Ravished by a Viking Read Online Free

again. “If what you believe about your brother is true—that others have kidnapped him—it explains much. We’ve experienced more disappearances than usual. Too many to put down to ice-madness. And all men in their prime.”
    “There can be only two reasons for the Outlanders’ return.” A muscle flexed along the edge of Dagr’s square jaw. “They either wish to ransom the men back to force us to lower the price of our ore, or they may be preparing another invasion to conquer us and return us to slavery.”
    “But it’s been so long,” Sigmund replied. “Surely they’ve given up wanting to subjugate us again.”
    Dagr grunted, apparently unimpressed with the argument. “They say that they stay in orbit to protect the shipments, but we both know their true intent is to intimidate us. Would you surrender so much wealth and power?”
    “If they intend another attack, why take our men one at a time?”
    Birget nodded. Exactly what she’d been thinking. Dagr might be a fearsome fighter, but his intellect lacked. Her father, although twenty years Dagr’s senior, was still feared for his physical prowess, but he had long ago embraced the value of logic.
    Dagr’s expression hardened again. “They’ve learned they cannot defeat us from the sky. They must occupy the ground they seize. To succeed, they need stronger warriors to oppose us in battle.”
    “Do you think they plan to breed stronger warriors from ours?” Sigmund scoffed. “But that could take decades.”
    “Only months,” Dagr said, leaning forward in his chair. “One of the Outlanders who sought refuge with us has seen what they work on in their laboratories. They can take a child after birth and force speedy growth.”
    Birget barely suppressed a snort at the ridiculous idea.
    The Berserkir king’s fingers drummed on the arm of his chair. “Neither scenario bodes well for either clan. You’ve come under a flag of truce to seek an audience. What is your request?”
    “To defeat them, we must combine our forces. Once I put my plan into motion, I need you to spread your army to provide protection for the mines bordering your lands.”
    “You would trust me not to take them?” her father said with sly humor in his voice. “The temptation might be more than I can resist.”
    Dagr’s cold blue eyes narrowed. “I would ask for a hostage. Someone I swear I will put to the dagger if you fail me.” His glance speared Birget. “She will do.”
    “You want my daughter? But you’ve already said that upon marriage she will cease to be a Bearshirt.” Sigmund waved his hand. “Why would I care, then?”
    “Because she is not yet wed. And because you love her.”
    “I have affection and respect for my Valkyrja captain. But you know as well as I do that warriors don’t love. Deep emotion makes us vulnerable. There is no one I would not sacrifice for my people.”
    “And I think you lie,” Dagr said slowly, his gaze narrowing as he studied the other king’s face. “Why else would you insist that Birget wed here? You refused to allow her to travel to Skuldelev. Did you fear we would not make her ours after all and use her against you?”
    “You are an honorable man, Dagr. My daughter was the one who insisted the wedding take place here. She is the one who feared you only bargained to get your hands on one of the ruling family for foul purpose.”
    Dagr’s head canted slightly, and if possible, his stare intensified. “And yet, you are a king and a man, and you did not insist that a female in your household obey.”
    Sigmund sighed and nodded his head. “My daughter will be your hostage. I will do nothing to cause her harm.”
    Birget’s throat tightened. Not once in her life had she heard her father say he loved her, and yet he’d conceded it here and now. She’d known he was proud of her but she had thought, like all Viking women did, that their men were too hardened to ever love.
    “How do you plan to battle a foe that lives in the