Viking Claimed (Triad Series Book 4) (10 page)

“Do you like it, my lady?” Aki murmured. “Being impaled on my cock? Your body spread beneath me? ” He rocked his hips, sending thousands of pulses along her nerve endings like fireworks.

“
Gods yes
.” Spoken words were beyond her now. All she had were feelings that could only be expressed mind to mind.

“
Then you will like this even more.”
He placed his hands under her knees, widening her and raising her for the now steady thrust of his cock. Each motion brought him almost out of her and then back in again.

She grabbed hold of every piece of him that she could, desperately needing something solid to cling to as he brought her to peak after peak of pleasure. She invaded his mind, sharing her pleasure, taking his delight in her and using it to heal parts of her that she hadn’t even realized still hurt.

“
You are my heart,”
he whispered as he slowly fucked her. “
You are my female. I will never let you go, even if the Oracle denies our union.
”

“Oh Gods,” she whimpered as another climax crashed over her, turning her thoughts molten and blending them with her lover’s like freshly forged steel. He gathered her even closer, lifting her into his hands and pistoning in and out until he roared her name and came hot and deep inside her.

With a hoarse sound, he rolled onto his back, bringing Elli to lie on top of him. She rubbed her cheek against his muscled chest and let him hold her as a curious sense of peace flooded through her mind and soul. This was right. She didn’t care what the Oracle said, either.

Aki chuckled and smoothed her hair away from her face. “That’s my girl. We shall defy the Oracle together if necessary.”

“I hope it isn’t necessary.” She kissed his warm skin. “I want to get it right this time.”

“The blessing of one’s Gods is never to be sneered at, Elli Slavin. I understand.”

He kissed her again and she thought they might have dozed. The next thing she knew, he was picking her up as if she weighed nothing and walking her to the bathroom. Still holding her, he mounted the steps into the large bath and then sunk down in the hot, perfumed water with her still on his lap.

“You will be sore,” he murmured. “This will help.”

She allowed him to wash her, wrap her in a thick towel and take her back to bed. Before she’d even hit the pillow, she was fast asleep and still smiling.

Aki found some clothes laid out in the room beside the bedroom where Elli slept and pulled them on. The light, white garments were far more suitable for the heat and stickiness of the Temple surroundings. He was smiling as he dressed, aware of each ache and tug of his muscles from his lovemaking with Elli and the sense that with her, and with Morek, he truly had the beginnings of a new life in his strange new world...

Even though Elli was sleeping, he could still sense her in his mind just as he could Morek. It was quite extraordinary.

There was a knock on the door to Elli’s chamber and Einarr appeared.

“Are you well, brother?”

“Aye.” Aki grinned at his twin. “I believe I need to speak to the Oracle with all haste.”

“She’s already said she will meet with us tomorrow morning,” Einarr confirmed. “Now come and eat. I’ve seen Ungar. He said to tell you that Morek is in his usual quarters in the bodyguards’ complex.”

“Good.”

Aki stretched and followed his brother out into the main hall where Frey and Ungar were sitting opposite each other at the table. From what he could see, they appeared to be getting on rather well.

Realizing he was ravenous, Aki helped himself to the various foodstuffs on the table. He couldn’t recognize most of them, but he’d already learned that there were enough similarities with the food he’d eaten in his own time to partake of a decent meal.

After a while he began to feel as if his company was unnecessary as the other three drew closer together. Clearing his throat, he stood up and bowed.

“I believe I will go for a stroll before I sleep.” He turned to Frey. “If Elli awakens, will you tell her I’ll be back shortly?”

“Not too shortly,” Einarr murmured with a direct look at Aki. “We have a lot to… discuss here.”

“I can see that.” Aki winked. “I will make sure to announce my return in the loudest tones possible.”

“We would appreciate that, my brother.” Einarr bowed.

Aki set off from the guest quarters, making his way up to the main Temple complex, which was relatively quiet in the evening. One of the Hakron guards he’d traveled with saw him and called him over.

“Aki, are you looking for Morek? He is on duty until moonrise.”

