Page 11 of Hungry Like a Wolf (Vikings Rock #3)

R avn kept a tight hold of his slippery princess. She could run, he’d give her that, and aim a swift one with her knee too. His balls still ached.

He frowned as he stomped ahead, towing her at his side. His plan hadn’t been to hit the seas today, but he would. He couldn’t trust her not to slip away in the night. He wouldn’t get a moment of rest while they were still ashore.

Anna ran up to meet them. Her cheeks were flushed. “Carmel, why would you run? The forest is dangerous and—”

“You would run if you were me,” Carmel snapped.

Ravn bit back a smile. It seemed a sharp tongue appealed to him—a woman who said what she thought and didn’t layer words in honey so they would be sweet to his ears.

As he’d spent time with Carmel over the last few weeks—always under the pretense of helping her with chores—he’d come to admire her spirit and sense of self.

She had a confidence his wife had never had.

A way of saying things that made him think anew.

Perhaps it was her god that gave her a different perspective. Maybe it was because she was unique.

Coming up with the plan to take her back to Drangar had been a good one.

Win-win for him. He’d been away long enough, he was in danger of being usurped by some would-be king—Helga could only hold the fort for so long—and his son needed to know his face.

Returning with sagas of his siblings, a new land, and with a regal new woman in tow would do his reputation good. A lot of good.

“And don’t try it again!” the watchman shouted down as they walked beneath the tower. He shook his pike. “You can never escape.”

“I can if the good Lord has mercy and takes me to heaven,” she muttered.

“You will like Drangar,” Ravn said softly. “It is like…heaven.”

“I think you mean hell.”

“I do not know what hell is. But if it’s cold and mountainous and full of bears, elk, and wolves, then ja , that is what it is like.”

She said nothing. Her body was tense as though turned to wooden planks as she walked.

“Where did you go?” Orm rushed up to them, his face flushed and his kohled eyes wide and manic. “You bad thrall.”

“Carmel took off,” Anna said, “but Ravn brought her back.”

“You took off?” Orm stepped up close to her, his mouth a severe, flat line. “You ran away.”

“I’d still be running if I had the choice.

” She glared at him. “My life here with you is miserable and with your brother, it will be torturous. You are an imbecile, Orm, a pathetic creature who barely resembles a man and may God have mercy on your mad soul when you crawl at the gates of heaven and—”

Orm raised his hand, palm flat.

Ravn recognized the fury flashing in his brother’s eyes. Orm hated to be told he was mad.

Quickly, Ravn snapped out his hand and caught Orm’s wrist seconds before it connected with Carmel’s cheek.

She flinched, nestling closer to Ravn as a gasp caught in her throat.

“Don’t you ever,” Ravn said, anger making his jaw so tense, it was hard to speak, “raise a hand to this woman again.”

Orm was breathing hard, spittle in the corner of his mouth.

“Do I make myself clear?” Ravn asked, a brittle ache clawing at his heart at the thought of someone hurting Carmel.

“She is mine. I pulled her from the battlefield. She is mine.” Orm glared harder at Ravn.

“No!” Ravn stepped closer to his brother. “She is mine.” He tapped Orm on the side of his head. “Get used to that, as of now, this minute, she is mine.”

“No, she is mine.”

“No. Mine!”

“ She is a woman and a princess,” Anna said, slamming her hands onto her hips. “And a neat shot with a spear, from what I’ve heard. She doesn’t belong to anyone except herself.”

Ravn turned to Anna.

Orm did the same.

“Look at her!” Anna said, gesturing. “She is beautiful, regal, and with a sharp mind too. Stop saying you own her. No one owns her except for our dear Lord above who one day will shepherd her into His flock for all eternity.”

“‘Flock’?” Orm asked, wrinkling his nose.

“Beautiful,” Ravn said, looking down at Carmel, who was still locked in the circle of his arm.

It was true. She was slight of frame but stood tall. She was beautiful because of the way she held herself, the tilt of her chin, the tip of her lips, the curious narrowing of her eyes when she asked him a question and was keen for the answer.

His heart thudded in a way he’d become used to when he saw her for the first time each day. The gods had put her in his way to challenge him, he was sure, but what the challenge was, he couldn’t guess.

“I thank you, Anna, my friend,” Carmel said, shaking herself loose of Ravn. “And now I have chores.”

He let her go. Allowed her to walk back to the dwelling she shared with Orm.

“Pack,” he called after her. “We leave on the next tide.”

