Heidrek blinked away his own emotion, touched the small of her back and walked with her until they started climbing. Even then, he watched his aunt’s step closely as they went. If she slipped, he would catch her. If she changed her mind, he’d carry her right back. He hadn’t missed how thin she had become or how often she was tired.
The journey wasn’t long, and they soon stood in an area that allowed them to see the ships floating in the bay and the rooftops of their village. Well aware of who had been silently climbing unseen behind them, his eyes met Cybil’s when they stopped.
She nodded, sensing Svala as well.
Her eyes flickered upward then back.
Bjorn was up there somewhere, watching.
They still had no idea if their sister Meyla was truly dead. Naðr wanted no communication with the dragon lair so Heidrek would honor his wishes and keep it that way until the enemy was confirmed gone. The people simply could not be put at risk. Nor could his kin.
“It was here,” Samantha whispered, standing beside a large boulder. “Right here.”
Megan nodded. “Okay.” She joined Cybil’s sister, took her hands and looked around. “Well, it’s here somewhere, or it’s not.” Her voice gentled as her eyes met Samantha’s. “Just relax. If I’ve learned nothing else living here for so long and seeing so much magic, it’s that stress never works in anyone’s favor.”
“Right.” Samantha nodded. “You’re right.”
Cybil’s sister closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Her body relaxed before her eyes opened and she tilted her head back, whispering, “We’re standing right beneath it.”
“Good.” Megan nodded. “Keep focusing on—”
“Mother,” came a stern voice before Svala appeared, her eyes locked on Megan. “What are you doing?”
“You know what I’m doing. What you’ve always wanted.” When Megan took a step in her daughter’s direction, Svala stepped back and shook her head.
“Father is dying.” Svala frowned. “Would you leave him at such a time?”
“You know it’s his wish,” Megan said softly. “And yours too, right?”
“My wish is to see you be woman enough to support your dragon.” Svala looked down her nose at her mother. “Did you not always teach me that?”
“I…” Megan shook her head and struggled with emotions. “Svala, I love your father. That is why I’m doing this.”
“So now you will be brave and fight your sickness but at the expense of…”
When Svala’s words trailed off, and she frowned, Megan closed the distance and held her shoulders. “At the expense of what, Daughter? Your father? You? Your brother? I would lay down my life for all of you.”
“No.” Svala shoved away, shook her head and walked backward. “You say that, but you never mean what you say.”
“Svala,” Megan began, but something started to happen.
The tree became visible to everyone and grew brighter. Samantha’s eyes met Cybil’s. No words were shared, but Heidrek saw how they felt by the way they looked at each other. Simple and to the point.
“I will see you again soon, Sis. I love you.”
Svala’s eyes widened as the tree’s light started to swallow Samantha and Megan.
“No, no, do not go yet!” Svala roared and raced toward her mother. “I am not ready.”
Blinding light flashed, and Heidrek pulled Cybil against him. When it faded, everyone was gone. Eyes wide, Cybil swallowed. “Did they…did all of them…”
“Yes.” He tilted her chin until their eyes met. “All have returned to the future.”
“Oh, God,” she breathed and pressed her forehead against his chest. “I knew it was coming, that it’s part of all this but…” Her voice was choked with emotion. “What if I never see Samantha again? My sisters?”
“You will.” He met her eyes, put her hand to his chest and his to hers then pulled forth their dragons enough to use magic. “Do you feel their heartbeats in the timeline? Do you feel their lifeblood, the same that runs through your veins?”
Her eyes widened, and she released a slow breath as she sensed the wellness of her sisters. Then a little something else. She flinched as her eyes met Heidrek’s. “God help them all, especially Sean. Svala is definitely there too.”
“She is a difficult woman to deal with,” he agreed.
“Yeah, for Vikings, dragon-shifters, demi-gods and pure evil alike.” She shook her head, closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to his chest again. “Poor Sean. He’s just a fisherman. She’s gonna annihilate him.”
“Svala likes fishing. It is the only thing that calms her.” He met Cybil’s eyes again. “You like this man, Sean?”
“Very much.”
“And Megan likes him?”
Cybil’s eyes widened. “Sean used to be Megan’s best friend.”
“So you see.” Heidrek cupped her cheek. “All will be well enough. Megan will protect Sean, yes?”
Speechless, Cybil shook her head. “Times might be super sad and perilous, but I’m fairly certain we’re better off here than in the future right now.”
Heidrek couldn’t agree more.
His gaze drifted to the cliff overhead and locked with Bjorn’s. His cousin crouched, silent but watching everything. His best friend had always found peace in the outdoors, in nature, so his behavior as of late was not a surprise.
