Viking Heart (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 3) (17 page)

The women sat on the bed and leaned against the headboard with Veronica in the middle holding the little one. Their teary eyes rose when the men came in. Amber and Megan stood so that Raknar could sit next to her. Naðr sat on the other side. It had been a long time since they had welcomed a child to the family and everyone was emotional.

Raknar kissed Veronica, concerned eyes flickering between her and the baby.

“We’re both fine,” she murmured and held out Matthew. “Would you like to hold him?”

Raknar nodded and took the baby. Deep emotion shone in his eyes as he brushed his finger over Matthew’s cheek. “Odin’s blessings, son. Welcome.” The men hung their heads as he said a prayer. “May great Thor protect you with his strong arm and mighty hammer, May the good Mother Holle hold and comfort you, and may all blessings be upon you, Small and Holy one.”

“Odin’s blessings,” the men said.

“God bless,” from the women.

Naðr held Veronica’s hand, a comforting gesture as he gazed with pride at the baby. “You did well, sister. He’s strong.” He reached across her and allowed the baby to grab his finger. The King chuckled. “Good grip. He will be a fierce warrior.”

“Yes he will,” Megan agreed, crouching next to Raknar. She eyed the baby then winked at Naðr. “But first, why don’t we teach him how to walk?”

The King grinned. “Then fly.” 

“Easy killer,” Veronica said. “Mom’s not quite ready for that yet.”

Kol stared down at baby Matthew, completely captivated. Though he loved his niece and nephew, Meyla and Heidrek, with all his heart, he didn’t remember having such a profound reaction when they were born. But then he was considerably younger and far more concerned with women than babies, even if they
were
family.

No doubt sensing his emotions, Raknar’s eyes went to Kol and he stood. “Here, hold him, little brother.”

Kol shook his head, but it was too late. Raknar handed him over.

Instantly protective of the child, he held him carefully. While human children’s eye color often changed after a few months, dragon babies were born with the eye color they would have for life. He smiled as his eyes connected with Matthews. They were a pale bluish green, taking a little from both his mother and father’s eyes. Unlike his parents, however, his hair was dark. Black with bits of dark brown in it.

“Looks like he inherited his Uncle Kol’s hair,” Amber murmured as she stood next to him and gently brushed Matthew’s downy hair with her finger.

Kol smiled. Then his eyes caught hers and something shifted. The room seemed to fade away and all he could envision was what their child might look like. A little girl with Amber’s flashing brown eyes and saucy attitude. She’d have his aptitude with weapons and a way of looking at life born of both her parent’s spirits.

Amber would make a good mother. But what surprised him most was that he wanted her to be the mother of
his
child. Since when did he want children? But he did. With
her
.

She blinked a few times as if similar thoughts were going through her mind. Then she winced and pulled her hand away from Matthew. Torn from his reverie, he frowned. Amber tucked her hand into her dress and shook her head slightly when Heidrek appeared at the door.

Naðr and Raknar’s eyes flickered from Amber’s hidden hand to Heidrek.

“Let us give Raknar and his family some privacy,” Naðr said and stood.

Kol handed the baby back to Veronica as Raknar pulled Heidrek onto the bed between him and his wife. “Meet your new brother, son.”

Awed, smiling, Heidrek stared down at Matthew in fascination as they left.

“Come, join me and Megan for a celebratory drink in my holding,” Naðr said to Kol, Amber, and Kjar.

The king led them into the large room adjacent to his bedroom and they sat around a fire. Though Kol had felt the oddity, his concerns were confirmed when his brother crouched in front of Amber, his words gentle. “Let me see your hand.”

Amber glanced at the interlocked tattoos of the Web of Wyrd and Valknut on Kol’s shoulder before she slowly held out her hand.

“Oh damn,” Megan murmured, crouching beside Naðr. “The Web of Wyrd.” Her concerned eyes met Amber’s. “Oh honey, that must’ve hurt. This just happened when you touched the baby, didn’t it?”

Brows furrowed, Naðr was careful not to touch the new tattoo. “This is definitely the Web of Wyrd stave but the way it wraps up and around your wrist three times is strange.” He narrowed his eyes as he flipped her hand over and peered at the underside of her wrist. “And nine criss-crossed slashes trail down the end of it.”

“Three circles. Nine slashes,” Megan murmured and frowned. Then she whispered, “3:09.”

Amber pulled her hand away, expression uncomfortable. “Don’t say that.” She gritted her teeth. “This has nothing to do with Sean.” Her eyes went to Naðr, a little desperate. “Tonight’s a happy night. I thought we were gonna celebrate.”

