Viking Heart (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 3) (29 page)

It was odd seeing Kjar like this after she had seen him in the twenty-first century. Before Megan could stop her, Amber crouched at his feet and tried to make eye contact. “What’s going on, hon. The pact is fulfilled. You did it. We did it.”

“Where is she then?” he murmured, head still bent. “Where is the Unnamed One?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. Amber tried to meet his eyes. “I remember you in the future. Everything’s okay now. You and Dayna did it.”

His eyes snapped to hers. “Because she
is
Dayna right?"

Amber held his gaze, confused. “Who?”

“I haven’t lain with a woman in so long. Not since she asked me to help. Not since I knew I shared a descendant with someone close. Do you know how much she gave up? Everything.” He cupped her cheek. “But where is she?”

Amber was about to respond, to try and help him any way she could, but a soft voice came from behind. “I’m here Kjar. I’m finally here. All of me.”

Everyone turned…

To the Unnamed One.

Amber stepped aside as she ripped off the hood and veil then dropped to her knees in front of the demi-god. Amber knew based on her sister’s gasps that they were as stunned as she was.

It was their cousin
Dayna
.

The Unnamed One had been Dayna.

Though it was clear Naðr was both confused and tentative about interrupting an intimate moment, he strode up alongside anyway. “I don’t understand. Explain this.”

Kjar cupped Dayna’s cheeks, eyes never leaving hers as he said, “The Unnamed One, Dayna, always knew Helga’s intentions. That though her sister had wanted the great favor Odin would bestow because of the pact, Helga's ambitions had changed. In the end, she embraced evil and wanted something else. Not only the power of the dragons but access and control over the future. Being an advanced society, the twenty-first century held great appeal.”

Kjar shook his head. “Through her dark magic, Helga knew which three sisters the stones were meant for. And with that same magic, she made contact with Megan’s ex-husband. She promised him great power and knowledge if he would aide in making sure Megan ended up with Yrsa and King Rennir, Helga’s longtime allies.”

The demi-god was emotional as he continued. “In order to protect the pact and the great love connections as well as our descendant, Sean, the Unnamed One created a doppelgänger who harnessed half of her soul to maintain a presence in the twenty-first century. She was known as Dayna."

“Why didn’t Helga simply create her own doppelgänger to gain access to the future?” Raknar asked.

“Even after accessing dark magic, she was not strong enough,” Dayna said. “As the first-born seer, I was.”

Amber frowned, focusing on something Kjar had said. “I’m confused. Why did you just say Sean was
our
descendant? I thought he was only yours Kjar…”

Her words trailed off as understanding slowly dawned.

Dayna swallowed hard, eyes never leaving Kjar. “Because Sean is not just Kjar’s descendant, but mine as well.”

It was then that Amber
really
saw the way they were looking at each other.

Kjar and Dayna were in love and would
start
a lineage that led to Sean’s birth.

“So Dayna,” Kjar murmured. “As you know her, the Unnamed One, gave half her soul to the doppelgänger so that she might be in two places at once. So that she could not only keep an eye on Helga but keep watch over Sean and the sisters. That she might help steer them in the right direction. She explained her weakened state as her powers simply lessening due to age. This also served another purpose. It gave Helga the impression that she might at last be the most powerful seer. Which, naturally, fed into her vanity. And in turn made it impossible for Helga to see just how absurd such a possibility really was."

“That’s when you gave Helga the power to talk through you,” Amber murmured.

“Yes,” Dayna said softly. “I had no choice. A sacrifice must be made when a seer is in two places at once. Mine was the ability to speak aloud in only one of two locations. I chose the twenty-first century."

“How did we never know this?” Megan shook her head. “Hell, you’re our cousin. We’ve known you since we were kids!”

Dayna’s eyes met Megan’s. “I have been alive for a very long time. My power is strong.” She sighed. “But I can look very young.” Her eyes pleaded with Megan. “I love you and your sisters. I never meant to hurt anyone. My goal was only ever to protect a greater good. With Kjar’s help, I was able to achieve that.”

“How is it again that the demi-god helped you?” Naðr said softly.

Dayna’s eyes returned to Kjar’s though she spoke to the King. “He saw me through time. After that, he did anything he could to see to the protection of your people.” Her eyes went to Naðr’s. “And that of the MacLomain clan.”

