Seducing Her Vikings Read online

  Seducing Her Vikings

  Norsemen Academy, Volume 3

  Skye MacKinnon

  Published by Peryton Press, 2019.

  Seducing her Vikings © Copyright 2019 Skye MacKinnon

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Basically, please don’t pirate this book.

  Cover by Peryton Covers.

  Published by Peryton Press.

  Illustration by Irvan Ramdani

  Perytonpress.com

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Seducing Her Vikings (Norsemen Academy, #3)

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Not-so-fun Fact

  Resources

  Also By

  About the Author

  One’s back is vulnerable, unless one has a brother.

  Ber er hver að baki nema sér bróður eigi.

  The Saga of Grettir, chapter 82

  Chapter 1

  I stumbled out of the barn we had landed in. My white uniform was covered in straw, but even without the jumpsuit I would have stood out like a sore thumb. I was in a Viking village, in the past, without Hjalmar to guide me. What the fuck was I going to do now?

  There was a house next to the barn, although hut would have been a more accurate description. Nothing big and fancy, just a purpose built dwelling. The walls were curved inwards, reminding me of a ship’s bow riding through a sea of thatch. Hjalmar had mentioned a brother. Was this Asger’s house? It would make sense that we’d landed in the barn next to his home, although I wasn’t sure how accurate time travel was. Could you choose the exact location you landed? Or was it more of a game of luck?

  I took a deep breath. I was stuck here for now, and hiding in the barn wouldn’t do me any good. I had no idea when Hjalmar would return. Because he was going to come back. I refused to think of the alternative. But it could be days or weeks. I needed food and suitable clothes and shelter and...

  I pushed all those thoughts from my mind and instead focused on my knowledge of Old Norse. And realised I had no idea how you even said ‘hello’. Had that been part of the two hundred something words I’d learned? I didn’t think so. Maybe they hadn’t greeted each other a lot in the sagas. The vocabulary we’d been taught so far hadn’t been chosen to prepare us for having small talk with Vikings. I guess we weren’t supposed to even meet any of them until much further into our studies. I wasn’t ready. I may have used my knowledge of runes if there’d been a sign in runic writing, but no such luck. It seemed Vikings didn’t have house numbers or signs with their names on. It would have been too easy.

  Alright. There was no way around it. I walked to the door and knocked. Was that even what you did here? Or should I have just walked in confidently? Somehow, I didn’t imagine Vikings to be the knocking type, but maybe that was because the only Norseman I knew was Hjalmar, who didn’t have any manners and was plain rude most of the time.

  The door opened before I could think more about what to do, revealing a brute of a man. The sleeves of his simple linen shirt were rolled up, revealing massive arms, probably strong enough to squash my skull without much effort. He wasn’t as tall as Hjalmar, but quite a bit broader. Soot stained his skin not just on his arms, but on his face too. His blond beard was full of ash as well. Bright blue eyes stared at me from beneath bushy eyebrows. Very familiar eyes. This had to be Asger.

  His gaze wandered up and down my body, sending a shiver running down my back. He had the same intense stare as his brother. His eyes widened the longer he looked at me, as if he was surprised by something.

  “Hjalmar?” he asked after a moment, his voice deep and rough. He pronounced the name in a strange way, making me realise that I must have pronounced it wrong the entire time. And my stupid Viking never corrected me once.

  I shook my head, but didn’t know what to say. “Eigi.... heðra...”

  He started laughing loudly, throwing his head back in amusement. I sighed, hopelessness spreading in my chest. I’d tried to say ‘not here’, but it seemed I had failed. Miserably. If I couldn’t even say something that simple, I had no hope of communicating with the people in this village. Would they see me as an enemy?

  He winked at me, then turned and roared, “Lucas!”

  That wasn’t a Viking name, right?

  Shuffled footsteps announced someone approaching moments before a young man appeared behind Asger. He stared at me with wide eyes.

  “Future?” he asked in perfect English.

  I nodded.

  A grin spread across his face, and suddenly he launched at me, pulling me into his arms. Startled, I let him hug me, totally confused about what was happening. He squeezed me tight, holding onto me like a drowning man onto a log.

  “I didn’t think he’d make good on his word,” he muttered. His breath was hot against the nape of my neck. I couldn’t help but note his scent; earthy with hints of smoke. I’d never had a chance to look at him properly, but I bet his clothes were stained with soot just like Asger’s. Hjalmar had mentioned that his brother was a smith. Lucas, whoever he was, had to be helping him out.

  When I felt he’d been hugging me for long enough, I gently pushed him away.

  “Who are you?” I asked, not able to hide a smile. He spoke English! I could communicate with him!

  He returned the smile, then wiped his eyes. Was he crying?

  “Let’s go inside and talk there,” he said instead of an answer. He turned and walked away, leaving me with an amused looking Asger. The Viking pointed at the door and said something I didn’t understand. I frowned, remembering that I should be able to know what he’d said. I touched my translator earring. Nothing happened. Maybe it was broken, just like the bracelet.

