Valhalla Wolf (20 page)

There was much laughter from inside. She could hear talking, all women's voices and it sounded like they were sporting with their captive. Vicki felt her heart race. Her hand settled for a moment onto her belly.

"Fear not, little one. I'm going to retrieve your father."

When another woman exited the hut, Vicki hid and waited until she was close. The woman had a sword strapped to her back. When Vicki was close enough behind her, she rammed a rock against the side of the woman's head. She went down with a thump. Vicki bound and gagged her. She moved stealthily back to the hut. When the next woman came out she noted it was the one who had been carrying water. She had no weapon.

Vicki followed her to the river and when the woman turned with the pail she dropped it when finding Vicki's sharp blade at her neck. Vicki warned her if she screamed she would slit her throat. The woman, who was an inch taller than Vicki although somewhat thinner and dressed in threadbare 178

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tattered rags, whimpered quietly and begged her not to kill her.

"How many are in the hut?" Vicki snapped.

"Please, I'm only their slave," the woman sobbed.

"I won't kill you if you help me," Vicki said. "Now tell me, how many women?"

"Five in all."

"Do they have a man as a prisoner?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to tie and gag you. I promise you won't be harmed if you do as I say," Vicki warned.

To Vicki's surprise the woman was docile and held still while Vicki tied her tightly to a tree and gagged her. She raised sad woe-filled eyes to her and Vicki placed her hand on her shoulder when she continued to weep and shake with fear. The woman was young, blond and beautiful; she was also pale and looked half-starved. She looked so lost and alone—broken, was the word that came to mind. Vicki was angry.

"I promise I won't let anyone hurt you." As an afterthought Vicki removed her fur wrap and slung it over the quivering woman's shoulders. She surmised it might encumber her during battle. The woman was no threat, after all, she had not been armed. Besides, she wasn't so coldhearted as to allow her prisoner to freeze in her absence. An odd thought occurred to Vicki. This woman was
her
captive—interesting.

That meant she was under her protection. "When I come back for you I will take you to my village and no one will be allowed to harm you."

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Stealthily she moved off under the cover of the numerous trees. Vicki knew there were four remaining women in the hut. She inched toward it furtively.

She had her sword before her thinking to take them by surprise when she heard a woman within the hut shriek,

"Beware, he's loose."

Vicki bolted through the door. Not only was Ulfr loose, he was armed with a sword—and he looked pissed! Vicki launched herself into the foray and attacked a woman who would have thrust her sword through Ulfr's back. Ulfr turned and his eyes lit with stunned surprise when he saw Vicki. She grinned at him, happy to see him alive and well and parlayed a thrust. She battled against two women while Ulfr battled two. Back and forth she dodged and ducked and slammed her weapon into her opponents mercilessly. She heard a small gasping sound from directly behind her as a woman went down and knew there was one less to worry about.

Vicki saw her chance and when one of the two women pulled back her sword she thrust straight into the woman's chest. The woman sunk slowly to the ground and her eyes blinked then closed for a final time. The other woman stood staring wide-eyed at Vicki. She was gasping to take in huge breaths. She threw her sword to the ground and dropped to her knees in defeat. Her arms lifted into a pleading submissive gesture. She begged Vicki not to kill her. Vicki spared her life and tied her up.

Ulfr and the woman he was battling had taken their fight outside. Vicki watched as the woman clashed swords with him. Vicki had to admit she was a good swordswoman. But 180

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she was struggling with exhaustion now and Ulfr was grinning with his self-satisfied roguish look. It was apparent to all three who would win; it was just a matter of time to wait and see how long the woman would last. Ulfr was merely parlaying each of her thrusts, until finally he was finished toying with her. Vicki winced when he took up the attack and slammed his heavy weapon into the woman's. Again and again he struck with punishing brutal thrusts, until the woman went down. Her sword lay in the dirt and slushy snow and she was gasping and panting on her side at his feet. Her eyes looked with loathing at Ulfr who stood over her.

"I will never yield to you!" she snarled.

Ulfr laughed, looking smug. "You already have, captive,"

he declared.

"Ulfr."

Vicki turned and saw Hott and about fifteen men come striding forward. The huge bear of a man, Rollo, came over and tied the woman on the ground.

"She's a beauty," Rollo said with an admiring eye.

Vicki had to admit he was right. The woman stood at least six foot one with long blond hair and dark blue eyes. Eyes that flashed fury.

"She's a nasty little thing," Ulfr declared.

"I could gentle her," Rollo said. He ran a large beefy hand down the woman's leg.

Ulfr laughed when the woman gazed up at him no longer with defiance but fear. "Then by all means if you wish to trade me for her, I'm certain we can come to an agreement. One warrior woman is enough for me."

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Vicki walked over to him and Ulfr put his arm around her.

"It's too bad it's winter; a woman such as this should be taken nude to the camp," Rollo said musingly.

"Perhaps when we get closer. I'm certain with the cold freezing her behind she will happily press herself against the furs on your back and be happy to warm your bed," Ulfr suggested.

Rollo smiled brightly and he hauled the woman over his shoulder as if she didn't weigh a thing. She struggled and squirmed until his large hand smacked her ass and she quieted.

Vicki just shook her head. She was surrounded with barbarians. She was then distracted when the sobbing of a woman caught her attention. Hott was dragging the young woman she had tied at the river behind him. She was no longer gagged. She was whimpering pitifully not to be harmed.

"She's mine," Vicki declared.

All eyes lifted in stunned surprise. "You have claimed a captive?" Ulfr asked with disbelief.

"I have," Vicki said. Her eyes locked menacingly onto the surrounding interested men. This captive woman of hers was no warrior woman. She was defenseless and like the dogs they were the men sensed this and were already circling like vultures. No wonder she was terrified. "No harm is to come to her.
None.
If you want this woman then I suggest you find some of your best gifts."

