Read Online Viking's Fury by Saranna DeWylde - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Saranna DeWylde
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reminiscent of this place. A pale, lavender ocean lapped at pink sand just beyond the palace. The scents of blooming flowers tangled and twisted in a pleasing way to ease the tension from his neck and the slight breeze that ruffled his hair was like a welcome home.
Anae led them inside and to a room that overlooked that lavender sea. Long white curtains billowed at the doorway, dancing in the sea breeze and he imagined what lay beyond the waters. Were there other strange lands with new sands? He longed to build a ship and sail toward the horizon like his ancestors had in days of yore on earth.
“There is fresh produce and ration packs for your consumption. The royal chef will come with the advisors. I have much to do before they arrive.” Anae kissed both their cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re finally here.”
As soon as Anae was gone, Mercy pulled off the crown and set it down on a nearby table with a careful reverence.
“I suppose it’s unkind, but I don’t really like her.”
“Priestesses have never been my favorite people.” The golden crown on his own head felt like a lie and he followed suit and removed it.
“Me either. Pompous and pushy.” She wrinkled her nose.
He laughed and drew her near.
“Although I did like that she asked my permission before crowning you.”
“That’s how it is in Valkyrie society. I keep forgetting that you weren’t raised that way.”
“I wonder how my mother and Odin ever…” She shook her head. “I think she’d have been miserable.” Mercy shrugged. “Him too, most likely.”
Magnus leaned his head against her heart. “I don’t think we’re safe here.”
“I don’t think we’re safe anywhere.”
“It’s just, it was too easy. I know Eir meant well, but something just feels off.”
“Our welcoming did seem a bit showy for last minute,” she sighed. “Maybe it’s okay that we’re not safe. Maybe being here will cause our enemies to strike and we can defeat them in the light, for the whole ‘verse to see.”
His arms tightened around her and even though she knew what he was going to ask next, it was still a shock to her system when he said the words.
“Even if that enemy is your father?”
“He will always be my father and I hope you understand that when he is gone, I will mourn the loss of my father, but I won’t blame you. Not if he comes after us.”
“And Rollo?”
“We’ll just have to hope we can meet him on our own terms.”
“What your mother said—”
“I choose you.”
He lifted his head. “What?”
“Whatever happens, I choose you. We’re not going to hide from him and hope he doesn’t come steal our happiness. Even though it’s only been a short time, I know you like I know myself. I guess it’s the Valkyrie/Berserker bond or something, but I know you’d never be happy, never be able to breathe while he lived.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” She pushed her hands through his hair.
“For not asking me to choose, because I would choose you, Mercy.”
His grip was so tight, it was almost pain, but she didn’t move. It was as if he were trying to anchor her there, or maybe it was himself.
“A Valkyrie worth her salt wouldn’t ask you to.”
“No, but maybe a smart woman would,” a voice sounded from the door.
Mercy had had just about enough of surprises, but unlike when she’d be alone with Fenris, she wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t only because Magnus was with her. She wasn’t afraid because there was nothing he could do to her now that mattered. She’d finally found her own place in the ‘verse, her own purpose.
Rollo, the bastard who would be king, couldn’t take that away from her.
He stood like some melodramatic villain, dressed in a black tech suit—mech wings spread out behind his shoulders, and the black forest of his hair hanging down over his pale brow.
“You just killed yourself,” Mercy said. “You’re dead, and you don’t even know it.”
His eyes slid to her, and they
Anae led them inside and to a room that overlooked that lavender sea. Long white curtains billowed at the doorway, dancing in the sea breeze and he imagined what lay beyond the waters. Were there other strange lands with new sands? He longed to build a ship and sail toward the horizon like his ancestors had in days of yore on earth.
“There is fresh produce and ration packs for your consumption. The royal chef will come with the advisors. I have much to do before they arrive.” Anae kissed both their cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re finally here.”
As soon as Anae was gone, Mercy pulled off the crown and set it down on a nearby table with a careful reverence.
“I suppose it’s unkind, but I don’t really like her.”
“Priestesses have never been my favorite people.” The golden crown on his own head felt like a lie and he followed suit and removed it.
“Me either. Pompous and pushy.” She wrinkled her nose.
He laughed and drew her near.
“Although I did like that she asked my permission before crowning you.”
“That’s how it is in Valkyrie society. I keep forgetting that you weren’t raised that way.”
“I wonder how my mother and Odin ever…” She shook her head. “I think she’d have been miserable.” Mercy shrugged. “Him too, most likely.”
Magnus leaned his head against her heart. “I don’t think we’re safe here.”
“I don’t think we’re safe anywhere.”
“It’s just, it was too easy. I know Eir meant well, but something just feels off.”
“Our welcoming did seem a bit showy for last minute,” she sighed. “Maybe it’s okay that we’re not safe. Maybe being here will cause our enemies to strike and we can defeat them in the light, for the whole ‘verse to see.”
His arms tightened around her and even though she knew what he was going to ask next, it was still a shock to her system when he said the words.
“Even if that enemy is your father?”
“He will always be my father and I hope you understand that when he is gone, I will mourn the loss of my father, but I won’t blame you. Not if he comes after us.”
“And Rollo?”
“We’ll just have to hope we can meet him on our own terms.”
“What your mother said—”
“I choose you.”
He lifted his head. “What?”
“Whatever happens, I choose you. We’re not going to hide from him and hope he doesn’t come steal our happiness. Even though it’s only been a short time, I know you like I know myself. I guess it’s the Valkyrie/Berserker bond or something, but I know you’d never be happy, never be able to breathe while he lived.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” She pushed her hands through his hair.
“For not asking me to choose, because I would choose you, Mercy.”
His grip was so tight, it was almost pain, but she didn’t move. It was as if he were trying to anchor her there, or maybe it was himself.
“A Valkyrie worth her salt wouldn’t ask you to.”
“No, but maybe a smart woman would,” a voice sounded from the door.
Mercy had had just about enough of surprises, but unlike when she’d be alone with Fenris, she wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t only because Magnus was with her. She wasn’t afraid because there was nothing he could do to her now that mattered. She’d finally found her own place in the ‘verse, her own purpose.
Rollo, the bastard who would be king, couldn’t take that away from her.
He stood like some melodramatic villain, dressed in a black tech suit—mech wings spread out behind his shoulders, and the black forest of his hair hanging down over his pale brow.
“You just killed yourself,” Mercy said. “You’re dead, and you don’t even know it.”
His eyes slid to her, and they
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