  I followed Asger inside. My eyes started tearing up when smoke hit me. Was the forge inside? No, it was just a fire, but since there were no windows, the only way the smoke could escape was through a hole in the roof. Benches circled the fire, with larger ones that may have acted as beds on the far side of the house. It was all one big room. Judging from the pots and random cutlery lying around the fireplace, this was the kitchen, living room and bedroom at once.

  Lucas appeared by my side and handed me a wooden mug. I sniffed the liquid, but I was thirsty, so I took a sip without asking what I’d been given. The burn of alcohol ran down my throat, followed by sweetness coating my tongue.

  The young man grinned. “Asger’s secret recipe. You looked like you could use a drink. Now, let’s sit down and talk.” He took a seat on a fur covered bench, and I joined him, while Asger sat down on the floor opposite. His legs were almost as broad as his tree trunk arms.

  I looked at Lucas to compare him to the Viking – and just about managed to suppress a gasp. Lucas only had one arm. One of his shirt sleeves was bound in a knot just below the elbow. A suspicion filtered through my thoughts. The rumour I’d been told after I first met Hjalmar.

  “Are you the student?” I asked breathlessly. “The one Hjalmar took into the past and killed?”

  Lucas lifted an eyebrow, and I hastily corrected mysel
f. “Not killed, obviously. But you’re him?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, I’m him. The supposedly dead student. Hjalmar took my arm into the future to prove that I was dead. Glad to know it worked.”

  I couldn’t help but gape at him. “But... why? Everyone thinks Hjalmar is a murderer. Why would you stay here?”

  I had to fight back the anger that was trying to bubble to the surface. I was angry on Hjalmar’s behalf. Lucas was still alive and if he’d returned to the present, he’d have been able to prove and clear my Viking’s reputation.

  “Hjalmar?” Asger asked in his deep voice. Poor him, he probably had no idea what we were talking about.

  Lucas said something to the Viking in perfect Old Norse. At least it sounded perfect to me. I’d found myself a translator. Great.

  “Can you travel back?” I interrupted when they continued talking. “Can you take me back?”

  Lucas frowned at me. “Can’t you do that yourself?”

  I took the broken bracelet out of my pocket. “I can’t. And Hjalmar was ripped away from me. We arrived together, in the barn, and then he was gone...”

  My voice broke as tears threatened to flow. I was going to be strong. I was amongst Vikings. I bet none of them ever cried.

  “Gone?” Lucas asked sharply. “What do you mean, gone?”

  “His bracelet activated without warning and he disappeared before we could do anything. I don’t know where he is, or when he’s coming back. I’m...”

  This time, a tear managed to escape. I quickly wiped it away, but I knew that if I continued to speak, tears would flow for real.

  Lucas put a hand – his only hand – on my thigh. “I’m sure he’ll be back. He wouldn’t leave a student stranded here. Unless it was a test and he wants you to find your own way back?”

  I shook my head. “I’m a Hummingbird. I’m not even supposed to time travel, and I have no idea how it’s done. And we, well... no, he wouldn’t leave me.”

  I was glad I managed not to blush. I couldn’t just tell them that we’d been mostly naked in the barn and that there was no way Hjalmar would have chosen to leave me. Not in that moment. Not when he’d just been about to take me. Make me his.

  The knots in my stomach grew tighter. Damn it. I wanted him so much. Needed him. Now that I’d opened my heart for him, it was like a searing wound, bleeding out. He was the only one who could fix it. Mend my heart. How romantic. Urgh.

  “Do you know what could have caused this?” I asked when I had my voice under control again.

  “Bracelets can malfunction if they’re old, but they usually do that while you’re in transit. They might spit you out somewhere you didn’t intend to go, but I’ve never heard of one activating just like that. It’s very strange.”

  Asger said something, and I waited for Lucas to translate.

  “He says his brother will come for his woman. He’s loyal; he’d never abandon the one he loves.”

  I choked. “His woman? What did you tell him?!”

  Lucas chuckled. “Nothing. But we have eyes, you know? It’s obvious from the way you blush when you talk about him.”

  “I didn’t blush,” I protested.

  Asger laughed loudly and pointed at his own cheeks as if he was trying to prove a point. Did he understand some of what we were saying?

  This was getting ridiculous. “Tell me why you’re here,” I demanded and glared at Lucas. “Why didn’t you come back? And can you help me return?”

  Lucas grew serious, his smile disappearing like the sun behind brooding clouds. “I had to die. It was the only way to live. I’m not going to tell you the whole story, not until I know you can be trusted, but all you need to know is that Hjalmar saved my life. This deception was necessary or I may have been killed in the present. Now I’m a refugee here, trying to live my life as a Viking. Trust me, it’s not as romantic as you might think. I miss chocolate. And tea. And coffee. And my computer. And so many other things.”

  He smiled sadly. “I don’t suppose you brought any supplies? He usually brings me some of my favourite foods.”

  “He did have a bag with him, but that must have disappeared along with him. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh well, I guess I should be grateful that I have someone to talk to. I never get to speak English anymore. It’s a relief to be able to just let the words flow. When I talk to the Norsemen, I have to think about every single word. There are so many ways I could insult someone, and they’ve barely started accepting me, even though I’ve been here for two years now.”

