by Kate Pearce
“To fill her purpose in the ‘verse.”
She laughed, but it was a bitter sound. “Her purpose. Yet, I have none. Only to make alliances for my father.”
“When this is over, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
“Really?” She turned to face him again, her sweet ass shimmying against his cock.
“Gods, woman. What did I tell you?”
She bit her lip. “That you like it.”
Valhalla help me, he thought for the second time. Because if Valhalla couldn’t, he was sure Hel would.
He grabbed her hips and dragged her forward so she was perched so intimately atop his erection, that there could be no doubt of what she was doing to him. Her eyes widened and she’d bitten her lip so often that it was swollen, bee-stung, and irresistible.
Her little claws dug into his shoulder like a kneading cat and her tiny little scratches, he couldn’t explain it, but something about it pushed him past whatever limits he thought he could maintain.
In the middle of the far reaches of space, Magnus the Destroyer wasn’t terrorizing the Saxon System or pursuing his revenge. He was giving a pretty virgin her first kiss.
3
Magnus the Destroyer indeed earned his namesake, but it wasn’t for ravaging towns, or women. It was for destroying a fantasy.
And when compared to the real thing, it was a pale, strange creature destined to die a cold death and then burn to ash in the glaring intensity of the real thing.
His kiss was both everything she’d imagined, and nothing like it at all.
Mercy couldn’t conceive of a thing like this—the fire of a thousand suns condensed into one man’s lips. It wasn’t possible. Yet here she burned.
In her most heated imaginings, she’d never felt like this. She was the silliest girls, but she couldn’t bring herself too much recrimination, because she was living a fantasy and it was all the better because it was real.
Magnus the Destroyer wanted her.
She shivered.
“Are you afraid?” he whispered against her lips.
“Very, so don’t stop.” She wound her arms around his thick, corded neck.
Mercy decided that she very much enjoyed kissing, the way his hands fit around her hips, the way they fit together. She was dizzy with sensation and she never wanted it to stop.
Which of course was why the autopilot chose that moment to disengage.
An alarm sounded, ripping her from her oasis of bliss.
“Shit,” he growled. “Here, stay where you are. I can nav better.”
Mercy wasn’t going to argue. She buried her face in his neck, staying in the moment.
He smelled like…cold. She remembered once when she was young, traveling to the outer systems with her mother and she’d had to be bundled in furs. The cold had stung her nose, her eyes, and there’d been a scent to the air that was crisp and hard, and she’d always imagined that cold had a smell.
Maybe it was because he’d been in suspended animation, but Mercy didn’t think so. It was part of him—part of the raiding people that spawned both her mother and Magnus.
He burned like the cold too. Her father told her cold couldn’t burn, but it did. She knew that fire could be so hot it was cold and that something could freeze and burn.
The cadence of Magnus’s heart thudded faster, and that was when she knew something had gone wrong.
“Mercy, something’s wrong with the pod.”
“We’re not going to land on Holle, are we?”
“No, we’re a long way from Holle. The ship engaged wyrmdrive as soon as we exited the atmosphere. We’re on the edges of the Asgard system, not too far from Saxony.”
“Not too far from Saxony? Isn’t there the Great Dark between Saxony as Asgard?” She referred to the dangerous black rift between the galaxies. Once, it had been thought to be a black hole, but early explores found it to be traversable, but there was no light. Something in the black devoured it. Only the greatest navigators could guide through it by instinct alone.
They could go around it, and many did, but that was many more light years. Unless one had a rainbow bridge.
“It is and we’re headed for it.”
All the heat and desire that burned in her was gone replaced by strangling fear. She had nightmares about the Great Dark. What lived there, what died there… and what the Great Dark was.
“I can get us through.”
“In this?”
“Fuck,” he growled and his body strained, muscles bulging as he fought to straighten the controls.
“What’s happening?’ she whispered, afraid of the answer.
“There’s a planet at the edge of the Great Dark. It’s taking us there.”
“So maybe there’s an outpo—”
“It’s uninhabited. And you know the likelihood of anyone stopping to answer a distress call from a Hel ship? Not anyone we want to stop, that’s for damn sure.”
“Someone must have tampered with the ship.”
“Who else knew about the pod?”
“Only my father’s people.”
“Fenris?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“Damn it. There’s nothing I can do short of knocking out the controls.”
“Then we’ll left to drift in space. I don’t want to die out here.”
“You’d rather die down there?” he asked quietly.
“At least down there, we have a chance.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Someone wanted this pod there and most likely, it wasn’t for anything good.”
She clung more tightly to him.
“The re-entry process has started. That’s a good sign that we’re not going to crash.”
“Kiss me again.” Mercy didn’t give him a chance to argue. She’d spent her whole life doing what she was supposed to do. Now everything she’d been taught and believed disappeared like smoke. She wanted to kiss Magnus one more time. So she was going to.
Mercy didn’t think they were going to die, at least not at that moment. But she knew things were going to change irrevocably no matter what waited for them on the surface of the planet.
