Dreams of a Dark Warrior Read Online Free

edge.”
    He glowered. “I am not that old! I’ve only thirty winters.”
    She began to fear that he wouldn’t be dissuaded, so she said, “I might look upon your suit, but only if
    you help me save Lucia first.”
    He shook his head firmly. “You wil tel me where to find her. And I wil do so only once I’ve conveyed
    you safely to my people.”
    “You can never locate her without me.” As a sister Valkyrie, Regin could sense her if she got close
    enough. “And we haven’t time to dal y.”
    “You came to me for guidance, and this is my decision—”
    “Guidance! You are mad. And arrogant. I am the daughter of gods . I came to you for a horse, food, and mayhap a pair of outriders. So I could be on my way!”
    “’Tis a done thing, brightling. In this realm, my word is final .”
    They were interrupted by the brunette from the hal , now carrying in a tray of food and drink. As she
    served two trenchers of some kind of savory stew, she made sure her ample bosom was displayed for
    Aidan.
    Regin thought of her own barely budding chest. For the first time in her life, she felt lacking.
    And mayhap jealous. Ah, but ’twas Regin who sat at the warlord’s table like a woman grown. ’Twas
    Regin the stubborn, mad mortal wanted to wed. She cast the wench a smirk.
    “No ale for the girl, Birgit,” Aidan said to the woman. “Do we not have milk?”
    Regin’s face heated. And al the worse, because she would dearly love some milk.
    When Birgit returned with some, Aidan dismissed her so absently that the worst of Regin’s pique was
    soothed.
    The rich scent of game stew cal ed to her hunger, and she eagerly dug in. The meat melted in her
    mouth. Gods, mortals did know how to cook.
    “Tel me of your home,” he said, breaking a piece of flatbread for her trencher.
    “’Tis a beautiful land of mists,” she said around bites. “Slow and peaceful.” Usual y. Unless Loki
    descended upon them, or someone released Fenris, the giant wolf.
    “What was your life like?”
    Regin swal owed a mouthful of bread. “You truly wish me to … talk?” Most of the time, her sisters bade
    her be quiet, serious.
    “I am curious about you.”
    She shrugged, deciding that she might as wel enjoy this short time with this stubborn, immovable
    warlord—because unless he could be made to change his mind, she planned to slip away in the night and
    continue her search.
    At least now she’d have food in her bel y and likely a stolen horse.
    So she regaled him with stories of Valhal a and the sil iness of the demigods. He laughed at al of the
    tales, seeming genuinely amused.
    At one point, his expression seemed even … proud, earning another frown from her. “You do not mind my humor?”
    “Not at al . I’ve not laughed like this …” His brows drew together. “I think I’ve never laughed like this.”
    “Usual y I exasperate people. And I jest at inappropriate times. Such as during executions. Freya says
    ’tis my gift and my bane to frustrate others.”
    “I like your manner, Reginleit. Life is long without humor.”
    She felt like preening in the face of this steely-eyed warrior’s praise—until he added, “We wil suit wel , brightling.”
    She sighed. “Stil you believe we wil be together.” Though she sensed that Aidan was an honorable
    male, he was misled in this. Wóden would never al ow Regin to wed a mortal berserker.
    And the ohal a Aidan sought? She’d only ever heard of one berserker in al of history who’d earned it.
    The rest died in battles long before their two hundredth one.
    A fact that the cunning Wóden wel knew.
    “I am certain we wil , little wife.” Finished with his meal, Aidan rose and crossed to his bed, dividing the furs into two pal ets on opposite wal s. He waved her to one, then took the other. Easing to his side, he
    propped his head in his hand. “When you are older you’l come to see that every woman needs a man,
    even a Valkyrie.”
    “Why?” She plopped down across from