Viking Claimed (Triad Series Book 4) (7 page)

“
Good shooting
.” Aki remembered to mind talk just in time.

“
Thank you. Now I will take out the man by the fire before he becomes anxious for his companion’s return
.” Morek suited the words with his actions, and the Etruscan slumped forward like a puppet.

“
I am not sure you need me here, Morek.”

Morek smiled. “
Oh, I need you, Aki. Never doubt that. My brother and I knew you were coming to us years ago
.”

Aki frowned. “
How could you have known that when I didn’t even know I would wake up here four thousand years after my supposed death
?”

“
The Oracle told us on our eighteenth birthday.”
Morek slung his bow over his shoulder and beckoned for Aki to follow him down the slope toward the fire. “
She is rarely wrong
.”

“
What exactly did she say
?”

Morek grinned at him. “
Enough to convince us both to wait
.” He crouched down beside the fallen Etruscan and relieved him of his weapons. “
We can speak of this later. Roberts says we are ready to move in.
”

Eight more Etruscans were dead, and Roberts was somehow feeding into Aki’s head a very detailed map of exactly where each Etruscan was situated compared to Aki’s position. It was quite disconcerting.

Morek shook his head. “
Roberts is as strange as Ian Mac. Their thoughts are like a machine
.”

“
And what is Ian Mac to you
?”

“
He’s the First Male of the Oracle’s First Daughter. He came from Earth like you.
” Morek smiled. “
His Second, Willow, is a cousin of mine
.”

“
Ah, so Ian Mac is a super soldier like Kaiden and Roberts and the others
.”

“
Aye.”

Aki stopped and stepped sharply to his right, going in low and tackling the Etruscan creeping toward him before the man was able to get off a shot. He hung onto the man, bringing him to the ground and efficiently slitting his throat.

Morek’s dagger flashed and another raider died with a cut-off gurgle. Aki shoved the dead body away from him and went back to Morek who was calmly cleaning his bloody blade on a large leaf.

They shared a satisfied grin and moved on.

Roberts’s calm voice came into his mind. Did the male ever get angry? “
All clear so far. We’re down to the last dozen. Four are at your end of the hall, Aki, four at Einarr’s. The rest are inside. Take out your four targets as quietly as possible and we’ll handle the rest
.”

Morek touched his shoulder and they crouched down beside the stone wall.
“These men are more dangerous because they are now aware that their compatriots are not coming back. The range is too short for my arrows. We will have to kill them quickly
.”

Aki nodded and took out his axe, wishing he had his old familiar shield rather than the flimsy Pavlovan thing he’d been given.

Morek winked at him. “Ready?”

“Aye.”

They rose as one and ran toward the group of four soldiers. As time slowed, Aki saw the first man turn and raise his weapon. Holding his shield high, Aki lunged in a perfect arc, cutting the man off mid yelp as he sliced his blade right through his neck. Even as the body was falling, he was spinning on the balls of his feet to confront the next soldier.

His arm was jarred by the force of the bullets pumping into the shield, which to Aki’s amazement held. He kicked out with his booted foot and caught the man in the knee, sending the second volley of shots in an arc that almost caught Aki on the way down. He stabbed the second man through the heart and whirled to help Morek who was rolling on the ground with another Etruscan.

A shadow behind the dueling pair made Aki look up as another soldier emerged, his weapon firing down at Morek. The soldier screamed as Aki’s thrown dagger sliced through his fingers, making him drop the gun. Aki followed him down with his axe and made short work of ending the coward’s pitiful existence.

He pulled the last dead Etruscan off Morek and threw him to one side. His Hakron companion lay still, his eyes closed and a bloody track across his cheek. Aki went down on his knees and felt frantically for a pulse.

Morek opened one eye. “I’m not dead.”

“Thank the Gods.”

“I knew I wouldn’t die today.”

Aki glared at him as his heart settled into a more comfortable rhythm. “You might have told me that.”

Morek had the audacity to grin. “The Oracle would not have made me wait so long for you if I were to die on this, our first meeting.”

The door of the hall burst open and Roberts came out. “All clear. Come and get cleaned up.”

Aki cupped Morek’s chin and kissed his bloodied mouth. “It seems your Oracle has a lot to answer for.”

Chapter Four

Morek knelt by the pyre and threw fresh flowers into the flames before finding his twin, who stood watching in the shadows of the hut. Ungar’s cheeks were stained with tears, earth and blood, as were Morek’s.

