Valhalla Wolf (7 page)

"I'm telling her that you're all barbarians and take what you want. This is all your fault. You may as well have put up a sign saying screw my captive when you left her alone, naked and bound and the grease right beside her. What the hell were you thinking? I'm certain she won't find this comment at all reassuring or make her feel any better, but she's lucky it was only the three of them and not many more taking turns 57

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with her. As it was, she thought they would kill her when they finished with her. If you're going to keep her here, she is your responsibility and she had better not be harmed again or so help me, I'll toss you on your ass every time I see you."

Valerie snapped and stomped her foot for emphasis.

Ulfr felt ashamed and appalled. The men had been so cruel that she thought she would die? Valerie was right. He had left her alone—and he could have returned to half the men in the village having had her in that time. He had failed to protect her. He could see how the men would construe that she was available to them. Why hadn't he seen it before? Why had he allowed his anger to cloud his judgment? But it wasn't his anger, it was his arrogance. He had felt certain no one would touch her just because she was his. His vanity had hurt her.

Because of his callousness, she had been left defenseless and vulnerable and unaccompanied. He couldn't stand the thought of her wanting to run from him. Hott had never had that problem with Valerie. Ulfr's pride had been injured. He had thought only to punish her—she had been punished all right. Now she lay sobbing in his arms terrified, terrified of him. If she feared him she would never feel safe. She would always ask to go home. But this was her home, with him. Her frightened eyes lifted to Valerie and once more they conversed in a strange tongue.

"How can this be possible?" Vicki whimpered to Valerie.

"How can they do what they did and not think it was wrong?"

"Because they really are barbarians," Valerie explained angrily. "I'm sorry, Vicki, but you aren't anywhere near your home anymore. I know you must be wondering why you can't 58

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understand Ulfr. You're not in your country or on your continent. There is no easy way to say this, but this is the year 893."

Ulfr's mind was racing in his frustration to understand them. Especially when Vicki's mouth suddenly dropped open and she went paler than she already was.

"You're serious? But how is that possible?"

Vicki's trembling increased in his arms as she spoke and damned if he didn't feel like tossing Valerie out of his hut to shut her up. He glared at her, but Valerie only glared back, having no fear of him.

"I'm dead serious." Valerie said. She looked at Ulfr smugly before addressing Vicki once more. "You and I need to talk.

I'm going to show you how to defend yourself against all these horny bastards who chase women around panting like the dirty dogs they are. You're very pretty, Vicki. You had best get used to the fact the men here will find you drop-dead irresistible. Especially when those three creeps describe in detail how good your behind felt. So I'm going to help you learn to drop a guy on his butt and run, when Ulfr isn't around to protect you."

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59

Valhalla Wolf [Viking Warriors Book 2]

by Constantine De Bohon

Chapter 4

Vicki sat on top of Ulfr's furs. Valerie had left and she was feeling overwhelmed. She could see Ulfr outside talking to Valerie's husband, Hott. She was trying unsuccessfully to digest the information the woman had given her. This hadn't been Trisha's idea at all. Valerie had explained Ulfr had indeed been looking for a woman. A Valkyrie. He claimed Vicki was the one. There was no way he was going to send her back. The idea of being in the ninth century was beyond shocking. Vicki couldn't help but feel responsible. Ever since she was small she had dreamed of being a Viking. She ate, slept and breathed the idea. Any shooting star was her wish for the taking. Fingers and toes crossed, her eyes had squeezed shut as a child, a teen and now a woman. The saying is true—be careful what you wish for.

Vicki hadn't thought of everything. She had looked at the Vikings through rose-colored glasses. She had only envisioned the men as powerful heroic warriors. Her mind had developed a love affair of presumed airs. She had overlooked the fact this was a barbaric era. Ulfr thought it his right to claim her. How could Vicki cope with such primeval thoughts?

Barbarians of this era took what they wanted, from anyone. It had been proven to her in the most foulest of ways. Vicki choked on a sob. No one could help her. No one would save her.

Valerie had seemed startled by the fact Vicki had come through the mist without having had sex with Ulfr first.

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Valerie had explained she had been pregnant with Biorn. Both she and Hott were positive it was why she was allowed entrance into the past. Hott had made love to Valerie and she had felt a desperate need to join him. Vicki had looked at her for a moment bitterly. Valerie had been given a choice. Vicki had not. She had wanted Ulfr; there was no denying that. But she hadn't been given a full understanding of the time difference. She felt stolen.

Valerie had then studied Vicki's sword in fascination and declared she felt it really was authentic and because Vicki had been holding it she had been allowed entry through the time continuum. Or whatever it was she had stepped into, onto, or through. Valerie told her she wasn't certain how it worked, though, and her best bet was to remain here with Ulfr guarding her. Valerie had then placed her hand on Vicki's shoulder and told her she would demand Ulfr find her some clothing immediately.

Vicki shifted and winced. Her behind had stopped hurting, but her hips remained sore from where the men had gripped her. She felt a single tear drop remembering what happened.

She had lain on the furs terrified when the men had come in.

They had all been so big and they had looked so eager. With the gag on she was unable to plead for her life. They had stood her up and fondled her roughly and tossed her belly down over the table. The bonds on her wrists and ankles had been tied agonizingly tight. She hadn't understood why, since she was already helpless. The first one to take her had been so cruel and she had cried and cried when he had fingered her roughly with grease first. He had been so large and 61

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impatient. When he finished, another started, then the other.

They had come at her the moment Ulfr had left her alone.

They kept taking turns with her until she lay still beneath them. All three of them had raped her behind repeatedly.

