“Of course not,” she breathed and gave him a coy look. “No, I would say our next step is to wipe out all enemies and get your pact fulfilled.” She tossed a sly grin Kol’s way. “Then continue on with what makes us happy.”
Amber wanted to slap the smug look right off Helga’s face. The woman was up to no good.
“I’m in total agreement,” Megan said. “So how are we gonna make that happen, Helga?”
Amber eyed her sister. Megan was totally on to this woman.
“War, of course, but—”
Her words cut off when the Unnamed One flicked her wrist and released a handful of stones. Amber squinted and looked closer. Those weren’t stones. They were…bones? She covered her mouth. Were those human knuckles?
Helga frowned. “They should know. It is only fair.”
The Unnamed One made several slashes across the floor.
Helga’s eyes met Naðr’s. “You need to come back with us to our home, Mt. Galdhøpiggen. Only from there can we strategize and decide how best to fight King Alrek. Only from there will our secrets be safe.”
Amber frowned. She didn’t like the sound of this at all.
And she wasn’t alone.
“Never again,” Naðr ground out, a heavy frown on his face. “You help us fight from here or not at all.”
The Unnamed One kept slashing her fingers over the floor.
When Kol took Amber’s hand and his eyes narrowed on the Unnamed One’s actions, she knew something was wrong.
“Enough,” Helga bit out at the Unnamed One. “I cannot force them to come.”
“No,” Naðr growled. “You cannot.”
Helga shrugged a shoulder as she sipped from her mug, eyes again on Kol.
“You want this pact to see fulfillment,” Naðr bit out. “Tell us what is happening so that we might prepare. Save us the pain you put us through last time.”
The Unnamed One made more slashes across the ground as Helga continued to eye Kol. “Your little brother can free you from this.” Her eyes met Naðr’s. “Let us take him for a few days then we will meet again and see your dragons returned.”
Kol shot Amber a pained look before he squeezed her hand and shook his head at Naðr. “Unless you and Raknar are freed from this pact beforehand, I won’t go.”
“Hell no, it’s too dangerous for Kol.” Amber looked at Naðr, then Megan.
Helga’s eyes narrowed briefly on Amber before going to Naðr. “We must leave soon.” Then she sauntered over to Kol. Though Amber tried to pull her hand free, he didn’t let go.
Not fazed in the least, the seer leaned her hip against his side and stroked his cheek. Her sultry eyes met his. “You will come with me, yes?”
Kol grabbed her wrist when she tried to cup his cheek. “Can it free everyone from the pact?”
Helga’s brows lifted, triumphant eyes meeting Amber’s. “It can.”
Amber shook her head, eyes pleading with Naðr. “Please don’t let him go. Big, big mistake.”
She wanted to remind him of Kol’s concerns about Helga but was afraid the seer might hurt him here and now if she did.
The King’s gaze narrowed slightly, eyes flickering between Helga and Kol.
The Unnamed One kept slashing her fingers while moving the bones around, her actions almost frantic. As if she might just be disagreeing with Helga. Amber wasn't sure why she felt that way, but she did. And apparently she wasn't alone.
“What is your sister saying?” Naðr said softly, his tone dangerous.
“That we should move quickly.” Helga’s eyes were on Kol’s groin. “Very quickly.”
Naðr shook his head, eyes locked on Kol. “I said we wouldn’t be returning to the mountain and that means all of us. You stay here.”
Helga stood up straighter, her eyes slits as she glared at the king. Suddenly, a deep horn sounded from somewhere in the distance. It sounded a lot like a foghorn.
Everyone stood abruptly.
“Loki’s ball, the enemy comes,” Naðr growled. “Kol, you’re with me.” He looked at Kjar. “Take the women to Raknar’s holding. Protect them and the baby at all costs.”
“And Raknar?” Kjar asked.
“He defends his family alongside you.” Naðr brushed his lips across Megan’s temple and murmured in her ear before he strode out, throwing over his shoulder. “Seers, help any way you can.”
