Page 16 of Hungry Like a Wolf (Vikings Rock #3)

C armel pulled back from the heated kiss and stared up at Ravn. With his new clean-shaven jawline and his freshly washed hair, he looked almost civilized.

Almost.

But that was beside the point. It was his words, his filthy, seductive, delicious, and terrifying words that were rattling around her mind and making her heart beat so fast, she feared for its survival.

Wed.

Be his queen.

If he hadn’t looked so serious, she’d have thought he was jesting.

And there was no denying he was real. This was no dream. His big, hard, hot body pressed against the length of hers. His hair-coated flesh smelled of soap and sleep and his eyes bored into her soul.

“I will wed you,” she said, hardly believing the words that were coming from her mouth. But he was right. Being a queen was preferable to a thrall for the next three years. “On one condition.”

“Anything.” He ran his hands down her back as though learning her shape. “I will do anything for you.”

“If we have children in this marriage, they are raised Christian.” And , she promised herself, they will return to Lothlend with me.

His eyebrows lowered and his jaw tensed.

“I am not saying they will not know Thor and Odin and all of your gods,” she went on, “but they must know mine. Our savior Jesus Christ must be in their lives.” For a moment, she thought he’d refuse. That he’d change his mind about marrying her and stomp off.

But then his face softened. “They will have broad minds with a good understanding of the world.” He nodded slowly. “So when they raid, they will know the value of what they are pillaging from Christians.”

“Well…” She frowned thinking of the Commandments and how her father hadn’t stuck to them as well as he should have.

All of her life, she’d believed in his divine right to tax and battle, but perhaps he could have been a more benevolent ruler of his people.

“I will be sure to teach them that taking what isn’t theirs is sinful. ”

Suddenly, he picked her up and spun her around.

She gasped and clutched his shoulders. “Ravn.”

“I will announce our marriage to the villagers. They will not be surprised.” He grinned. “They will be joyful. A great feast will be prepared and I will send Erin to help you get ready.”

“‘Get ready’?”

“ Ja . A bride must get ready for her new husband.” He swept his lips over her lips. “A new queen must get ready to formally meet her new people.”

*

Carmel spent the day with Erin and two other women who didn’t speak her language. Several of their children milled about Ravn’s home, including Thormod, who was more interested in playing with his boat in a pail of water than engaging with her.

“He still cries for his mother,” Erin said as she brushed Carmel’s hair. “But less now than at the beginning.”

“It is a terrible thing to lose a parent, whatever age.”

“ Ja , my mother also went last winter. The fever that swept through the village after Haakon left was vicious. Some said it was the gods’ doing, that they were angered at the way the brothers had fought for power.”

“Power is a seductive thing. Blinding to some.” Had her father been blinded by it?

Erin was quiet for a moment as one of the women passed her a tiny, white flower with a delicate stalk. Carefully, she pinned up a plaited loop of Carmel’s hair onto the crown of her head and secured the flower within it.

The other woman held up a long, linen dress. It was the color of a summer sky, the neckline square, and it was embellished with exquisite golden embroidery. A thick leather belt had been attached to the waist so that it cinched in.

“What do you think?” Erin asked.

“Is that for me?”

“ Ja , it has never been worn before. You will be the first.”

“It’s… It’s beautiful.”

“I am glad you like it.” Erin continued to add flowers to her hair. “Ravn is different upon his return to Drangar.”

“He is? How?”

“He has smiled.” She laughed. “That never used to happen.”

“Really?” When Carmel thought of Ravn, she pictured him with a smile on his face. Either that or with lust in his eyes. “Why didn’t it?”

“I have no knowledge of that, but I can guess it was his desire to be king over his brother.” She hesitated. “Orm always annoyed him too. Do you know Orm?”

“Oh, aye, I know Orm. And he annoys me also.” Carmel laughed and was glad there was an ocean between her and Orm.

“The gods were playing a strange game when they created him.”

“It is true Orm is different,” Carmel said. “Though I think…”

“What?”

“I think there is a woman in Tillicoulty who is rather fond of him.”

“Really? That is good. I have seen him enjoy naked pleasure, but never with the same woman for long.”

Carmel felt her cheeks heating at the mention of sex. She dipped her head.

“Are you looking forward to your wedding night?”

“Why would you ask that?” Wasn’t such a topic rather personal?

“Ravn is a hot-blooded man. He will take a woman with much passion. You are not marrying a virgin the way I did.” Erin paused. “Not to mention, the king looks at you as though he were starving and you are a delicious meal that he cannot wait to devour.”

Her belly twisted over itself and she gulped. “All I can do is hope he can control his appetite.”

Erin laughed. “Oh, honey, why would you want him to?”

*

A few hours later, Carmel stood on the pier with Erin at her side and Ravn before her.

A crowd stood on the beach and looked on. The fire cages had been lit and the longboats bobbed on a gentle swell.

“Take each other’s hands,” Joseph said, holding up a length of silky, blue material.