Naðr made a motion with his hand and several mugs were brought over. She drank deeply when she was handed one. Though the king and Megan returned to their chairs, they were by no means done with Amber.

Interestingly enough, though this was the day Kol had dreaded for so long, he couldn’t help but move his chair closer and pull her hand onto his lap. While he wasn’t quite ready to look at the tattoo, he couldn’t ignore the feeling of rightness and satisfaction that blew through him knowing it was there. A mark that meant this was without a doubt the woman the seers had chosen for him. But then had the gods not already made that clear when the cylinder appeared?

Still, for some reason, the tattoo meant more.

As to why it appeared on her wrist when her sister's tattoos had appeared on their shoulders remained a mystery. But he was curious what 309 meant and its connection to Sean. He could, however, add one thing to the conversation and maybe learn more. “The numbers three and nine are often seen in our culture. They are important.”

“They are, aren’t they,” Megan murmured, contemplative.

“Yes, the list is endless. Powerful numbers.” Kol shrugged. “Just off the top, Odin was one of
three
brothers. Odin also endured
three
hardships upon the World Tree in his quest for the runes: he hung himself, wounded himself with a spear and suffered from hunger and thirst. As to nine, where do I start? The
Nine
Worlds supported by Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. When Odin sacrificed himself, he hung upon the gallows of Yggdrasil for
nine
days and nights. In return, he secured rúnar 'runes, secret knowledge'.” He quirked his lips at Kjar. “Then there are Heimdall’s
nine
mothers.”

Kjar snorted and shook his head.

“But most importantly,” Kol murmured and touched his tattoo, pointing out something nobody seemed to have caught. “The Valknut is
three
interlocking triangles forming
nine
points.”

Amber’s hand trembled slightly as she whispered, “Knot of the Slain.”

“But to be slain isn’t the end,” he assured, squeezing her hand gently, careful not to touch the tattoo. “It means you are a strong, brave warrior at the beginning of something new.” He worked at a grin. “Hopefully alongside Odin in Valhalla.”

For the first time, he allowed his eyes to fall to the tattoo wrapped around her wrist. It was delicate, feminine…creative.

Just like her.

When his eyes went to Naðr’s then Megan’s, he knew they were coming to the same conclusion as him. Kol met Amber’s eyes. “You sketch with this hand, yes?”

Her brows shot up as her lips turned down. “Yeah, so?”

“Such beautiful sketches,” he murmured, ensnared as always by her soulful eyes and guileless beauty. He circled a thumb in her palm and trailed a finger lightly up the silky skin of her inner wrist above her tattoo. Goosebumps rose on her flesh and her lips fell open. “And you draw images that often come to pass with this hand?”

Startled, her eyes shot to Megan. “You told him?”

“Kol’s one of my best friends,” Megan defended softly.

“I remember when Sean was your best friend,” Amber whispered. She shook her head, pulled her hand away and sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. What I mean is I love that you guys are close but honestly, I really need some answers.” Her brows drew together and her eyes went to Kjar. “I haven’t asked because I assumed you all worked it out, but what did you say when Kol told you what I dreamt about you?”

Kol hid well a flinch as Kjar frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Naðr sighed and met Kol’s eyes before he looked at Kjar. “We were going to tell you eventually.”

Kjar’s eyes narrowed at Naðr. “Tell me what?”

Naðr explained the supposed dream Amber had and shrugged. But Kol didn’t miss the curious glint in the King’s eyes as he watched Kjar’s reaction closely.

Kol had never quite seen the look that flashed in the demi-god’s eyes. It was a mix of betrayal, curiosity and something else. “It is a rare day that you do not share with me, my King.”

“And it is an equally rare day that you do not share with me, shipwright.” Naðr’s eyes narrowed. “But now that we’re getting everything out in the open and I see as clearly as you that Amber was touched by the gods at birth, tell me why it is you communicate with the Unnamed One without my knowledge.”

Kol ground his teeth. He and his brothers had talked about Amber’s ‘dream’ at great length. Her description of the Unnamed One was too uncanny to brush it aside. Especially considering Amber’s gift of foresight through artistry and Kjar’s unusual interest in her. A sexual one at that. Though strange in itself, the demi-god had never lain with a woman, at least not one from their village. So to have him desire a woman meant for one of the brothers, one so very important to fulfilling the seer’s pact, made all of them curious.

Then again, Kol could well understand Kjar’s attraction to Amber. Just look at her. To be around her was about as good as it got. She adored men for who they were and had a way of making them feel special and handsome even if they were neither. That was a rarity and a quality that would always ensure men fell in love with her whether or not they knew it.

