your woman, she broke her pact with the Women of the Frost. Her clan will suffer for her insolence.”
“Suffer?” This hiss didn’t come from him, but from Knurre. The dragon twitched from its place against the wall. “Vicious female!”
Knurre rushed the older woman, only to stop a few feet away. Chaos erupted on the landing as the other witches scampered backwards, swords drawn. No one expected such an act from one of the untethered dragons. The high priestess extended a blade without fear.
His gaze never leaving the older woman, Knurre growled at Steinn. “Interpret what I say Varmr-Líkami, word for word.”
“Stay calm, friend.” He reached for Knurre’s reins, but the dragon’s hard stare made him think otherwise.
“Interpret!”
He nodded and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Would that stubborn dragon really kill a Woman of the Frost?
The dragon continued. “The female, called Drifa, is bonded to me and therefore she is bonded to the white dragons. Her kin are my kin now. When you strike against them, you are attacking the dragons.” His wings twitched with agitation and Steinn waited for a strike, but none came. He interpreted the words as desired. “We all have a role to play in this world of fire and ice. When you disturb the balance the Creator has built with her blessed hand, you aren’t using the gifts she has given you. The Varmr-Líkami is in no position to make you answer for your crimes so the ice dragons are more than willing to do what must be done.”
“Who are you to threaten me?” the high priestess hissed.
“We are the ones who
hide in the shadows all around you.” Knurre glanced behind her and everyone followed its gaze. White dragons, who’d once blended into the stark landscape, now clung to every rock. Every visible point. And all of them stared right at the high priestess.
“We are the ones who ultimately protected your home,” Stein’s mount hissed. “We could rip apart this place bit by bit and not regret such an action to restore the balance.”
Silence folded over the landing. None of the warriors moved. Only the witches who glanced to the high priestess. Were they waiting for an order from her to attack the dragons? Steinn’s grip on his sword tightened. He’d fight for Drifa if the time came.
The blade in the high priestess’ hand quivered. The muscles in Knurre’s thighs tensed as if the dragon was ready to pounce. Finally, the high priestess’ face scrunched up in annoyance, but she slowly nodded. “My pact with Drifa Ragnardottir’s clan has been rescinded. Drifa, you are free from your obligation to the Women of the Frost.”
***
Once the decree had been made there was no reason for Drifa to remain at the sisters’ fortress. The moment they set her free she left without so much as a word.
As to where they’d go, she didn’t need to tell Steinn where to take her. His home was the place she was meant to be.
The flight home back to the Eik clan lasted a full day, but it was a ride without fear. She had Steinn now and nothing could take him away from her.
Once back home, the days passed with peace and she looked forward to what was to come. Greta, the woman who managed the great hall, was grateful to have another woman on hand to help with the spinning, baking, and such. Compared to her previous life of diligent study, this new one would be harder, but in the end a happier one.
On one particular morning, she took in the pink sky and enjoyed the cool breeze. The winter was coming and with it the festival where they’d be formally married.
She strolled across a barren field and came to a ledge. Not far below she caught two voices in a lively conversation. She caught sight of Steinn’s wide back and the white dragon. Both of them sat on the ground staring at the sky.
“You don’t scratch me all that well,” the dragon complained.
“It’s not like I knew what you wanted before.”
The dragon made a noise that could’ve been interpreted as a harrumph. Silence stretched between them for a moment and she leaned forward to see what they were doing. Then Steinn spoke.
“Why did the white dragons come to protect us?” he asked. Now that was the question she had been curious about ever since they’d returned.
The dragon sighed. “They weren’t protecting us, but the Varmr-Líkami that live within that structure. The land of ice has been slowly disappearing, but they have allowed our home to exist and for us to live in freedom.”
“So why did you attack the high priestess then? Seemed a rather foolish thing to do.”
Knurre grunted. “Haven’t I taught you anything over the years? Most likely not. It was a gamble, and the old Varmr-Líkami played right into it. All those dragons that happened to be there were females who wanted to mate with Hrafn’s dragon.”
“The fat one?”
Drifa held back a laugh.
“Aye, he’s considered fetching for some reason…”
Steinn frowned. “I’m confused about something. So if you protect the Women of the Frost, why did you hate Drifa so much?”
The dragon appeared to roll its eyes. “That’s complicated—but I’ll try to dumb it down for you, Varmr-Líkami. She is your natural mate. I have one too somewhere out there, but that’s a different matter. Anyhow, before you two became a mated pair, I sensed a connection between you and me. It was faint, but not enough for us to work as a cohesive team. But once you two mated, your intentions became as clear as if you spoke directly to my mind.”
Steinn shook his head and she couldn’t resist smiling. That was the best way to describe their life now. What had once been foggy between them was now clear as if the fog had been lifted.
