Fury of a Viking (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors' Kin Book 4)
Page 30
Matthew nodded. He couldn’t agree more.
After that, they spoke of other things as they headed for Naðr Véurr’s lodge.
“I sense Uncle Kjar, and Aunt Aella are not here,” Matthew said. “Have you heard from them?”
Heidrek shook his head, troubled. “All has been quiet.”
Strange. Where had Uncle Kjar gone? Was he all right? Too many questions had been left unanswered.
“So perhaps we share a spirit guide?” Heidrek murmured, distracting Matthew from heavy thoughts. “A bear assisted you on your journey, yes?”
“Yes.” A small smile came to Matthew’s mouth. “She was very helpful.”
His brother nodded, pleased. “The bear has been very helpful to me too.”
Matthew nodded. He knew.
Heidrek felt confident that Matthew could still visit the former king as long as he kept any information about Megan blocked. So he was very careful to do just that. Little had changed. Naðr lay unmoving, hovering somewhere between life and death. Yet it was good to see him and to know he was still alive. He still breathed. Now that Matthew had been to Helheim and returned not once but several times, he held out greater hope that Naðr Véurr would return too.
By the time they made it to the great lodge, celebrations were well underway, and Sam had returned. There was nothing quite like laying eyes on Shannon dancing amongst his people. Håkon and Emily were dancing with her as well. As Matthew suspected would always be the case when it came to Emily, Sven wasn’t far off either.
Though tempted to steal Shannon away and pick up where they left off at the Dragon Lair, he knew they needed to spend time with family and heal. So he danced with them. Something he hadn’t done for years and enjoyed every moment of it. By the time he settled at the head table, with Shannon on his lap, they were both laughing.
“Did you hear?” Shannon’s eyes were alight. “Emily’s boat washed up on shore. It’s safe and sound.”
“Good.” Matthew kept smiling. “I look forward to taking her out and teaching her how to sail.”
“She’ll love that,” she murmured. “There was a new carving in it too. One with a Laben-rune signature. It seems Emily’s Auntie Warrioress Hel finally finished the rest of her answer. The one she was explaining to Emily the first time they met.”
Matthew perked his brows, curious.
“She said size meant nothing,” Shannon said. “All of what you are, your very power, has everything to do with something else entirely.”
“And what is that?”
“Well, it was a carving of you, me, Håkon and Emily lying together on the shore before you returned to us.” A warm smile came to her lips. “So I would say her answer is what we are, our very power, is found with us. Our family and how strong we are together.”
Their eyes held, both happier than they ever remembered being. Things had ended far better than they could have anticipated. Better than they hoped.
Shannon had reconnected with her sisters, and they talked about their parents. As Einar assured, through her mind her sisters were able to re-experience what had happened on the shore in Helheim. They were able to find closure. And now that everyone knew about Shannon’s ability, there were no more secrets and she could, at last, properly bond with her sisters. And it was good for her. She glowed with happiness.
“What about you and Cybil?” he murmured, kissing the side of her neck. “Have you enjoyed spending time with your big sister again?”
“Very much so. I really missed her,” she murmured, releasing a breathy sigh of pleasure.
“And I really missed you too,” Cybil whispered into Shannon’s mind then redirected her next request to both of them. “I’d like to enjoy my niece and Håkon for a bit. Why don’t you two go get some rest? I’ll make sure they’re safe for the night.”
Shannon gave Matthew a knowing look. “I think we’re going to have an ample network of eager babysitters here.”
“I think you’re right.” He grinned. “So what do you want to do?”
She met his grin. “Do you really need to ask?”
Less than five minutes later, the children were happily spending time with their kin, and he had her in his bed. At first, it was slow and languid, then passionate and intense. Though he didn’t think it possible, now that their dragons were no longer repressed, it was even more profound than what they’d experienced thus far.
He knew when he gripped the headboard, thrust one last time, and shook with sharp release, that it wouldn’t be long before they added to their family. When her lips brushed his, and their eyes met, he knew she felt the same.
“What about helping the dead move on back in the twenty-first century?” he murmured afterward as he clothed them with a chant then pulled a fur over them. “Will you miss it?”
“No, because I intend to do the same thing here,” she enlightened. “I intend to keep on helping any way I can.”
“Of course you do,” he murmured. “That’s who you are.”
And just one of the many reasons why he loved her.
After he kissed her long and hard, they drifted off to sleep. When he awoke later, Shannon was still tucked by his side, and two little dragons were curled up against them.
Håkon was next to Shannon and Emily next to Matthew.
As if she knew he was awake and thinking about them, Shannon’s eyes opened and met his.
There was peace in her gaze. Contentment and happiness.
Though he might have set out with fury in his heart, determined to find his son, he had found so much more.
They both had.
Love.
Strength.
Family.
More than that, a chance at a life that had long been denied them.
Like Shannon had said, strong love never fades. It never truly vanishes.
Not when faced with death or separation.
True love is final and enduring.
And he and his family had proved it…time and time again.
The End
Pride of a Viking (Kodran and Erica’s tale)
With a little dragon magic, Kodran creates the illusion he’s entertaining women in his lodge but nothing is further from the truth. Having confronted who he once was and what he did in a previous life, he sets out to seek answers. He needs to better understand his part in an age old war and keep his distance from Erica. They should remain apart. Yet destiny seems to be drawing him back to her. How he once felt. All he gave up. Could things go differently this time? Or will the risk to their people be too great? Find out as Erica, Kodran and their kin go up against the enemy one last time in Pride of a Viking, the epic conclusion of Viking Ancestors’ Kin. Coming July 9th, 2017. Available now for pre-order.
Her Wounded Dragon (Kage and Vivienne’s tale)
Erica has a big secret. Actually, she has many secrets. But this is one you’ll probably want to hear about sooner rather than later. Discover what it is in Her Wounded Dragon, a spin-off Viking Kin novella. Erica plays a secondary character, and Hallstein is still the villain. Keep in mind, skipping this tale won’t affect the main Kin saga but it does contain lots of juicy details. One of which involves Kage, an unknown family member that is going to eventually wow every last one of Erica’s sisters in Pride of a Viking.
Her Wounded Dragon is not available for pre-order but is part of New York Times Bestselling author Milly Taiden’s Paranormal Dating Agency Kindle World and will be released June 1st, 2017. I’ll announce its release on Facebook, Twitter, and in my Newsletter so stay tuned!
The MacLomain Series
Viking Ancestors’ Kin
Rise of Viking (Heidrek’s story)
Vengeance of a Viking (Bjorn’s story)
A Viking Holiday (Svala’s story)
Soul of a Viking (Tait’s story)
Fury of a Viking (Matthew’s story)
Her Wounded Dragon (Vivienne’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- Viking Ancestors~
Viking King- Book One
Viking Claim- Book Two
Viking Heart- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Later Years~
Quest of a Scottish Warrior- Book One
Yule’s Fallen Angel (spin-off novella)
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’ Kin~
Rise of a Viking- Book One
Vengeance of a Viking- Book Two
A Viking Holiday (spin-off novella)
Soul of a Viking- Book Three
Fury of a Viking- Book Four
Her Wounded Dragon (spin-off novella)
Pride of a Viking- Book Five
~The MacLomain Series: A New Beginning~
Coming October 2017
~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
A Viking Holiday
~Forsaken Brethren Series~
Darkest Memory- Book One
Heart of Vesuvius- Book Two
About the Author
Sky Purington is the bestselling author of over twenty-five 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 Sky@SkyPurington.com. 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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