“I was just taking a look around the Temple. It is an impressive place.”

“Aye. It is ancient. The first worshippers came to this sacred spring over five thousand years ago.”

“That is impressive.” Aki nodded gravely. “Can I visit the spring and leave an offering to your Gods?”

“If you intend to show your face before the Oracle tomorrow, I would highly recommend it.” He pointed at a stairway running down the side of the highly polished Temple wall. “Follow these steps down as far as they will go. You will find yourself at the source of the spring.”

“Thank you.” Aki bowed. He had a desire to pray and where better than a place where people had worshipped for thousands of years? It did not matter whether they were the Gods of his Valhalla. They still might listen to his prayers and accept his offerings.

He went down the spiral staircase, watching his footing carefully on the narrow turns until he was dizzy. He finally reached the bottom and stepped away from the stairwell and onto a white, chalky surface that crunched underfoot. As he stood there, a beam of moonlight struck the ground, awakening a thousand small ripples of light within the sand.

Aki slowly let out his breath. The place wasn’t large. Water lapped at the small crystal beach and disappeared within the mouth of a cave on the opposite wall. Looking up, Aki’s gaze followed the towering lines of the front of the cave. The rock was twisted like frosted branches and formed an altar festooned with thousands of scraps of fabric and metal and other precious objects that swayed gently in the breeze.

He stood back and watched as the only other person present knelt down on the waters edge, splashed his face and murmured a prayer before sending his little trinket floating out into the spring. The current took the offering, drawing it back toward the entrance of the cave. The man watched until the trinket disappeared over the edge and then stood up and bowed.

His expression when he turned to Aki was full of hope, and he smiled as he went past. “May the Gods favor you, too, sir.”

“Thank you.” Aki bowed.

After a while, he knelt at the edge of the water and dipped his fingers into the stream, hissing at the unexpected coldness in such a warm place. He considered what he wished to say. His world was gone. He had to accept that. There seemed no point in asking to be returned to it. Perhaps he should simply pray for those he had left behind and give thanks for his new life and the chance to live again?

“Aye,” he said softly as he formed the prayer in his heart and mind. Even as he finished composing it, he fumbled in his pocket for the bead of amber he’d had since he was a small lad. There was an insect caught within the depths of the stone, forever trapped. Rather like he had been in the ice.

But now he was free…

If he allowed himself to be.

He closed his eyes and set the amber bead on the surface of the water, repeating his prayer as the offering was taken further and further away from him. Within moments he caught a last glint from the amber before it disappeared down the back of the cave.

Aki lowered his head as a curious sense of peace came over him, followed by the sharp hint of tears.

“You did the right thing, Viking.”

He turned his head to see a woman sitting against the wall. He couldn’t guess her age, but she was beautiful and dressed in the white garb of a Temple priestess. She patted the space beside her and Aki immediately obeyed. He leaned back against the wall and surveyed the small grotto with its deep sense of serenity and time. A serenity that also seemed to emanate from the woman sitting beside him.

“Do you think your prayer will be answered?” she asked.

“I hope so,” he sighed. “I tried not to demand things but rather pray for those I have left behind and for the strength to cope with this new existence.”

“Not many people get the chance to live again, Viking.”

“I know that. At first, I thought it meant my brother and I were still cursed by our Gods, but now I am not so sure.”

“What changed your mind?”

He shrugged. “Finding out that even in such a different place out in the starry sky, there are still people who love, laugh and bleed just like they do in my world.”

Her laugh was low. “That is a good lesson to learn. You have come far in many ways, Aki.”

“I suppose I have.” Aki considered the moonlight that was now brightening the sacred grove. “Tomorrow I will meet with your Oracle and find out if she is as great a seer as everyone says she is.”

“I believe she is considered very competent.”

“Well with all due respect, my lady, seeing as you serve her, you would say that.”

“I also happen to believe it.”

Aki touched her hand. “I meant no offense.”

“And what if she tells you that she knows of a way for you to return home?”

He went still. “I am not sure if I would want to go back. Four thousand years of being alone has changed me.”

“But what of your family?”