“I have nothing to pack other than my faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord.” She held up her hand, her middle finger pointing directly upward in a gesture that could only be described as defiantly disrespectful.

*

The longboat was quickly loaded with supplies for the journey north. Ravn’s crew of five had made the necessary repairs to the sails and hull and there was nothing left to do except climb aboard.

He walked to the beach with his siblings. The sun shone down and as they navigated through the dunes, orange-and-black butterflies fluttered around the swaying white flowers.

“Njord is kind today,” Haakon said, nodding at the ocean.

It was flat and smooth, barely a ripple upon it.

“ Ja ,” Ravn said, clasping his brother’s shoulder. “It is the gods’ way of telling us we must leave Tillicoulty now.”

“I don’t want him to take my thrall, Haakon,” Orm whined as he threw a stone into the air and caught it with a snatch of his hand.

“She is going. It is for the best,” Haakon said.

“I found her. I want to keep her,” Orm went on.

“Get used to it,” Ravn said. “She’s coming with me.”

“Good riddance,” Astrid huffed. “Every time I look at Carmel, I think how close she came to killing Hamish.”

Hamish, who walked at Astrid’s side, rubbed a fading scar on his brow.

Astrid touched Hamish’s cheek. A tender gesture, and one Ravn wasn’t ordinarily used to seeing from his sister but had noticed it more and more when she was around Hamish.

Tall and broad and hair the same color as hers, Hamish seemed to have a secret way of being with her, one that suited them both and didn’t need explaining to anyone.

Ravn was happy for her. There’d been no man in Drangar who could tame Astrid and much as it was a surprise that this quiet, pale foreigner had captured her heart, he was glad—he also knew there must have been a lot more beneath the surface when it came to Hamish. Astrid wasn’t a woman to settle.

Ravn glanced over his shoulder to make sure Carmel was following through the dunes.

She was walking with Anna and Kenna, a large cloak thrown around her shoulders with the hood drawn up. Her expression was dark, her mouth downturned. For all the world, it looked as though she were heading for the hangman’s noose, not a new life.

“You think the people of Drangar will accept her?” Haakon asked.

“ Ja , I will tell them to.”

“She does not speak their language. She does not worship our gods.” Haakon took a turn toward the small pier and the waiting longboat.

Ravn kept pace with him. “She is a woman of great resources. Look at how she now walks with the Queen of the Tillicoulty, a place she attacked not so long ago.”

“The queen is benevolent.” Haakon set his hand over his chest. “She sees the good in everyone.”

“A gracious quality,” Ravn acknowledged.

“You like her?” Haakon asked. There was a note of tension in his voice, as though Ravn’s answer mattered.

Ravn was surprised. “Brother of mine from the womb.” He slapped his hand on Haakon’s back.

“I could not be happier for you that the gods led you to Kenna. She is the beat of your heart—I can see that—and you hers.” He paused.

“And there is wisdom and kindness in her eyes. She will give you great sons, I am sure of it.”

Haakon stopped at the side of the boat. He turned to Ravn and squinted in the sunshine as he studied him. “What has happened to you, brother?”

Ravn laughed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you never even did that…”

“What?”

“Laugh… You never laughed before.”

Ravn straightened his face and sighed. “I have had great loss and with that came time to have a deep think about who I am and what the gods want for me.”

“And?”

“And I believe my lust for power had taken me off the path of my destiny. It is why I came to find you.” He touched Haakon’s arm ring and then his own.

“Our father gave us these to remind us of our bond with each other and the gods. For a while, I forgot that. I disrespected it, but that will never happen again.” He paused.

“If you had not found happiness here, I would have invited you back to Drangar so we could rule together.”

“You would not have!”

Ravn tipped his head. “ Ja , you are right. I would not have gone that far.”

Haakon let out a great guffaw. “The gods are wise and I am glad you are following your destiny again.”

“I am, brother, I am.” He reached out and embraced Haakon in a short, sharp hug. “And ’haps she is my destiny too.” He pulled back and nodded at Carmel.

Haakon studied her for a moment and then in their own tongue said, “Her royal blood makes her a good match for you, but do not forget these people have one god who rules their thoughts. You must not disrespect that. If you do, she will hate you forever.” He paused.

“Their god also insists they are virgins until they marry.” He raised his eyebrows at Ravn.

“You must be gentle when you take her that first time.”

“I know that, brother.” Ravn shrugged. “I know all of that, but trust me, I will win her ’round and have her in my bed willingly.”