At least she’d be marooned on a planet with a strong man who knew how to survive rather than a snake like Fenris who could only make his way on the backs of others.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said against her lips.
She didn’t know if he meant of him, or what lay ahead, or both. He didn’t make her any pretty promises, but Mercy realized she didn’t need them. Only people who thought they would fail made promises.
I’ll come back for you, Eir had said. But she hadn’t. She’d died.
No, Mercy didn’t want promises, she wanted action.
Magnus was definitely a man of action.
“Don’t you want to watch re-entry? There’s so much fire. It’s beautiful, the way it streaks past the viewports. I imagine it looks much like your hair.”
“More fire here.” She closed her eyes and surrendered to the kiss, the way his hands felt as they moved up.
When he finally broke the kiss he said, “I think you’re a little adrenaline junky. There’s more Valkyrie in you than you think.”
The ship began to open and she realized they were on solid ground.
Mercy would rather have just stayed in the pod. Then she wouldn’t have to deal with whatever was coming. They could just stay together, in that little cocoon of heat and desire.
Except she knew that wasn’t how the world worked.
So she climbed off his lap and deployed the stairs.
“Woman, will you wait? See, all Valkyrie.” He should his head.
Mercy wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but she was just trying to get out of the way.
Taking in their surroundings, she saw that the dock had been well-tended, once upon a time. Ice crystals had formed at the edges of the doors, but the electronics were all clean. No evidence of dust, or exposure to the elements.
“We�
��re not alone.”
“That someone who wanted us here…” She pointed to a far wall where big, bold, black letters read, “I knew you’d save her, Magnus.”
“What the hell is that?” he growled and spun around to face her. “What kind of game are you playing, Mercy Odinsdottir?”
She shook her head, but he advanced on her.
“Tell me.”
For some reason, even though he was angry, even though she’d seen him cave a man’s head in, she wasn’t precisely afraid of him. That’s not to say she was looking forward to his ire, but she knew in her bones that he wouldn’t hurt her.
She supposed that was a rather stupid assumption considering all the facts in evidence.
His fingers closed around her upper arms and he leaned in close to your face. “I’m not kidding,” he growled.
There was something about his growl that twisted up her insides. Made her think about what it was like sitting in his lap, his manhood pressed against her. Gave her that same feeling low in her belly.
“Oh for gods’ sake, Mercy. That’s not supposed to turn you on.”
She swallowed and wet her lips. “Must be the Valkyrie in me. I can’t help it.” Her eyes narrowed. “And how do you know?”
He arched a brow. “The way your eyes get all sleepy and half-lidded, your lip swollen just begging me to kiss you again, the way you gasped when I grabbed you. You’re supposed to fear me. The whole godsdamned galaxy fears me—no, the whole ‘verse. And you… you want furious kisses in the ice.”
“I really don’t know about the message on the wall. I have no idea where it came from.” She pushed away from him, irritated that he could read her need so easily. “Maybe you’ve been here before. You’ve traversed the Great Dark. You’ve slayed monsters, destroyed planets. Maybe you were here and forgot.”
“The likelihood of that is the same as you leaving this planet a virgin.”
Her cheeks burned. “Maybe I just will.”
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her flush against him. “I could take you right now and you’d let me.”
“I couldn’t stop you.” Instead of coming out as a recrimination, it sounded breathy and needy.
“All you have to do is tell me to stop, Valkyrie.”
“I’m no Valkyrie.”
“Oh, but you are. When you’re tested, you will see.”
He sounded so sure, she knew he was going to be disappointed when he realized she was as timid as her name.
“Fine. Are we going to get this over with or not?”
He released her. “Not. I need to know what we’re dealing with. It’s someone who had access to your father’s pod.”
She nodded. “And someone who had access to you. Someone who knew that you were going to escape.”
“And someone who either gives a shit what happens to you or this is some elaborate trap.”
“I can’t think of anyone.” Mercy shook her head. “Maybe I’m not the “her” they meant.”
“Who else could it be? I’m not in the habit of saving maidens.”
“Maybe that’s not me, and maybe that’s not you. The ‘verse shifts all the time.”
“No, fuck that shit. I believe everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, that reason is too much grog, but it is still a reason.” He nodded. “For now, let’s find shelter.”
“We’re not staying here?” She wandered over to the control console and found two packs outfitted for wilderness survival. “No, I guess not. And whoever set this up, knew we wouldn’t.”
He followed her over and started pulling things out of the pack. Food rations, a temporary shelter device, and a map.
“Still think that wasn’t meant for us? The tech pants and shirt are in your size.” He rummaged around. “Mine too.”
The tech clothing was meant to protect them from any indigenous plants or animals that might be poisonous. Hopefully, it would help with the cold too.
There was no sun here. She wasn’t sure how the planet wasn’t anything more than a ball of ice. Unless the core burned hot, and then they were on borrowed time.
“Do you want to follow the nav map?” He showed her the device, a red light indicating their position and green line to show the path they were to follow.