Instead of spending the day helping Greta get the Eik great hall in shape, she sat on a rocky hill above the pair as they conversed like they did now.
As much as she loved sneaking up on them, she held back a laugh when the dragon tilted its head to the side and winked at her.
MORE FROM SHAWNTELLE MADISON
If you enjoyed Taming the Viking’s Dragon, join my mailing list. Be sure to sign up to learn about my latest releases and fun giveaways. Especially on Facebook!
I also love connecting with readers on social media:
Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram
Books by Shawntelle Madison
COVETED SERIES
Natalya Stravinsky:
Collected (Prequel Novella)
Coveted
Kept
Compelled
Aggie McClure:
Bitter Disenchantment
Tessa Dandridge:
Repossessed: The Warlock Repo Man Chronicles
HADLEY WEREWOLVES
Bitten by Deceit
Bitten by Treachery
Bitten by Vengeance
A VIKING’S PEACE
Vikings in Space
by
Zoe York
Website | Facebook | Mailing List
AUTHOR’S NOTE
My fictional planet of Midgard is a long way from the small towns I usually set my romances in, but Reinn and Ashleigh’s story was a joy to write, and I can’t wait to return to this world again in the future. Who doesn’t like a sexy Viking space romp?
About A Viking’s Peace: Thrown together in an intergalactic diplomatic mission, Reinn and Ashleigh know they must fight the burning attraction between them. But this Viking has finally found his mate, and nothing else matters.
All of my stories share a common theme of second chances, and if you like this one, I encourage you to check out my other series. If you join my mailing list, you’ll hear about all my new releases, including opportunities to read my latest story before it’s released for sale.
~Zoe
1
The year: 2254
“How long before one of those goons beds a Viking maiden?”
Lieutenant Ashleigh Tavistock rolled her eyes at her second-in-command’s rhetorical question. Sergeant Navena Johnson knew exactly how to push her buttons. “Officially? Never. Unofficially, I don’t want to know.”
“Maybe you need to indulge in a little unofficial fun while we’re stationed on Midgard.”
Ashleigh snorted. “And get hauled back to Earth? Not going to happen. It’s a miracle that I was selected for this mission. I’m not going to fuck that up.”
Less than two years out of the FedNat Officer Academy, she’d been prepared to not see a deep space mission for another five. When her predecessor came down with viral Guaravian fever and had to be quarantined, Ashleigh had been in the right place at the right time. Even if she still wasn’t sure the FedNat United Forces was the career for her, she wanted this more than anything. Adventure. New frontiers. Making a difference.
They were in their flight suits in the ship’s cargo hold, strapping themselves into the pop out seats along the perimeter with the rest of their team. They’d been orbiting Midgard for almost a day and it was time for their ship to land.
And the real fun to start.
The pants on, intellectual, diplomacy type of fun.
As if her 2IC could read her thoughts, Navena started laughing. “You’re thinking about what you’re going to say when we land, aren’t you?”
Ashleigh blushed. “How did you know?”
“Your face got all dreamy. It only does that about work. You’re beyond weird.”
“We can make a real difference on this mission. And it starts with the first impression. I know Captain Reynolds will make the formal statement, but there’s going to be someone from the Midgard delegation that I’m going to work with every day and I want to begin on the right foot.”
Navena’s skepticism couldn’t be more obvious. Ashleigh didn’t care. That was Navena’s job, to be on guard so the officers could focus on diplomacy.
There were four teams on board, so-called MIFEC cells, tasked with establishing better relations with the Midgardians.
And Ashleigh commanded a cell. Navena and the goons.
Corporal Trenton Chin and Private First Class Benjamin Worst. Goon 1 and Goon 2. Both good guys, although they had a lot more respect for Navena than they did Ashleigh. Well, fair enough. The other woman had ten years in the Forces. Served in the second wave of peacekeeping forces on the Moon. May or may not have a collection of ancient guns and bayonets. In short—Navena was badass.
Their descent was uneventful and over before she knew it. As the pilot conferred with ground control and the decontamination walkways attached to the side of the ship, Ashleigh took her first real look at Midgard.
The spaceport looked like almost any on Earth, but instead of sprawling suburbia and shopping centres, only high-speed rail lines ran across the dark brown flatlands she could see out the starboard side. In the distance rose the Thorgard Range. She’d memorized the geography of the area. Elsewhere on the planet were sub-settlements of Simple Lifers and religious retreats, but the government was tightly controlled here by the descendants of the original travellers. The Vikings who left Earth in search of the planet discovered by Finn Rasmussen in 2091.
She knew her history. The failed diplomatic efforts of the past wouldn’t be repeated if she had a say. And all accounts pointed to the Midgardians being committed to a better relationship between the two planets of humans as well.
