Viking's Claim (Kilts & Kisses #4)(19)

I laugh as Tor scowls at the both of us.

“Well, do you?”

Freya sighs. “Well, no.”

Tor snorts.

“But there was that trunk full of finery that was in that merchant vessel a few weeks ago.”

“See if you can find something that fits her, please.”

“What’s the occasion?”

Tor and I glance at each other, and his big hand squeezes mine gently as he lifts it to his lips to kiss.

“A wedding.”

Freya frowns and opens her mouth when suddenly, her eyes go wide.

“Really?!”

Tor smiles, nodding. “Tonight, Freya. Tell the others. I would very much like them there. And if you could find the Gothar and have him ready the ritual.”

He turns, pulling me into him and dipping low to kiss me deeply. I blush at the affection with someone right here watching us, but the more he kisses me, the more I forget the rest of the world even exists.

…He’s apparently very good at doing that.

“I will come for you soon, my little queen,” he growls, kissing me once more before turning to nod at Freya before he heads off.

“Well…” Freya raises her brows at me, her white teeth flashing as she smiles. “Apparently you’ve stolen his heart.”

I blush, looking down.

“Oh, I don’t—”

“I do.” Freya folds her arms over her chest, eying me. “Don’t let his gruff, heartless savage act fool you. The man most certainly has a heart, trust me. And it’s yours now.”

There’s an edge of warning in her voice, and for a moment, I bristle, eyeing her with a new light. She’s beautiful, and tall, and lithe, and a fierce warrior just like him. And suddenly, all sorts of self-doubt and jealousy start to bleed into my veins.

Freya catches it too, because she starts to grin as she shakes her head.

“Oh no,” she laughs.

“What.” My voice is edged as I suck on my teeth.

Freya shakes her head again. “Tor? And me?” She laughs. “You are very, very wrong, highlander. More wrong than you even know. Tor is my brother.”

My brows shoot up as I turn crimson.

“Oh, God, I am so…” I cringe, shaking my head. “I’m sorry.”

She giggles. “Don’t be. In truth, he isn’t my actual blood brother, but he might as well be. There,” she turns and nods her chin at the small group of men she was sitting with when Tor called her over.

“Oy, pig fucker!”

A tall, muscled, gorgeous blond man with a really similar face as Freya and the same piercing icy blue eyes turns instantly, half standing as he swivels his gaze to Freya. His eyes settle on her as the voice behind the words, and he grins as he gives her some sort of violent gesture with his fingers before sitting back down.

Freya laughs.

“That is my actual brother. Erik. But we’ve known Tor since we were children, and I’ve been on every campaign with them since I was old enough to wield a sword.”

I stare at her in awe, shaking my head.

“This surprises you, highlander?”

I laugh. “I think you and I come from very different worlds.”

Freya grins. “I think I agree. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, does it?”

“I don’t suppose it does.”

She frowns suddenly. “I haven’t…” she bites her lip. “We haven’t warred with your kin, have we?”

I shake my head. “No. Though I was at Dungow Castle when Tor tried to take it.”

Freya winks. “Almost did, too.”

She sighs, hands on her hips as she sizes me up again.

“We should find you a dress for the wedding.”

She smiles, reaching out and squeezing my shoulder with a strong hand.

“This is new for him, you know. Not marriage… well, of course marriage. But I mean you. A woman.”

“He doesn’t…” I frown. “He must have had plenty of girls before me,” I say quietly.

Freya holds my eye as she shakes her head.

“No, not really. Tor doesn’t take other woman. Actually, none of the men under his command take any innocents like that. He forbids it, and we support it. But even beyond that, he hasn’t been with a woman in… I honestly cannot remember how long. A very long time though.”

She chuckles.

“I’ll warn you though, though he’s nothing more than a brother to me, there are plenty of other women under his command who you’ll soon find to be quite jealous of you.”

I blush, biting my lip.

“You fight alongside the men where you come from?”

“Aye.” She shrugs. “We learn to fight where I come from, man or woman. After all, if an enemy comes at you with an axe, having tits isn’t going to save you.”

I laugh as she grabs her own breasts comically.

“And as effective as a swift kick to the balls is, a blade talks louder.”

I shrug. “You could always use both.”

Freya chuckles, grinning at me. “Rhona, I think I’m going to like having you as a sister of sorts. Come, let’s find you a dress.”



It’s midnight when I step out of the woods into a small clearing, and my breath catches.