"You will trade her?" Haki asked with a gleam in his eye.

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"No," Vicki corrected him. "The gifts are for her. Whoever catches her eye may ask for her hand in marriage. If she is in agreement."

There were many groans and Ulfr laughed. Hott untied the young woman who flew to Vicki on frightened, grateful feet.

"What of this one?" Varr asked. He had found the one Vicki had cold-cocked.

Vicki looked at Ulfr. "Did this one harm you?" she asked.

"This one is named Hilde. She kept watch over me last night. She told me to sleep and that she wouldn't harm me while I slept. She kept her word," Ulfr replied.

"I'm tired of being a warrior woman," Hilde admitted. "It gets cold in the furs on winter nights. I think it would be nice to settle with a man and have his babe in my belly."

Vicki thought about it. The woman did look tired. She looked at her captive. "What's your name?"

"They called me slave," she replied shyly.

"What were you called before?" Vicki asked.

"Etta."

"Etta, has this woman been cruel to you? Would you fear for your safety if she is allowed to wander as you will be?"

Vicki asked.

"No, she has never beaten me, or been cruel, not like Brynhild," she said and shuddered.

"Brynhild is dead," Ulfr said. "I killed her in the hut. She was a woman with no mercy, as was her sister Gunnhild, who Vicki killed."

"That leaves one," Hott said.

"The captive who yielded to me," Vicki said.

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"She will not be allowed to wander the village," Ulfr said angrily.

Vicki was surprised. "She yielded to me."

"She tried to kill you," Ulfr said angrily, leveling a look at the warrior woman that had her shaking in terror.

"The other woman tried to kill you and you showed mercy," Vicki said, although she wondered just how merciful Rollo would be.

"She tried to kill you," Ulfr insisted.

Vicki felt annoyed. He could be so damned egotistical.

"Fine! Hott, because I disobeyed you and left to find Wolf without you, you may give the captive to whomever you choose," Vicki said. She was a bit worried Ulfr might pick someone even bigger than Rollo, if that was possible, and perhaps now Hott wouldn't give her a tongue lashing.

Both men nodded in agreement. The woman was hauled to her feet whimpering. Vicki felt sorry for her. She knew what a captive's life was like. Hopefully Hott would find someone quickly to offer their protection to her.

Ulfr wrapped his arms around her and Vicki snuggled into his embrace. He grinned down on her. He seemed different, a bit more of his old roguish self. His hand squeezed her behind.

"Perhaps I could coax my warrior woman into some play later. Thank you for coming to my aid. It would appear your legend was correct, up to a point. A great Valhalla warrior did overcome
her
fears to rise from adversity to save her Wolf mate just in time," he said with a deep smile. He pronounced his name the way she did.

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Vicki was stunned.
I am the legend
. Her own story had been spoonfed to her all along. She had thought the warrior to be a man not a woman. How could she not have seen? The sword had been hers all along, made for her—forged from love to keep her safe from harm. No wonder it was so powerful, powerful enough to bring them together again. She was where she was supposed to be. Ulfr had been right from the beginning, here was home.

"I am home, Wolf. This is my home, you were right. I'm where I belong—with you."

Ulfr shouted in sheer joy. Vicki was delighted when Ulfr picked her up into his arms and held her high. He bellowed she was his forever and no one was to touch her.

A man shook his head chuckling. "You really think any of us are going to be stupid enough to mess with her? A warrior's woman, who is a woman warrior!"

Both Vicki and Ulfr laughed.

* * * *

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Epilogue

Vicki was nude before she hit the furs in their hut. Ulfr was back to feeling normal, obviously. He kissed her throat, her lips, her eyes. He smiled down into her face and looked at her so lovingly she was thrilled.

"You trust me to keep you safe?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied.

"You are a powerful warrior woman," he declared.

Oh no not that again.
"Yes, but..."

He stilled her words with a finger to her lips. "When you are armed you can defend yourself and you make yourself feel safe, that is your control."

She nodded.

"When we play, you give your life, your control, into my hands willingly. I keep you safe and part of your pleasure is knowing you are helpless—and safe. When you are helpless and vulnerable, and afraid, facing cruelty and hurtful pain, it isn't fun or safe."

"Did they hurt you?" Vicki asked sadly. Her hand trailed with tenderness across his jaw.

"They were just hits and kicks from a woman," he scoffed.

Perhaps, but he had killed the woman. "Did you kill Brynhild because you were angry she hurt you?" Vicki asked.

"No," he said.

He looked so genuinely surprised she believed him.

"She saw your back was turned and aimed for you. It was cowardly. I was dealing with both women. There was no way 186

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to avoid her death. I had no choice, as she would have killed you, little Valkyrie. She would have taken my child from me. I would have spared her life if she had yielded and not tried to kill you. The sisters and their cruelty also taught me something. I am not hurting you if I take you how you want to be taken."

Now she understood. His dream demon and his reality demon had clashed, and he looked like he wanted to make up for lost time. She smiled a sultry smile. Her hands roamed his chest, one lowered to grip his stiffening penis.

"Do you want to play?" she taunted. "I could always tie your hands and have my way with you."

In answer she was flipped to her belly. Ulfr uttered an animalistic growl and had her wrists grasped and tied in record time. Vicki shivered with excitement; thank heaven he was back to his normal self. She felt wet with excitement. Her hips were lifted and Ulfr gently thrust his cock into her vaginal heat. She moaned as he rocked against her slowly. She heard his grunts and groans of pleasure. When the backs of her thighs connected to the front of his she could feel how tense he was. She knew he was cautious of the baby. She wanted him harder. She tried to increase their pace but he remained stubborn.

"Wolf," she pleaded.