Vicki had felt so betrayed by Ulfr, thinking he had allowed them to have her, especially when he had stayed away for so long. Her mind had cried out for Ulfr to come and save her, but he hadn't. Not for a long time. Vicki had thought it was more of his punishment when it went on and on. She knew she had made him angry. Vicki had been terrified while talking to Valerie. When she had explained a captive's life, Vicki was terrified Ulfr would let it happen again and again.

What would she do?

Valerie had explained how furious Ulfr was with the men.

Valerie insisted he hadn't meant for it to happen. She had then gone on to explain the men thought because Vicki was left alone and tied they were being granted permission to have her. Such was the way of a captive's life in their village.

Valerie tried to explain too that the women were coveted, not beaten. But the men's way of thinking was just too much to grasp after what had just happened. Vicki had wanted to tune the woman out. Valerie had also confided at one time she had been faced with five men, and the men of this era were indeed sex-craving barbarians. Vicki shuddered with the thought. The three of them had been horrible enough.

When Ulfr returned from his discussion with his brother, he squatted before her and handed her a soft leather shirt. Vicki slipped it on and it hung just past her behind. When he moved closer she curled within herself, wanting to hide. His 62

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perch on the furs was tentative, unthreatening. Wanting her to come to him. All her thoughts swirled in a whirlwind. His gaze was soft, begging her to believe in him. How could she?

He had left her alone. But she had understood a great deal of his words before he had left. She couldn't have gone with him nude. Yet he could have found someone to find her clothing.

Vicki wanted to strike out at him for bringing her here. But even now she admitted she had felt something for him. She still felt something for him. When he moved to her side, she didn't pull away. He wrapped his arms around her and said what Vicki believed to be an apology. She laid her head against his shoulder and he rocked her back and forth while she sobbed. He kissed her hair and her cheeks. His thumb wiped her tears until they stopped flowing. His forehead pressed to hers. He said a few words that held deep meaning to him. Vicki could tell by his expression he wanted to somehow make this right. He rose with her still at his side and led her to the door. Vicki stopped and looked at him fearfully. He motioned he wanted to take her somewhere. It was important to him.

When they exited the hut, Vicki could see the three men who had attacked her and she would have run screaming if Ulfr hadn't held her so tightly. He whispered urgent words into her ear and she understood the word for strong. He wanted her to be strong.

The first man who had taken her moved forward. Vicki felt her teeth clattering and her knees knocking together. He had been the scraggly looking blond brute who had peeked into Ulfr's window. Vicki had felt certain this man had been going 63

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to kill her no matter what Valerie said. The man's left eye was black and swollen shut and he had a deep cut over it and Vicki remembered Valerie saying that Ulfr had thrown him off her after finding her in distress. This was the cruel man who had taken her for a third time. The man glared at Ulfr and then said something to her in a gruff voice that held no remorse. The man handed her a pair of leather moccasins. In fact he practically threw them at Vicki. He then strode away.

The next man came forward with a fur hide and handed it to her. He looked neither contrite nor happy nor angry. His gaze deliberately settled onto her for a few seconds. She was unsure what his emotions were by his poker face. At a small noise, Vicki looked over to her left and saw Valerie watching, she was scowling at the men. Many in the village, especially women were gathered around. They all glared daggers at her attackers. Vicki realized then the men were making restitution. She also knew from the way Valerie had declared it their right to have her, they weren't happy about the situation.

Vicki didn't know what to think, except that she wanted to throw the items back at them and scream and strike out.

Until she realized this probably pissed the men off to no end—

being forced to pay for a crime they felt they hadn't committed in front of the entire village. The last man who stepped forward was the youngest of the three. He said something that sounded suggestive to her. Ulfr snarled at him and he shrugged sheepishly. The man handed her a large wooden container filled with honey. Ulfr looked at him and 64

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nodded. He obviously approved of the item. The man grinned and winked at Vicki.

Ulfr then handed the honey and moccasins to Hott. He led her down a path away from the prying eyes of the villagers to a fast-flowing stream. The water was freezing, but she removed her shirt and waded in. She washed herself. Her hands scrubbed over the bruising red marks at her hips.

When she was finished she sank down to her knees, as her body shook with the cold. The water rushed over her. Ulfr came in after her clothed. Gently she was picked up into his arms and carried to shore. He wrapped her in the large fur the second man had given her. He picked her up and carried her to the village.

Vicki's entire body was concealed from everyone. Ulfr lifted her higher in his arms and shouted something. It sounded like a warning. She saw a few of the men nod, but the one who had been so rough with her just scowled and the look he leveled on her made Vicki shudder. She knew without a doubt if he ever caught her alone, he would rape her again.

Ulfr took Vicki into the hut and closed the door. A thick latch was settled across the wood. Once more, he helped her pull the leather shirt over her head. He sat her down at the table and she noticed there were many different foods before her. She wondered if the women of the village did this.

Valerie had told her they would all sympathize with her. At one point almost all had been forced by a man.

Ulfr handed her a chunk of bread and encouraged her to eat. His remorseful gaze settled onto her. Vicki nibbled the food. He gave her a thick slice of cheese and mutton. From 65

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wooden plates he gave her salted fish, parsnips and some meats she was unsure of. He filled a mug from his flask and set it before her. When she finished what he had given her, and he seemed satisfied she was full, only then did he eat.

His appetite seemed as stilted as hers. Neither bothered with words.

When done, Ulfr led her to the furs. He took her face between his palms and kissed her eyelids, her cheeks and her forehead. The backs of his fingers gently traced the marks on her hips. The endearment he said was something akin to

'sweetheart' Valerie had told her when she asked.