He frowned at his thoughts.

Had she done that to him?

Kol pushed the jarring contemplation aside and focused on the matter at hand. Because odd was odd and something wasn’t right with Kjar. He didn’t blame Amber for downing the entirety of her mug as the demi-god and king eyed one another.

“It seems, my
King
, that we will have to speak of this later." Kjar's eyes narrowed even further. “And it best be later. Not in front of current company. Or all that you hope to accomplish may very well not happen.”

Kol and Naðr had a split second to ponder what he meant before the last two people they expected to see entered.

Helga and the Unnamed One.

Amber had never been more grateful than when she received another cup of mead. While it was one thing to draw things that came to pass, it was another entirely to see the figure she supposedly dreamt about walk into the room. Yet there it was…no, there
she
was, because as Amber surmised when she saw the slight figure in Kjar’s room, the Unnamed One was definitely a woman.

The seers from Mt. Galdhøpiggen had arrived.

The seers responsible for bringing together her and her sisters with the Sigdir brothers.

As she clearly intended, the beautiful blond who could only be Helga took center stage as she sauntered in, eyes sweeping over everyone before landing on Naðr. “My King, congratulations on your newest dragon.”

Though Naðr, Megan, and Kol stood, Amber decided not to. Something about standing for Helga didn’t feel right. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she’d slept with Kol. Amber would never fault a woman for that. No, it had more do with his implications about the seer's nature because now that she was in the same room with her, Amber definitely got the feeling Helga was off.

Amber’s eyes went to the Unnamed One. She stood behind Helga with her head bent and face veiled, but Amber felt her repressed strength. There was a sense of honor there. Duty.

So why was she Helga’s puppet?

Or was she?

Chairs were brought forward and Helga sat between Kol and Kjar. The Unnamed One didn’t take a chair but sat by Helga’s feet, head bent, shaking what sounded like dice in her closed fist.

Bothered by it, Amber wanted to pull the Unnamed One up and invite her to sit beside her. She might be frightened by the secretive seer, but nobody should sit at another’s feet unless they wanted to. She frowned. Maybe the seer
did
want to.

Helga accepted a mug from a slave as her eyes roamed over everyone slowly, lingering on Kol before they landed on Amber. “So you are she who is meant for my Kol.”

Her
Kol? How arrogant, not to mention presumptuous. Amber kept her words vague…and polite. “Nice to meet you. As to Kol? I have no idea. As you can imagine, this is all new to me.”

Megan interrupted to make unnecessary introductions, but she knew her big sister was just trying to pull Helga’s attention away from her. But the seer seemed to be having none of it as her gaze lingered on Amber. “I thought a woman meant for him would be tall and remarkable but you…” Helga licked her lips as though she meant to tempt Kol as she spoke. “You are so very much made of Middle Earth. Wholesome but…”

Helga let her words linger as she tilted up her chin and hooded her eyes.

Amber couldn’t help but chuckle. Just about everything in her wanted to say Kol must love wholesome based on the way he bent her over the rock earlier but instead she shrugged. “Yeah, I’m all Middle Earth and happy about it.” She grinned and winked. “It being a kick ass planet, or
world
, and all.”

If she wasn’t mistaken, the Unnamed One paused slightly in the shaking of her fist.

Expression unchanged, Helga eyed Amber for another long moment before her eyes drifted to Kol. She didn’t have to say a thing at that point. Her look said everything as her appreciative gaze roamed down his body. A look that said she’d had him before and looked forward to having him again.

“Always a pleasure,” Naðr said tightly, interrupting Helga’s lewd appraisal. “But why are you here?”

Though it seemed about the last thing she wanted to do, Helga tore her gaze from Kol and met Naðr’s eyes. “Because war has arrived and I thought you might want our help once more.”

“King Rennir’s son then?”

“Yes, King Alrek. He has rallied his people well since my sister Yrsa’s passing and as you might have suspected, was given a great deal of her magic.”

“So I’ve heard.” Naðr eyed her. “The last I saw you we were on your mountain because it was the only place we could fight Yrsa.” His tone grew dry and eyes hard. “It was also a place of entrapment where you nearly made me forget my wife.”

Helga flicked an unseen bit of dust off her sleeve and arched her perfect eyebrows. “An unfortunate turn of events that worked out well in the end, yes?”

Naðr’s jaw clenched as he pulled Megan’s hand onto his lap. “Yes. One that will never be agreed to again.”

“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.