Haakon raised his eyebrows. “Good luck with that. It’s not easy, brother. Believe me, I know.”

“Any advice, then?”

“Patience. A barrel load of patience.”

“Goodbye, brother.” Astrid held up her hand.

“Next time I see you, you will have sons, I am sure.” Ravn stepped up to Astrid and pulled her into a hug.

She grunted and pushed him away but was smiling. “Get off.”

He laughed and clasped Hamish on the shoulder. “Look after my sister, right?”

“She can look after herself, but aye, I’ll be at her side.” Hamish slipped his arm around Astrid’s waist and pulled her close.

“Orm.” Ravn looked at Orm.

He was still tossing the stone into the air and catching it. His shoulders were rounded and his sulky mouth downturned. Black kohl streaked down his cheeks to his jawline.

“Orm,” Ravn said again. “Be safe.”

“Oh, just bloody go,” Orm said with a flick of his hand. “And don’t come back.”

“I will and when I do, you will be a married man.” Ravn gestured to Anna. “It is the gods’ plan for you, I would wager it.”

Orm’s mouth fell open as he stared wide-eyed at Anna. The stone rolled to the wooden pier and splashed into the water.

She clasped her hand over her mouth and stepped back, hiding her face.

Ravn laughed and indicated for his crew to board. They did so amidst shouts of goodbye and stomps of boots.

“Princess,” Ravn called, “come here. It is time to board.”

She folded her arms and glowered at him.

“Now!” He flicked his hand.

“Why would I willingly step aboard a longboat with you?”

“Because I told you to.”

“And you are my new master?” Her eyes narrowed and she pouted.

“I am your new king.” He pointed at the boat. “Now get on.”

“No.” She folded her arms.

“You are a disobedient wench.” He marched up to her, irritation pricking at him.

“That may be, but I will not board a boat that is to take me away from my homeland against my will.” She stuck out her chest and closed her eyes. “I would die first. Stab me here.” She banged her right breast dramatically.

“Oh, in the name of Odin, you might be the biggest mistake of my life.” He tutted then stooped and scooped her up into his arms. She was light and delicate and he clasped her to his chest and strode to the plank between pier and boat.

“Hey! Put me down.” She yanked his tunic and kicked her legs. “Put me down.”

“Goodbye, my brothers. Goodbye, my sister. May the gods always look upon you and the good people of Tillicoulty with great favor.”

He boarded the boat in several quick strides, jumping the few feet down to the hull.

Carmel let out a squeal, part shock, part protest.

He kept hold of her, enjoying the warmth of her body against his and the rosemary scent that wafted from her sun-warmed hair.

His crew quickly released the ropes and Haakon and Hamish gave the longboat a shove with their feet setting it adrift.

“Goodbye,” Queen Kenna called with a wave. “May God bless you all and Saint Christopher row beside you during your travels.” She kissed the cross at her neck.

“Son of Odin and brother of Thor, our great god Meili will be at your side,” Orm yelled as he held his arms to the sky. “Meili, be wise and good and protect our brothers from the great serpents and beasts of the ocean.”

“Thank you, Orm.” Ravn held his hand up. A sudden pang of loss hit him. He’d made amends with his siblings these last weeks. Sure, they still irked him—he’d always have rivalry with Haakon and he’d never understand Astrid—but he could travel home knowing they were happy and healthy.

His father would be pleased as he looked down from Valhalla. If Ravn’s penance for his selfish ways had been to lose everyone he’d cared for, he’d now gone some way to compensating for his actions and rebuilding bridges.

“Get off me.” Carmel whacked him on the shoulder.

He looked down at her. Her eyes were misted with tears and her bottom lip quivered.

“What is it?”

She blinked and a tear escaped. Quickly, she dashed at it. “Put me down.”

He set her feet on the hull but kept his arm around her waist. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not.” She sniffed and turned away from the crowd on the pier.

“I’ll take care of you,” he said, his voice a little softer as he spoke by her ear. “You’re safe with me. I promise.”

“Safe with a big brute of a Viking who has dragged me away from my lands?” She gave a dismissive grunt. “I doubt it.”

“I am big and strong. I can protect you.” He paused. “You had to leave, Carmel. You could not stay in Tillicoulty. Your presence put all of those people in danger.” He gestured to the beach as the boat began to move out to sea.

“You could have let me go home.”

“You are going home, to your new home… Your new home with me.”