“And now that the pact is fulfilled, Dayna, or Aella as she was known at birth, is once more whole and her doppelgänger no longer needed. She can once more speak.” Kjar touched her cheek tenderly. “And no longer overshadowed by her sister who kept her veiled so that all might focus on Helga’s beauty, Aella can once more show her beautiful face.”

A long moment passed before the King turned to Aella and held out his hand. She took it and rose to her feet. Naðr looked at her for a long moment before he sunk to one knee. Lowering his head, he said, “You have my deepest thanks. Not only did you protect us well but you ensured that we all found our true loves.”

Kol and Raknar fell to a knee and lowered their heads as well, murmuring their thanks.

“No. Stand.” Aella shook her head, eyes flickering between Megan and her sisters. “If you should be thankful to anyone it’s the gods and the wonderful women who found you.”

Amber suspected it would take some time for her and her sisters to wrap their minds around the fact that their 'cousin' was a ninth century Scandinavian seer. Even so, they all gave her a big hug and thanked her.

She wondered when Kjar and Aella met and clearly fell in love, but she supposed that was a story for another day. All stepped back when the demi-god stood, pulled Aella into his arms and murmured, “Too long have I waited for this day, woman,” before he kissed her soundly.

Amber reflected on the Unnamed One…or Aella, appearing in the shields in his lodge the night she’d slept in his bed. Then her curt tone when Amber had spoken of Kjar’s desire for her because he was linked through Kol and Sean. She bit back a little grin.

The seer had been jealous.

And she didn’t blame her. She would have been too had it been Kol.

As if he sensed her thoughts, Kol pulled Amber after him. There would be no more questioning Kjar and Aella. At least not right now. The demi-god and his seer were clearly making up for lost time as their embrace grew more passionate.

She and Kol headed into the woods but didn’t get far before he had her backed up against a tree and his lips were on hers. Passion flared and though she might be lost in how he made her feel, how life was unfolding, she pulled her lips away. Chest heaving, she murmured, “Everyone sacrificed so much to get us to this moment.”

“Yes,” he whispered as he trailed a hand up her side. “And I can assure you a moment as important as this...” He yanked up her dress and settled between her legs. “Is
not
meant for talking.”

“But it should be talked about. It should be celebrated,” she murmured around his kisses.

“And it will be,” he assured. His tongue flicked back and forth over her lips before he pulled back, humor in his eyes as he looked at her. “What do you think our ultimate saviors; Kjar and Aella are doing right now?”

“It’s hard to know,” she breathed as his hands explored. Her words came out on a groan. “They
could
be chatting about their bloodline. No small thing knowing you can track your blood over a thousand years.”

“I’d say they’re too busy getting their bloodline started to talk about it.” Kol chuckled against her cleavage. “Just like we should be.”

“Oh yeah?” She could barely breathe as he lifted her, brushed his lips over hers and stared into her eyes.

They might be new to commitment but everything they wanted and needed, everything they knew would sustain them was right here in the way they looked at one another. The mutual adoration. The pure passion and fun that could be found between a man and a woman. They knew how to laugh, how to communicate and most especially, they knew what it took to never grow bored.

And if that wasn’t enough, now they were in love.

Kol offered one of his low, sensual laughs before his lips closed over hers. Ravenous, way beyond just
needing
each other, they didn’t waste any more time on
happily ever after’s
.

No, he thrust deep and shot them both straight into oblivion.

Turn the page if you're not quite ready to say goodbye...

Scandinavia

One Year Later

“This sucks,” Veronica grumbled. “Do you have any idea how uncool I am with this?”

Megan issued a wide smile, rested her hand on her swollen belly and eyed the shore. “You’ve had plenty of time to prepare yourself, Sis.”

“Yup,” Amber agreed. She nudged Veronica’s arm and grinned. “Just wait. This is gonna be great. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I’m with Amber on this one,” Megan agreed. “Naðr and his brothers know what they’re doing.”

Amber stood, stretched and grinned when Kol sauntered over. He eyed her up and down, pulled her into his arms and did what he did at least a hundred times a day. Kissed her senseless.

“Hey, outta the way, you two.” Veronica peered around them and watched Matthew toddle alongside Raknar.

Kol pulled Amber after him and they joined the proud father. Raknar smiled as Matthew laughed and walked to Heidrek. His big brother grinned and crouched in front of him. “Are you ready then, Brother?”