What did shock Heidrek was the continued rage and even shame in Bjorn’s eyes. He felt he had let his father down when he couldn’t protect him.
His cousin would not soon see past any of it.
His need for vengeance was too thorough.
“See to your new kingdom, Cousin, it is well deserved,” Bjorn said into Heidrek’s mind. “I must go now but when I return my blade will be at your back.”
“I know,” he said. “Fair well, Friend. Travel safe.”
Heidrek did not like that Bjorn wanted to distance himself especially in light of his inability to shift, but he allowed Bjorn to vanish into the forest nonetheless. He needed to cope with his demons, and it would not be right to stop him.
Some might say he was no second-in-command or even a good son to a father who had fallen into a coma, but Heidrek knew better. If he truly needed his closest friend, he would be there.
“Bjorn’s gone, isn’t he?” Cybil said softly, her cheek pressed to his chest. “He’s leaving us.”
“For now.” He tilted her chin until their eyes met again. “But one way or another, all of us, your kin and mine, will find our way back to one another.”
Her eyes held his, a new peace entering them. “So we don’t know if the enemy’s truly defeated and our families are spread across time, but it’s all gonna work out.”
“You know I cannot lie to you.” Heidrek brushed his lips over hers. “So I’ll give you the truth.” He cupped the sides of her neck and made sure she was paying attention. “Nothing about what is happening has a predictable outcome, but right here, right now…” he trailed his thumbs along her jawline. “We have found more than most ever do.”
Their eyes held for a long moment before she whispered, “You couldn’t be more right,” and brought his lips back to hers.
They might not have the happily ever after that some would expect or even hope for, but as he pulled Cybil more securely into his arms and lost himself, he knew one thing.
True love had found them.
The kind that went far deeper than what mortals could appreciate. A love that would continue to be tested by family strife, miscreant seers, vicious fighting and yes, evil. But what did they expect?
They were dragon mates.
Vikings.
Warriors.
More than that?
They shared the sort of ending that they hoped would lead to many more.
The End
Unable to cope with failing his father, Bjorn makes his way into the mountains, eager to escape his dark thoughts and push past his anger. Yet he remains haunted by what he left behind
. Ailing parents and a new king who needs him. More so, by Samantha. A woman from the future who bears the mark of Gungnir, the sword given to Odin by Loki.
Now their fates are intertwined, and that isn’t good. Not when it means yet another enemy on the horizon to threaten his people. Because he has long dreamed of Gungnir and Loki’s tricks when forging the blade. Godly games that will ruin his people and all those affiliated. But when destiny has a plan, there is no avoiding it. Now he must find a way to separate Samantha from everyone she cares about for the greater good while seeking vengeance on old and new enemies alike.
Follow the turbulent, heart-wrenching journey of Bjorn and Samantha in Vengeance of a Viking. Coming November 1st, 2016. Available now for preorder.
The MacLomain Series
Viking Ancestors’ Kin
Rise of Viking (Heidrek’s story)
Vengeance of a Viking (Bjorn’s story)
Soul of a Viking (Tait’s story)
Fury of a Viking (Matthew’s story)
Pride of a Viking (Kodran’s story)
Previous Releases
~The MacLomain Series- Early Years~
Highland Defiance- Book One
Highland Persuasion- Book Two
Highland Mystic- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series~
The King’s Druidess- Prelude
Fate’s Monolith- Book One
Destiny’s Denial- Book Two
Sylvan Mist- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Next Generation~
Mark of the Highlander- Book One
Vow of the Highlander- Book Two
Wrath of the Highlander- Book Three
Faith of the Highlander- Book Four
Plight of the Highlander- Book Five
~The MacLomain Series- Later Years~
Quest of a Scottish Warrior- Book One
Honor of a Scottish Warrior- Book Two
Oath of a Scottish Warrior- Book Three
Passion of a Scottish Warrior- Book Four
~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors~
Viking King- Book One
Viking Claim- Book Two
Viking Heart- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors’ Kin~
Rise of a Viking- Book One
Vengeance of a Viking- Book Two
Soul of a Viking- Book Three
Fury of a Viking- Book Four
Pride of a Viking- Book Five
~Calum’s Curse Series~
The Victorian Lure- Book One
The Georgian Embrace- Book Two
The Tudor Revival- Book Three
~Holiday Tales~
Yule’s Fallen Angel
+ Bonus Novelette, Christmas Miracle
~Forsaken Brethren Series~
Darkest Memory- Book One
Heart of Vesuvius- Book Two
~Song of the Muses Series~
Highland Muse
About the Author
Sky Purington is the best-selling author of over twenty novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.
Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at [email protected]. Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter. Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.
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