He slowly exhaled. “I will always miss them and pray for them, but I suspect they would know I was not the same man anymore.”

She nodded. “That is very true.”

“And I have Einarr here with me and the possibility of a new life serving your Oracle and two people who love me.”

“Also true.”

Aki frowned. “I just hope the Oracle understands that Elli and I are meant to be together.”

“And the Hakron warrior?”

He gave her a swift searching glance. “You know of this matter? You must be in the Oracle’s confidence.”

“I would like to think so.” She paused. “So what if she doesn’t proclaim that you are now mated to your two choices?”

“How can she not?” Aki thumped his chest with his fist over his heart. “I know these things are meant to be in my very marrow.”

The woman rose gracefully to her feet. “Then let’s hope you are right.”

Aki stood and took her hand. “Will you offer the Oracle your counsel on this matter for me, my lady? Will you tell her that I will be loyal to Elli and Morek for the rest of my days and will live with them in her service?”

She met his gaze and he couldn’t look away as the power of her mind sifted through his as if he had no shields at all.

“I will consider your request.”

For some reason, Aki found himself falling to his knees and kissing her hand. By the time he looked up, she was gone and Morek stood at the bottom of the stairs smiling at him.

“Were you looking for me?”

He wore the more formal robes of the Oracle’s bodyguard, which consisted of a silk-like garment belted at the hips. It came over one shoulder and was fastened with a bejeweled pin at the waist, leaving one half of his chest bare. Morek’s dark hair was also tamed and braided in one thick plait down his back.

“I was speaking to one of the Oracle’s handmaidens,” Aki said. “She might ask the Oracle to favor us tomorrow.”

“That is good. Did you pray?” Morek held out his hand and helped Aki rise. He had his spear but his arrows were absent.

“Aye.”

Morek smiled into his eyes. “That is also good. Did the goddess of the spring accept your offering?”

Aki pointed toward the cave. “It disappeared down there, so I suppose that means it was accepted.”

“It does.” Morek took a moment to bow in the direction of the cave. “May the Oracle find favor with our wishes and desires tomorrow.”

They turned together and made the journey back up the stairs. By mutual consent, Aki followed Morek toward his lodgings, which were far simpler than the rooms Aki currently inhabited and shared by many guards. Morek, at least, had a room to himself.

“Have you seen Ungar?” Morek asked.

“Aye.” Aki smiled at the other man. “He was with my brother and his female.”

“That explains why he isn’t responding to me. Thank the Gods Ungar has excellent shields.”

“They seemed to be getting on very well.”

Morek nodded. “I am pleased for him. He deserves to be happy. I hope he is mated tomorrow.” He sat down on his narrow bed. “And you? Was your female pleased to see you?”

“Aye. She… accepted me.”

“I am very pleased for you, Viking.” There was something about the way Morek’s mind flowed into Aki’s that soothed and comforted him without even seeming to try.

“I tried to tell her about you, but she was too afraid to ‘complicate things’.” Aki rubbed his chin. “I am not sure what that means, but I decided not to argue with her. All will be sorted out by the Oracle tomorrow, anyway.”

“Do you think Elli will accept me?” Morek asked slowly.

“I cannot see why not. You are an honorable and beautiful male.”

Morek unpinned the elaborate broach on his shoulder and the silk fell away to reveal the rest of his chest. His skin gleamed green. Aki paused to admire the sheen of his muscles as he undressed. Morek unbuckled his belt and allowed the rest of the fabric to fall to the floor. He bent to gather it up and folded it into a square, giving Aki an excellent view of the long, supple line of his spine and his tight arse.

“Come here,” Aki said.

Morek turned to him, his expression quizzical. “I thought we had decided to wait until tomorrow?”

“We have.” He crooked his finger. “Come here and kneel at my feet.”

Morek carefully placed the silk in his cupboard and then walked over with his usual grace and dropped to his knees in front of Aki.

“What can I do for you, my Viking?”

Aki reached for the silk tie that held the end of Morek’s braid and eased it free. Using his fingers he carefully combed through Morek’s long hair until it lay around his shoulders.