by Ree Thornton
A bird chirped overhead, but the gathered clan remained utterly silent out of respect for the man that had devoted his life to leading them.
"Valen has proven that he will lead with a steady hand and honor. I choose my eldest son as the next Jarl of Gottland." He smiled at Valen and stepped back, the symbolic movement signifying the end of his long reign as Jarl.
Valen nodded at his father, and then turned to face his people and made his pledge. "I vow that Gottland will prosper under my rule. Do you accept me as your Jarl?" The gentle squeeze he gave her hand was the only sign of his nervousness.
She squeezed back, though she knew he worried needlessly. His people loved him and there was no better man to lead them forward.
A wide grin split his handsome face as the noisy din of swords hitting shields filled the grove. He was Jarl.
"How do you show support for the Jarl pairing?" Ràsmus Eriksson yelled, inciting them further.
Her heart skipped a beat as a roar of voices joined the banging until it reached a crescendo. Her heart filled with such joy that she thought it would burst. They had accepted her too. This was not the home she had been born to, but here with these Vikings, she had found family. This was the home of her heart.
Valen pulled her into his arms and claimed her lips, his tongue teasing and retreating with such vigor that his beard left behind a delicious tingling burn on her skin.
A warm glow of satisfaction filled her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and surrendered to the pleasure. Já. She was exactly where she belonged.
Valen broke the kiss and looked down at her, his heated gaze reflecting the fire she knew blazed in her own. "You are mine now, Princess," he said.
She shook her head and smiled up at him. "Nei. You are mine, Viking."
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading Samara and Valen's story. I hope you had a wonderful time with them as they found their way back to each other. Authors love reviews. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your place of purchase.
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If you enjoyed Forbidden Viking, you’ll love the other Viking Hearts novellas. Here's a sneak peak!
Also by Ree Thornton
Beloved Viking
The shield-maiden must marry…
Heir to her father’s Jarldom, Rúna Isaksson will soon ascend to replace him as leader, but first she must marry a warrior from another clan to form a powerful alliance. When her father creates a contest to determine the strongest suitor, Rúna demands to compete as well—if she wins, she can choose her own husband. However, she’s shocked to discover that her first love is amongst the competitors, the man who abandoned her without looking back. She must not let him win.
A Viking warrior haunted by a dark past…
Jorvan Eriksson has returned from seeking his fortune to claim his childhood sweetheart, but the girl he left behind has become a battle-hardened shield-maiden with no intention of forgiving him. Jorvan has changed too—he now fights a darkness that lurks in his own mind. Somehow, he must conquer his demons to out-manoeuvre the other suitors and win the Viking games for Rúna's hand. Though victory alone will never be enough. He won’t settle for anything less than reclaiming the future Jarl’s heart.
Click to buy Beloved Viking: https://geni.us/belovedviking
Winter Viking
A Viking queen on the run...
Widow Ásta Helgesen’s husband died years ago in a brutal attack that cost her everything she loved. For four years, she has lived as Ásta Oleander, hiding in plain sight as she mourns her husband. The one time she took a man to her furs, the crushing guilt overwhelmed her brief need to move and she vowed Dànel would be the last. Now the maniacal Jarl who killed her husband has discovered she’s alive and is determined to make her his bride. He's dangerous, powerful and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Forced to flee, Ásta journeys to the bitterly cold northlands to seek sanctuary in the isolated lands of a man she bedded once, and then rejected. Will he protect her from a murderer? Or has she made a terrible mistake?
A warrior with a painful past...
Following the death of his brother, Dànel Kvitfjell has returned to the Sami northlands to take over the shipping fleet that supports the family village. Yet everything reminds him of the tragedy that led to his childhood banishment and he realises that, after more than a decade fostered with Vikings, his family now feel more like strangers. All he wants is to fulfill his duty to his people and return to life with his Viking comrades, but the unexpected arrival of Ásta and her dangerous secrets jeopardizes everything. Why has the woman who rejected his affections sought him out? Forced to flee deep into the wilderness with Ásta, Dànel must confront the painful past that haunts him. Can he protect Ásta from both the man hunting her and the harsh winter land where one mistake can steal those you love?
Click to buy Winter Viking: https://geni.us/winterviking