“You’re the great adventurer.”
“Mercy, this is about you too. If you really want to stay in the hangar, I’m not going to drag you out into the wild. We don’t know what’s out there or who left the gear. We don’t know what we’re walking in to. This is your life. I’m not going to make that decision for you.”
“I kind of wish you would.” She laughed, but there was no mirth. “My father told me that in every part of the ‘verse, the way I was raised was prized in a woman. And everything you tell me is the opposite.”
“You are not property.” He touched her face. “Even if you were mine, you would still be your own. Do you understand?”
“Not really.” This was so contrary to everything her father had taught her that she had trouble processing it.
“Choose.” His jaw was hard and set.
Why couldn’t he just kiss her some more? Grope her, ravage her? That sounded like a much better use of their time. She didn’t want to go. She didn’t know who’d left the packs, who had tampered with the ship, or if it was even meant for them. She wanted to stay in the hangar until rations ran out and then deal with it, but she didn’t want to stay alone.
“If I choose to stay in the hangar, will you stay with me?”
“Yes,” he answered quickly, and with no hesitation. He hadn’t even had to think about it.
She sighed. “Then we go.”
“And why did you choose that?” he prompted.
“Do we have to pick it to death?” She didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t want to do it. Mercy just wanted to do what had to be done and forget about it, if she could.
“Normally, I’d say no, but you need to learn yourself. Your own motivations so you can see your strengths like I do.”
“I guess I could do worse than Magnus the Destroyer for a tutor.” She sighed, suddenly uncomfortable. She’d never had anyone who believed in her and it was her “kidnapper” who listened to what she had to say and encouraged her. Another heavy exhale steadied her. “I think I chose as I did because of what you said. Because you’d stay with me when you so obviously think that following the nav-map is the best course of action.”
“And why did that make you choose?”
“I don’t know.” She fidgeted.
“Yes, you do.” He used his finger to tilt her chin up so she was forced to look at him.
“Fine.” Oh, she could drown in his eyes. Mercy didn’t know how he expected her to maintain any rational kind of thought while she was slipping down into—”
“Mercy,” he prompted again.
“You put your life in my hands. And I can’t do any less. And I see that you want me to trust you not because I have to, but because I can.”
“Lesson passed.” He nodded. “Suit up.”
4
Magnus thought he was a grown man.
Grown men didn’t sneak glances at beautiful women while they were changing. Untried boys did things like that. Grown men told their women that they wanted to watch them, grown men undressed them with their gaze boldly and purposefully, and within full view of their women.
But he couldn’t help it.
He’d had his hands all over her curves and the way she’d responded to him had his recently thawed brain much too hot to concentrate on anything but her.
Shit, he had to get his head in the game. Their lives depended on it.
The worst part about it was he knew that she’d give him whatever he desired. Even if she wasn’t just paying a debt or finding some way to feel like she’d done her part—he was sure from the way she kissed him that she wanted him too.
Only, and he never thought he’d say this and if he had to say it out loud he’d swear that it was the free
zing sickness talking, but he didn’t want just a fuck. A mechanical chore, even if the outcome was pleasure.
He wanted a connection.
He hadn’t realized how lonely silence was. He’d been left on his own many a time. The first time he’d crossed the Great Dark, he’d been alone.
But watching the years of men and beasts go by, looking out of his frozen prison, he longed for interaction. For connection. For touch.
Then she’d been there, her tiny little touches like the remnants of a meteor shower, burning up before she even made contact.
Yet, it was her casual brush of flesh against his that kept him sane.
That thought was enough to make him turn his head. She was beautiful, kind, and generous. She’d just shown that she trusted him. He wouldn’t violate that by sneaking peeks at her lovely, delicious, delectable…
“All done,” she said and turned around. “Were you watching me?”
He’d been caught. “It’s only fair.”
She blushed again. Damn, he liked making her blush.
“I’m teasing you.”
“Are you ever going to let that go?” Mercy fidgeted with some unseen bit of something on her sleeve.
“It’s only been a day, so probably not.” He shook his head.
“Fine. Should I strip naked for your inspection?” She pursed her lips.
She was being flip, but his cock didn’t care about that. It demanded yes. But his brain… no. “See? Look at that sauce. I’m Magnus the Destroyer. And you’re sassing me with absolutely no fear.”
“Because I trust you.” She smiled softly.
Damn it, there it was again. All those soft, squishy feelings inside that he’d always wanted to avoid, yet now sought out. He was as confused as she was. This was all new territory and now was not the time to go off on some adventure with his feelings. They had plenty of adventure right here in front of them.
“Are you ready?” He handed her a light stick.
She snapped it in half and it glowed to a pale, green life. “As I’ll ever be.”
He stepped through the door and out into the new world. It was strange, the sky was black as pitch and he could see no stars. But there were odd little bits of flora and fauna that shone and twinkled like what his mother called Valkyrie lights. She said those things were the souls of defeated Valkyries lighting the way home. If he was ever lost, he should follow them.