  I gasped. “Two years?”

  “Two years, one month and thirteen days. Not that I’ve been counting.” He laughed bitterly. “But I should be grateful that I’m alive. It could have been a lot worse. Asger here has been a great host. He’s helped me integrate and learn a trade so that I can support the community. That’s made it easier to get people to trust me.”

  “You’re a smith?”

  “An apprentice. Asger is the true master smith, I only do the basics to help out. He’d never let me anywhere near his favourite tools.”

  Asger asked something and Lucas answered in Old Norse, presumably explaining why we’d mentioned his name several times. When Lucas was done, the Viking grinned proudly and got up. He took something from a shelf and handed it to me. It was a tiny metal figurine, only as long as my pinkie. I turned it in my hand, amazed at the detail. I didn’t think it was possible to create something so intricate with the tools Vikings had at their disposal. It looked like it could have been 3D-printed, it was that detailed.

  “He wants me to translate something word for word,” Lucas announced after he’d listened to Asger. “And he wants you to listen without interrupting.”

  I stared at the Viking in surprise. That sounded very serious.

  “Go on,” I said before inspecting the figurine some more. It was a woman in a long dress that hugged her body, exposing a thin waist above curvy hips. The dress cut low, showing the edges of her full breasts. Long hair flowed down her back, with a few strands framing her face. Even though the statuette was so small, I could just about make out her features. The woman was young, but not a girl. She had a confidence to her that I wished I possessed.

  “Ever since I became a man, I dreamed of a woman,” Lucas said, slowly translating Asger’s words. I tried to focus on the Viking’s words, imagining that I could understand them. “I dream of her most nights. She looks at me, smiles at me, then runs away. I try to follow, I run after her, but I never catch her. Her dress billows behind her, I hear her laughter, her hair flies in the wind, but I never, ever catch up with her.”

  He paused and I looked at the figurine. “Is that her?”

  “Aye. That’s her. I always thought that she was just a dream, just part of my imagination. I got used to that thought. I was almost ready to give in to my mum’s wishes and marry. Then I saw her. In real life.”

  I met his eyes, waiting for Lucas to catch up on translating. I was scared of what he was about to say next. I already suspected. I didn’t want to hear it.

  “The woman I dreamed of is in my house now. She’s sitting right in front of me and still, I’m afraid to touch her. I’m scared she might run away like she always does. Will you promise not to run?”

  VIKING LONGHOUSE

  Chapter 2

  To be honest, I was tempted. Get up, leave the house, run away. What was he thinking? Why was he telling me that? He'd already figured out that I was interested in his brother. The decent thing would have been to stay quiet, but instead... Screaming felt like a good option. Or laughing hysterically. I knew the Vikings believed in a lot of things that modern people would consider superstition and magic. Did Asger really think his dreams had been some kind of prophecy? Or was he merely interpreting them as his mysterious dream woman being me?

  One thing was clear: I couldn't let him think that I was ready to be his woman.

  "I'm not going to run," I said, locking eyes with Asger while Lucas translated in the backg
round. "But I'm not the woman from your dream. I'm not going to instantly fall in love with you, move in and have your babies."

  Lucas snickered at that, but continued translating.

  "I'm only going to be here until Hjalmar returns. Then I'll go back to the present and while I might come back for a visit, or for work, this is not going to be my home. So get it out of your head now."

  I took a deep breath, scared of what his reaction might be. He was listening intently, his head cocked to one side. When Lucas finished talking, Asger got up and moved towards me, then knelt down in front of me, so close that his knees touched my feet.

  "Are you worried because you already promised to marry my brother?" he asked. "Is that why you're refusing me?"

  Lucas started laughing halfway through the sentence and barely managed to convey the message. The Viking growled at him, but that didn't stop Lucas from chuckling. To be fair, it was a bit of a comical situation.

  "I have no intentions to marry Hjalmar," I told him, trying very hard not to laugh. "I don't know how it is here, but in my time, women can be with men without marrying them. I only just met Hjalmar and we're still getting to know each other. I'm far too young to marry, and I certainly won't marry Hjalmar just now. So, no, that has nothing to do with it."

  Asger smiled. "You don't look too young to marry. Most women have children at your age, but Lucas has told me a lot about your customs. I know you people take it slow."

  Lucas snorted again. "I didn't." When Asger glared at him, he straightened his expression and continued with a sigh. "He wants to know if you've been taught about the frille system yet."

  I shook my head. "What's that?"

  Lucas grimaced. "I don't think I should tell you. This is getting far too personal here. If Asger wants to court you, he can do it himself, without my help. I'm feeling ridiculous. Let's stop talking about love and explore what to do with you."

  He was right. I was decidedly uncomfortable talking about all that. I'd only just met these two men, and already Asger was talking about wanting... well, something. I wasn't quite sure what he wanted. Be with me? Keep me here so he could be close to me? Marry me? I didn't like either of those options. The only thing I wanted was to return to my own time. This was an adventure gone wrong.