Page 3 of Wulver's Flame
She is mortal, Sköll, I said, ignoring his growl and added.But she is ours.
I would take what I was given. There was a reason we were called to her, why she smelled like our mate. We searched for our mate at home and never found her.
Why this mortal?
We stayed hidden, watching the maidens forage.
Ruaidrí Donald, chieftain of Dunraith, would either welcome my proposal or die. If I had to slaughter every last one of them to claim Liùsaidh, so be it.
Mating and bonding with a human was impossible. She would perish before she could take my knot. But surely the Goddess Freyja had a plan.
Liùsaidh’s scent was unmistakably mine.
OURS. Sköll snapped.
Ours.
???
Upon returning home, I gathered my men. Armed and ready, we prepared for our journey to Dunraith. They would see us coming, but none would dare to stand in our way. Ponies hauled our surplus weaponry as we set off to negotiate a treaty.
The terms were simple.
Unity through handfasting and blood or death.
The choice was theirs.
Chapter 2
Liùsaidh
They were coming to Dunraith. Our spotters had rushed into the hall. The worst of them all was coming for us. It could be a raid or worse. My hand tightened around my dagger. I would not hold back. They came to our shores and took from us before they began to settle. Whenever they felt like it, they would raid our stores and livestock. The simmering rage beneath my skin made my hands tremble.
No more.
I glanced toward my father. He stood beside Brìghd, listening to the seeress intently before barking orders to secure the village.
I rose to join them, but hands clamped down on my shoulders.
“Nae wae this beast. Yer Da isnae gonae take any chances wae yae,” Fergus said as his fingers tightened.
“Ah willnae sit back,” I growled at him, dropping until I sat on his feet.
I scrambled to evade him, racing to the door, but my da had his arm around my waist.
“The Wulverson beast is cummin’ am no risking yer life, Liù,” he growled before handing me to Fergus.
He didn’t hesitate to drag me away.
“Ah’ll neva stop, Da. They ar’nae welcome here. They killed Ualan,” I shouted, but my da was already turning away, shaking his head.
I yanked my hands from Fergus’s grip, but the hairy beast held fast.
“Nothin’ cun bring yer brother back, lass. Gie yer Da some peace o’ mind. It wuznae Wulverson who did the deed.”
“They’re all the same, an’ if yae know what’s best fur yae, you’ll release me,” I snarled at him.
He chuckled and pushed me into the storage room, locking the gate behind him.