Amber watched them and smiled. It had been a wonderful year. The best. Veronica and Raknar got married. Naðr and Megan had a baby on the way. And she and Kol?

They got married too.

Unlike the big fan fair marriage Veronica and Raknar opted for, she and Kol kept theirs low key. It had been beautiful, sacred and at the foot of their pond beneath a full moon.

Kol had spent months gathering up the right flowers, then dried, wrapped them and made her a crown. She had learned how to weave fabric and made him a special tunic for the occasion. Only a handful of witnesses attended including her sisters, his brothers, immediate family and, of course, Kara and Asmund.

Naturally, they invited the musicians she created music with the first night she had arrived. Their choice of songs for background music? One she taught them and now fondly referred to as the
Scandinavian Beer Bottle Wind Whistling Song
. Then all were off and she and Kol spent their honeymoon playing in the water and making love in their cave.

What they shared to this day, what had flourished between them, was everything she never knew she wanted. Neither desired another. If anything their passion had only grown.

“Oh my God, they’re really gonna do it,” Veronica said. “I don’t think I can watch this.”

“You can,” Megan said. “We all can.”

Kol pulled Amber close. “This will be rough, but Matthew is learning at the right age. Right after he walks. My brothers and I were shown later.”

She looked at him. “Should I be nervous?”

Kol’s eyes swung to hers, as relaxed and ravenous to get her back to bed as always. “Not with me around.”

Heidrek had stepped away. When the toddler stumbled a few times, Kjar held his hand and Aella crouched a few feet in front of Matthew. “It’s time, little one.”

Kol’s lips hovered against Amber's, stirring her blood as quickly as he did when they first met. He put his hand against her still flat belly. “Soon enough it will be
her
turn.”

Amber grinned. “You mean
his
.” She put her hand over Kol's. “You'll be a wonderful father.”

“It’s time,” Naðr said.

Kol’s eyes were still on her face as she watched the King shift and take flight, his obsidian body sleek against the ocean swept horizon.

Raknar crouched in front of Matthew as Megan and Veronica came alongside. “You follow Father now, yes?”

Wide-eyed, the toddler watched as Raknar shifted and leaped into the air. While a human child would have no idea what they witnessed, Matthew’s young eyes appeared to understand. Yet he didn’t seem quite sure what his next move should be.

“I love you, woman,” Kol murmured and pressed his lips against Amber’s temple. “More than you’ll ever know.”

“I love you too,” she whispered as he turned to baby Matthew.

The toddler stared up at him, still confused. Kol grinned down. “Your father has a way of thinking young dragons should just spread their wings and fly.”

Kol chuckled moments before he blurred and shifted to a dragon. Instead of taking off like his brothers had, he took a few steps toward the shore then lifted his wings.

Matthew cocked his head, curious.

Amber put her hand over her mouth, eyes wet as Kol proceeded to show Matthew what to do. First he would flap his wings and jump a little but not take off. Then he would take off but land almost immediately and prance around. Sometimes he would run. Sometimes he’d walk. Sometimes he’d fly. But mostly the massive dragon worked with the toddler as his brothers circled overhead. He really was going to make an amazing father and she suspected Raknar was giving him a little practice beforehand.

Eventually, the golden dragon landed.

Veronica shook her head as her sisters held her hands, as Raknar nudged his son to embrace the dragon…to take flight. To actually shift.

Matthew hobbled a few steps as first Raknar then Kol launched.

“This is crazy,” Veronica murmured.

“No." Amber shook her head. “Not crazy at all.”

Their eyes met for half a second before something in the air shimmered. As if a Fourth of July sparkler flashed in the corner of their eyes.

Then Matthew was gone.

Amber’s eyes swung out over the water.

A tiny dragon wobbled, its little body so incredibly unstable.

But it didn’t matter in the least when a massive dragon with black and brown scales swooped under him and let the baby dragon ride him.

Uncle Kol.

Amber and her sisters watched the dragons fly out over the sea, circling a few times as several Viking longships drifted beneath. It wasn’t long before the brothers and Matthew sailed into the sunset. Three huge dragons and one little one, at last flying on his own. And it wouldn’t be long before more babies joined their brethren in the sky.

So though they had all been through a lot to see a pact fulfilled, the benefits far outweighed the sacrifice. Great love had been found and there was renewed hope for a dwindling species.

Nothing lay ahead but a bright future.

It was a new beginning for dragon-shifters and most especially, for those who loved them.

The End