When Helga went to take Kol’s hand, he turned to Amber and cupped her cheeks. “Stay with your sisters. Stay near Kjar. Don’t wander from his side. Do you understand?”
Surprised by the worry in his eyes and the passion in his voice, she nodded. “Of course." Equally distressed, she added, "Be careful, okay?”
He gave no response but brushed his lips over hers and was gone. It was clear Helga didn’t like being ignored by him in the least. The seer glared at Amber, the look so damning and cunning, chills raced up her spine. For a split second, she got the impression the woman was going to grab her but didn’t get the chance when Kjar pulled Amber after him.
Despite the raging blizzard, it was complete chaos outside. People were screaming. Swords were clashing. Fires crackled through the night as thatched roofs burned. The cloying smell of smoke filled her nostrils. Arrows and daggers whizzed by her head.
“Stay close to us,” Megan ordered as she released arrow after arrow.
Meantime, Kjar was ferocious as he thrust his broadsword, killing several warriors who ventured too close. It wasn’t far between Naðr and Raknar’s lodges, but it felt like a million miles. She’d never seen one person killed, never mind so many. Her stomach rolled at all the blood, all the death and destruction.
Helpless, not trained to fight in the least, she kept running.
Though she thought she couldn’t be any more frightened, what met her eyes when they arrived at Raknar’s lodge had her terrified. Too many enemy warriors. The baby was in Heidrek’s arms in the center of the bed. The young boy held out a dagger, eyes narrowed on everything happening in the room. Kjar and Megan rushed in and soon took up a wall of protection alongside Raknar and Veronica.
Amber was about to enter when someone snagged the back of her tunic and dragged her back out. Thinking fast, remembering how she was told that the enemy was not to get their hands on her stone, she ripped the pouch from her neck and tossed it inside. Hopefully, the bad guys wouldn't see it.
Though she struggled, it didn’t do much good against the unyielding brick house of a guy who yanked her arms behind her back.
“Well, what have we got here,” came a deep, rumbling voice before a tall, dark haired man appeared through the snow. Young, broad-shouldered, maybe a few inches shorter than Kol, he wore a ring of metal on his head and flicked a dagger back and forth. He had a thin blade of a nose and a too-square bearded jaw. “Is this her then?”
“Yes, King Alrek. This is the third sister.”
King Alrek? Not good.
Amber narrowed her eyes on the swarthy man who joined him. She recognized him immediately. An American named Tony. One of the divers who had vanished when Megan and her ex-husband, Nathan traveled back in time. Obviously they weren’t the only ones who made it.
“Are you sure this is her?” Alrek said, looking Amber over.
She might be wearing a fur cloak, but it didn’t stop Tony’s lewd appraisal from creeping her out. “Positive. I wouldn’t forget a woman like this one.”
“Agreed. Beautiful.” Alrek chuckled when she yanked her head away from his touch. So he grasped her chin harshly and forced her to look at him. “Keep it up. I like a woman who puts up a fight.”
“My King, we must go!” a warrior roared.
It seemed the man holding her was about to do something because Alrek shook his head sharply. “No, I’ll have the pleasure of carrying this one.”
Oh, God. She might not be prone to theatrics but when he hoisted her over his shoulder and started walking, Amber screamed. Not sure what Sigdir brother might be in the vicinity, she yelled both Kol and
Naðr’s names. She refused to scream for her sisters, Raknar or Kjar. They needed to protect the children.
A dagger pressed against her side and Alrek’s calm, threatening words met her ears. “Quiet woman or I won’t hesitate to use this.”
In no mood to die, she stilled. Heavy fighting was happening all around them. Even so, it wasn’t long before she heard the rumble of the docks beneath his booted feet. Seriously not good. Somewhere behind them she swore she heard Kol roar her name but the wind whipped the sound away.
The next thing she knew she was being hoisted up a ladder then swung down into a ship. Blades continued to clash and roars of battle increased on the docks. Amber spat off a healthy stream of curses before Tony yanked her down on a bench, wrapped an arm around her and pressed a blade to her neck. “Quiet. Now.”