Ravn gently took her hand. His mouth was a solemn, straight line and his hair plaited neatly.

He wore a brass crown dotted with amber.

His gray tunic had brown leather strapping that crossed at his chest and was studded with bronze.

Leather also wrapped around the lower half of the sleeves and his pants and boots matched.

He was tall and regal and the sword at his belt glinted in the sunshine.

“May all the gods, the mighty All Father and God in heaven, look upon you today with joy and offer you prosperity and good fortune.” Joseph wrapped the silk ribbon around their wrists three times, then he tied a knot, binding them together.

“In the exchanging of words and swords, you will now become man and wife and forever walk the paths of destiny and fate together.”

Carmel’s heart rate picked up as a gust of breeze caught a tendril of her hair. This really was it. She was to be wed. And in a way—and to a man—she could never have imagined.

“Princess Carmel,” Ravn said, his concentration solely on her. “As your husband, I pledge to cherish, honor, and respect you from this day until my last. I promise to protect you, to be loyal to you so that you forever know that you can always rely upon my heart, as it beats for you.”

Her throat dried and a tremble went up her spine and over her scalp.

“Princess,” Joseph said gently.

She pulled in a breath. “I stand before God Almighty and you, King Ravn of Drangar, on this day to pledge my devotion as a wife and mother to your children.” She paused.

He squeezed her hand.

“And in the name of Jesus Christ my savior, I promise to honor and respect you, cherish you and forsake all others so that you are the only man in my heart.” The words came out easier than she’d expected and she’d managed to hold in the fact that it would only be for three years.

A round of three seasons, that was all she had to commit to, then she would be free to live a chaste life as a divorcee back in Lothlend.

“And now for the exchanging of swords.” Joseph handed a small, silver sword to Carmel.

She took the ornate handle and passed it to Ravn. He handed her his heavy one, which she held vertically with the point pressing into the wooden floor of the pier.

“And now”—Joseph held up his hands—“you are King and Queen of Drangar and husband and wife.”

The crowd cheered and clapped and a drum banged loudly.

“Queen Carmel,” Ravn said, snatching her close. “My beautiful wife, your people adore you, as do I.”

His lips hit down on hers as his arms held her tightly. She could practically taste his desire; his need was hot and urgent. She dropped the sword and gripped the leather straps that went over his shoulders. She was glad he was holding her up. Her knees had become so weak.

A shower of tiny, white petals rained down on them and burning sage wafted around them.

“We will feast,” Ravn said against her lips. “And then we can be alone.”

“Ravn.” She touched his cheek. “I…”

“What?”

“It is nothing.” She shook her head and pressed her legs together. The thought of what was coming was terrifying. She’d have to pray and hope it was quick and that she wouldn’t bleed too much afterwards or be in unbearable pain.

“Your day is only going to get better.” He turned to the crowd and raised their joined hands. “My good people, my wife and I invite you to feast with us, to drink with us, and enjoy good music with us.”

Tables and benches had been set up along the narrow beach and were stacked with fish and bread and buttered vegetables. Several great vats of stew sat over fires and the herby scent filled the air.

“Your Grace,” Erin said, holding out a chair for Carmel.

“Thank you.” Carmel sat and looked down the table.

The villagers were raucous and excitable. They raised their ale, shouting,

“ Sk?l, sk?l !” Many turned her way as Ravn moved up the line clasping shoulders and accepting congratulations. Or at least that was what she presumed was happening, though some of the leers from men made her wonder just what had been said.

Erin passed her a plate of eggs and green vegetables along with a goblet of fruit wine. “The men of the village approve of their new queen.”

“What do they say?”

Erin laughed. “They say you have breasts as round as turnips and a backside as firm as a young filly’s and you are sure to have a cunny as sweet a ripe fig.”

“What?” Carmel covered her gaping mouth. “What truly awful…sinful things to say.”

“It is a compliment.” Erin laughed and supped her own wine. “Viking men have a way with words, no?”

“No.” She took a gulp of wine. “I don’t think they do.”

Ravn sat next to her and hoisted Thormod, who was chewing on a chunk of bread, onto his lap. “Eat,” he said, pointing to her plate. “You will need energy for later.”

Nerves wound around her yet again and she picked up the egg and nibbled it.

“Look!” Ravn suddenly pointed upward. “Odin watches over this auspicious day.”

A great flock of black birds, ravens, were flying overhead. They’d come from the direction of the fjord and were low and swift, their beating wings creating a low hum. There were so many, as they crossed directly over the feasting villagers, the birds cast a dark shadow onto the beach.

“It is a good omen,” Erin said, “that Odin celebrates with you, King Ravn.”

Ravn banged his chest. “Now I know for sure that the gods favor me once again. I took risks to step back onto the path of my destiny but it has paid off and here I am, prosperous and happy.” He reached for Carmel’s hand. “And with a beautiful new queen at my side.”