Read Online Viking Unbound by Kate Pearce - Free Book Online

trapped within the ice.”
    “I did not ! I—”
    Travis held up his hand. “This is not an appropriate time to discuss the reasons why this happened. Our focus now is on getting Einarr safely to Alpha Three without further injury to him or this crew.” He turned to the Viking. “You will remain in the brig under the care of our medical team until we dock at Alpha Three.”
    “I will not.” Einarr said.
    Travis who was in the process of getting to his feet stiffened. “Then you want me to get the doc to knock you out for the remainder of this journey? I can do it, you know.”
    “I want to stay with Frey.”
    “That’s not possible.”
    “Then I will not cooperate with you.” Einarr smiled and lifted his manacled hands. There was a flash of bright light and the metal rings flew off and clattered to the floor.
    Weapons clicked and locked ready to fire, surrounding him.
    “I am certain you do not wish to harm me, Captain. In truth, I suspect that your overlords wish very much for me to stay alive.” He glanced around the tense circle of armed men. “I wish to be given the freedom of the ship and access to Frey’s company and quarters. If you agree to this, I swear on my Gods that I will not harm your crew or damage your ship.”
    Travis didn’t lower his weapon. “I cannot give one of my crew into your hands. I will not have my Science Officer held hostage to your demands.”
    “She will not consider herself my hostage.” Einarr ripped the needle out from his arm, stood up and held out his hand. “Tell your captain that you come to me willingly, Frey.”
    She took a step toward him, her expression troubled. Her slim fingers slid into his, and he squeezed them hard.
    She faced the captain, her chin held high. “If it means the rest of the crew are safe, I’m willing to stay with him, sir.”
    “Are you sure about this?” Travis asked again.
    “Yes.”
    Travis continued to ignore Einarr and spoke directly to the female. “If we receive fresh information or instructions from FREN, you must promise to obey any orders.”
    “Of course, sir.”
    “You are responsible for the good behavior of this man.”
    “I understand.”
    Travis stared into Einarr’s eyes. “And if you hurt her, you’re dead regardless of what Alpha Three or FREN think. You got that?”
    “Yes, Captain. You have my word.” Einarr studied the other man for a long moment. “On my honor, after sleeping for four thousand years, I do not wish to die just yet.”
    “Good.” Travis nodded brusquely. “Keep it that way.”
    Einarr remained on his feet his hand, gripping Frey’s until the shackles were removed from his ankles and the room emptied. His own weapons had been taken from him earlier. He felt naked without his axe and dagger.
    “Answer me, Frey.” Einarr asked. “How is it that your blood called to mine, and yet you deny it?”
    She sat down at the table and he followed her, still grasping her wrist. She heaved a sigh and lowered her gaze.
    “I suppose it depends on how you look at it.”
    “What exactly does that mean?” Einarr frowned at her even though she was avoiding looking at him.
    “I was given new codes to input in the probes FREN inserted in the ice. Somehow, I picked up a droplet of ice that looked like a ruby. I thought it might be rust or frozen blood from where the probe had touched your scalp, but I had no idea how it got out. I balanced it on my finger and it seemed somehow to prick my skin and I began to bleed.” She finally looked up at him her brown gaze worried. “I put my finger in my mouth to suck off the blood. That’s all I did, I swear it.”
    “My blood to your blood. It was enough.” Einarr said firmly.
    “But it doesn’t make sense.”
    “It does to me.”
    “How? How the heeze can that wake you from a four-thousand year sleep?”
    He smiled down at her. “Because you are my female, and obviously it was Fated.”
    “That we’d be on the same ship during an eclipse with planets