“This isn’t gonna end well for you,” she whispered.
He pressed the blade tighter. “Don’t test me, bitch.”
Amber trembled and did her best not to give in to fear as men started rowing ferociously and the ship pulled away from the dock. They didn’t go far before the sail was released. The moment it unfurled the ship leapt. Desperate, she looked back but could barely make out a thing save several dark figures on the end of the dock.
Then balls of fire started shooting through the darkness. Only when one thumped into the mast on an enemy ship alongside them did she realize they were fire-lit arrows. She was amazed by how many met their target considering the wind shear.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
They were raining down everywhere except over their ship.
Relieved, she realized they must know exactly which boat she was on.
“Release your arrows,” Alrek bellowed. Amber was surprised she still understood him considering her stone was so far away.
The sails on several ships were already going up in flames, but men stood steady and started shooting arrows back toward the shore. Others were splashing buckets of sea water over the fires in desperation, but even Amber could see it was a losing battle. Masts started to crack and crash down. Ships burst into flames and lolled. The putrid smell of burning flesh hit her nostrils as cries of pain rent the air and men started jumping overboard. Her stomach flipped and bile rose in her throat.
“God, Alrek’s not going to try to save any of his own men is he?” she croaked.
This was worse than horrific.
Amber put a hand over her mouth as death rained around her. She might not be a fan of anyone who was against the Sigdir brothers and their people, but she wasn’t above saying a prayer for all the souls being lost.
Then she thought of the men who had been fighting her sisters, who meant them harm as well as the baby and likely Heidrek. These beasts chose to follow a monster so she only had so much sympathy. It was these thoughts and the anger they invoked that Amber focused on now. Because if she let the surrounding horror show or the certain knowledge that their ship was getting away take precedence, she’d probably lose it.
If her sisters had taught her anything, it was that panicking got you nowhere.
Strength and courage did.
On and on the destruction went until she was forced to face her fear of the dark once more. The last of the ships had sunk and the dim lights of shore vanished. Cloying darkness wrapped around them as the boat plowed forward.
Her heart hammered and her throat went dry. Amber squeezed her eyes shut and tried to keep from shaking. She knew her fear was ridiculous, but it was something that she hadn’t been able to let go of since she was little.
Amber reflected on the past.
They often lost power during the winter months on the beach. And one of those times her sisters hadn’t been home. She supposed they’d been sleeping over a friend’s house because in those days nobody wanted to be home. But Amber was too little to be at a friends, and so she was in her room that particular night. The night her world changed.
The night Mom left Dad.
Their fighting had frightened her. Then she heard her Mom’s final declaration before the front door slammed and she was gone. Moments later the power went out and she was plunged into darkness. It felt as though a veil of finality had been thrown over her. The world was ripped away. Everything that made sense was gone. Or at least it seemed that way at the time.
Ever since then she’d had an unavoidable fear of the dark. It always brought her back to that terrifying moment when everything had been taken from her. A place she never wanted to revisit.
Then, the tattoo on her wrist tingled faintly and she swore she heard Kol’s words whisper through her mind. “Have no fear. There’s a light at the end of your tunnel. You’re not alone, Little Dove. Stay strong. I’m coming after you.” She prayed it wasn’t her imagination, that her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her. She not only wanted it to be him, she needed it to be him. More than she had ever needed anything before.
Amber released a shaky breath. She found strength in his words…in his promise. Terrified but unable to cry, she worked to stay calm and focused on the blade pressed against her neck. She refused to allow it to make her feel powerless but instead imagined how she would soon learn to use it. How she would thrust it into Tony’s gut. Because hell if she wouldn’t if given half a chance.
Alrek murmured quietly amongst his men and though she strained to hear his words over the wind, it was impossible. Hours went by. All the while Tony kept the blade to her neck. All the while darkness pressed in on her.
It was the longest, most terrible night of her life. Though she didn’t hear him again, Amber kept focusing on Kol’s words, on the light at the end of her tunnel that she knew would be him.
