Read Online Viking For Hire (Vikings Saga Volume 1) by Jo Grafford - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jo Grafford
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she flopped to her side on the ground in the form of a peasant girl. Then her outline shivered and faded altogether. She was gone.
The wolves stopped their pacing and transformed into Vikings crawling around on their hands and knees. The blackbirds fluttered down from the tree and landed on their feet as men.
Branwyn pocketed her wand and ran to Sven who stood just outside the circle of salt, mouth agape. “We did it,” she said exultantly. Grabbing his hands, she spun him in a jig. “The spell worked.”
He stopped her dance of victory and held her at arm’s length. “Are you sure?” he asked doubtfully. “The last time you grabbed me...” His face reddened.
She rolled her eyes, stepped away to demonstrate her freedom from the curse, then stumbled over Eirik’s excessively long trousers and pitched forward into Sven’s arms. “I could not have done it without your help,” she babbled. “Not without the salt and mistletoe or the hair samples and personal effects from each of the men. ’Twas the only way to ensure Mista’s curses would be removed in their entirety from us all.”
Sven patted her shoulder awkwardly, then stiffened.
“Not bad for a mongrel, I suppose.” Eirik’s voice was icy. He stood before them in her green gown whose seams were splitting now that he was restored to his normal size. “Now turn over the blasted witch to me so I may punish her for all the foolish risks she took.” Without waiting for her to respond, he stalked nearer. “You lied to me, Branwyn. Cuckolded me into thinking I was part of your scheme by wearing this blasted gown. All the while, you had me hunkering down in the safety of the forests whilst you took the greatest of the dangers upon yourself. When I get my hands on you, I swear I—”
Branwyn started to disengage herself from Sven, but he held her fast. “Ye’ll not touch one hair on her head, my lord, and that’s a fact. She saved us all.” The color drained from his face as he spoke. To Branwyn’s knowledge, he’d never disobeyed his jarl before.
She sighed long and loud at the bristling men. Pointing her wand in the air, she removed the last traces of the glamour. She swapped and mended their clothes while she was at it. “Do with me as you wish, Eirik. I’ll not be taking one thing back that I did today. A few minutes ago, you and your men were too cursed to do ought but interfere with my plans to save you. I would do what I did a thousand times over, because I love you.” She raised her chin and met his glare with one of her own.
The air bristled between them with a fury of raw emotion. Several of the crewmen eyed them with concern.
“By Thor,” Eirik choked at last. “Unhand my future wife at once, Sven, so I may kiss her.”
Stunned, Sven dropped his hands to his side. “Your w-wife?” he stammered.
“Your wife,” Branwyn echoed uncertainly. “You missed all of Mista’s revelations about New Dorset and its citizens. The truth is I am but a poor healer from Exeter, whilst you are—”
“The bastard son of a god and mortal?” He raised a questioning brow and held out a hand. “I much prefer the other thing you called me, Branwyn — the man you love.”
When she hesitated, he closed the distance between them and swept her up in his arms. “Give me a little credit, lass. I’ve known the truth about New Dorset since the key to the city was first handed to me by my father. What is more, I had a powerful desire to take you there as my bride the moment we met.”
“Oh...” Her breath slid out on a wistful sigh. “You did? Initially, I thought you only wanted me for my powers.”
“Aye, that is precisely why I sought out your acquaintance at the tavern. When I enclosed your hand in mine and gazed into your eyes for the first time, however, everything changed.” Eirik’s arms tightened. “Look at me, lass,” he begged when she buried her burning face in his chest. “Aye,” he muttered in appreciation when she raised
The wolves stopped their pacing and transformed into Vikings crawling around on their hands and knees. The blackbirds fluttered down from the tree and landed on their feet as men.
Branwyn pocketed her wand and ran to Sven who stood just outside the circle of salt, mouth agape. “We did it,” she said exultantly. Grabbing his hands, she spun him in a jig. “The spell worked.”
He stopped her dance of victory and held her at arm’s length. “Are you sure?” he asked doubtfully. “The last time you grabbed me...” His face reddened.
She rolled her eyes, stepped away to demonstrate her freedom from the curse, then stumbled over Eirik’s excessively long trousers and pitched forward into Sven’s arms. “I could not have done it without your help,” she babbled. “Not without the salt and mistletoe or the hair samples and personal effects from each of the men. ’Twas the only way to ensure Mista’s curses would be removed in their entirety from us all.”
Sven patted her shoulder awkwardly, then stiffened.
“Not bad for a mongrel, I suppose.” Eirik’s voice was icy. He stood before them in her green gown whose seams were splitting now that he was restored to his normal size. “Now turn over the blasted witch to me so I may punish her for all the foolish risks she took.” Without waiting for her to respond, he stalked nearer. “You lied to me, Branwyn. Cuckolded me into thinking I was part of your scheme by wearing this blasted gown. All the while, you had me hunkering down in the safety of the forests whilst you took the greatest of the dangers upon yourself. When I get my hands on you, I swear I—”
Branwyn started to disengage herself from Sven, but he held her fast. “Ye’ll not touch one hair on her head, my lord, and that’s a fact. She saved us all.” The color drained from his face as he spoke. To Branwyn’s knowledge, he’d never disobeyed his jarl before.
She sighed long and loud at the bristling men. Pointing her wand in the air, she removed the last traces of the glamour. She swapped and mended their clothes while she was at it. “Do with me as you wish, Eirik. I’ll not be taking one thing back that I did today. A few minutes ago, you and your men were too cursed to do ought but interfere with my plans to save you. I would do what I did a thousand times over, because I love you.” She raised her chin and met his glare with one of her own.
The air bristled between them with a fury of raw emotion. Several of the crewmen eyed them with concern.
“By Thor,” Eirik choked at last. “Unhand my future wife at once, Sven, so I may kiss her.”
Stunned, Sven dropped his hands to his side. “Your w-wife?” he stammered.
“Your wife,” Branwyn echoed uncertainly. “You missed all of Mista’s revelations about New Dorset and its citizens. The truth is I am but a poor healer from Exeter, whilst you are—”
“The bastard son of a god and mortal?” He raised a questioning brow and held out a hand. “I much prefer the other thing you called me, Branwyn — the man you love.”
When she hesitated, he closed the distance between them and swept her up in his arms. “Give me a little credit, lass. I’ve known the truth about New Dorset since the key to the city was first handed to me by my father. What is more, I had a powerful desire to take you there as my bride the moment we met.”
“Oh...” Her breath slid out on a wistful sigh. “You did? Initially, I thought you only wanted me for my powers.”
“Aye, that is precisely why I sought out your acquaintance at the tavern. When I enclosed your hand in mine and gazed into your eyes for the first time, however, everything changed.” Eirik’s arms tightened. “Look at me, lass,” he begged when she buried her burning face in his chest. “Aye,” he muttered in appreciation when she raised
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