The snow finally stopped and the dim glow of twilight touched the horizon as Alrek plunked down beside her. His eyes met hers. “You going to be a good girl if Tony removes that dagger? Because if you scream, I’ll have him cut your tongue out. Do you understand?”
Amber jerked her head, all too aware of the blade.
Alrek nodded and Tony pulled the dagger away. Amber stifled a cry when the king ripped away her cloak and pulled her onto his lap. He grabbed her hair with one hand while the other came around her throat, squeezing lightly before his hand trailed down her chest.
All too aware of the erection pressed against her backside, Amber trembled and ground her jaw when he palmed her breast with appreciation. It seemed he enjoyed taunting her. “So you’re the one meant for the youngest dragon, eh? He’s well known with the women, that one.”
“Kol ‘the lucky’.” Alrek snorted. “I didn’t believe anyone could be that lucky until I heard she wanted him." He ran the back of his knuckles along her jawline, eyes roaming her face. “And now he’s supposed to get you as well? Too much luck for any one man.” His slippery eyes went to Tony. “Don’t you agree?”
Tony nodded and licked his lips as he watched Alrek’s hand on her chest. She jerked when the king suddenly ripped the material. Not so much to expose her but enough to truly put the fear of God in her. She eyed her surroundings. There had to be at least thirty fierce looking men on the ship. And far too many had interested eyes turned her way.
“Where is it?” Alrek growled.
Alarmed, her eyes shot to him as he ran his hands around her neck and over her chest.
“W-what?” she stammered. But she knew and had never been more thankful for her quick thinking.
“The rock and cylinder,” he ground out. Amber yelped in pain when he stood, yanked her by the hair and slammed her back against the center mast. The wind knocked out of her. Stars flickered in her vision as he held her in place with a hand wrapped around her throat. Eyes mere slits, his voice was dark and dangerous as he enunciated each word. “Where. Are. They?”
Amber knew she was screwed no matter what she said at this point. She might not be able to save herself, but she could keep her sisters and the Sigdir brothers safe. So she shrugged and shook her head, whispering, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Alrek
must have seen the resignation and defiance in her eyes because fury crawled over his features. “Mark my words, I will get them one way or another.” He started to rip away the strings on her pants. “Until then my men and I will get something else altogether from you, you sneaky little bitch.”
Her heart hammered. Sweat broke out on her brow. Oh no. Please no. Not this. Amber tried to struggle against him, but he only squeezed her windpipe tighter.
“Three enemy ships on the horizon,” a man roared. “Fast approaching!”
“The sail is up. We’re moving as quickly as we can,” another man said. “What are your orders, my King?”
The corner of his lips hooked up as Alrek grabbed her wrists, slammed them against the mast over her head and brought a dagger to her throat. “Turn and fight!”
The men hesitated but not for long. The ship lurched and started to turn. Meanwhile, the dagger was shaking against her neck but not piercing her skin. Shocked, she realized the king was trying to slice her throat but something was stopping him.
“Damn demi-god,” he ground out.
Kjar? An odd mix of terror and relief blew through her as she prayed the shipwright kept doing whatever he was doing. Frustrated but apparently out of time, Alrek pulled away as the ships closed in fast.
She had never seen a more welcoming sight. With intricately carved dragon prows and striped sails, they were back-dropped by a deep purple sky. Between them all, over a hundred helmeted Viking warriors were bearing down on them. Legs weak and trembling, she slid down against the mast and tried to pull herself together.
Her eyes widened when Alrek started mumbling in a language she didn’t understand and made symbols in the air. Black smoke started to twist around him until he appeared nothing more than a small twister. His men watched, stunned, as the smoke dissipated.
Their king was gone.
He had abandoned them.
The men released a steady flow of Norse curses but quickly got back to fighting. Amber noticed that while they fired arrows at the enemy ships, like earlier none were fired back at them. Instead, the warriors on the incoming ships were a solid wall of shields. Eventually, Alrek’s men ran out of arrows. When they did, the others knew it.
Viking Heart (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 3) Page 18