“For the first time in my life I feel no sorrow for those I have killed,” Morek murmured. “They deserve no respect or prayers to send them on their way.”

“I agree with you, brother.” Ungar patted his back. “Do you wish to stay here tonight with what remains of our family?”

“I should do so. Yet my thoughts turn to the Viking.” Morek grimaced. “I am ashamed of myself.”

“I, too, think of Einarr.” Ungar cleared his throat. “He told me he would be willing to share my bed.”

“You
asked
him?”

“I’ve waited over ten years for this day. I was impatient to begin.” Ungar drew Morek closer. “I have already spoken with the Elders. They understand that we have a duty to meet our mates. They wish something good to come out of this night and give us both permission to leave.”

“You are certain of this?” Morek looked over at the inhabitants of the hut and received a nod and a smile from the oldest female.

“Go with out blessing, Morek and Ungar. We thank you for saving us tonight and wish you well with your new mates.”

Morek went over to the Elders and bowed. “Thank you.”

“Go in peace.”

He nodded and walked with Ungar toward the Great Hall.

“Are you nervous, my twin?”

“Aye. But Einarr has already spoken with his female, and she is more than willing to accept that I might be their third.”

Morek stopped walking. “Einarr has a
female
? Does Aki?”

“I don’t know, brother. Perhaps you should ask him when you offer him a place in your bed tonight.” Ungar rolled his eyes. “Does it matter?”

“I… never thought I’d be in a Triad with a female.”

“It is the most usual kind.”

“Mayhap Aki is not yet mated at all,” Morek said hopefully.

“As I said. You should ask him.”

“I’m not as direct as you are. You have always been my mouthpiece.”

Ungar smiled at him. “On this occasion, I suspect you will have to speak up for yourself. We have waited a long time for these Vikings, Morek. We deserve the truth.”

Einarr drew Aki to one end of the great hall where they could be alone.

“Frey said Ash is recovering nicely and is being transported back to the city for further treatment. Esca is going with him. She and Elli will meet us at the Temple of Quoxor as arranged.”

“Good.” Aki glanced around the hall where the Hakron villagers were laying out the injured on pallets on the floor. It was now nighttime. The air was heavy with sorrow, and Morek and Ungar had disappeared to help their family mourn their losses and bury the dead. The night sky was lit up by the red glow of several funeral pyres. In his thoughts, Aki added his own prayers for the dead.

“What will happen to these people?”

“The Pavlovan army is on their way to protect this place. They’ll also take away the Etruscans.” Einarr spat into the rushes. “They do not deserve to be honorably buried. They used modern weaponry against a peaceful village without just cause.”

“I agree with you, my brother.” Aki patted Einarr’s tense shoulder. “When will we leave for Quoxor?”

“When Morek and Ungar are ready to travel.” Einarr lowered his voice even more and spoke their own language. “Ungar fights well.”

“As does Morek.” Aki paused. “He kisses well, too.”

Einarr’s gaze met his. “Ungar wants me to share his bed tonight.”

“And do you wish to do that?”

“Aye. Very much.”

The simplicity of Einarr’s answer made Aki want to smile.

“I asked Frey, and she told me it was all right to proceed,” Einarr added.

“Morek hasn’t asked me, but he did mention something about the Oracle having foretold our arrival.”

“So Ungar said.” Einarr nodded. “Perhaps these males are meant to be ours.”

Aki slung an arm around his twin’s shoulder. “All the more reason for us to reach Quoxor and meet this famous Oracle. A lot seems to hang on her word.”

Even as he turned back, he noticed Ungar and Morek entering the hall. They both looked rather somber. For a moment, Aki was ashamed of the carnal nature of his thoughts.

Morek met his stare and after a last kiss on his brother’s forehead, he made his way over to Aki.

“Did you see the healer?” Aki asked him.

“Not yet.” Morek sighed. “There were many of my family to be laid to rest. The flow of my blood, my tears and my pain seemed a fitting way to mourn them.”

Aki patted the bench beside him. “Sit. I will tend to you.” He went to one of the women managing the injured and came back with a bowl of warm water, a soft cloth and some healing ointment.

Morek turned to sit with his legs facing outward and Aki stood in front of him. With gentle fingers he cleaned out the gouge on the other male’s cheek and patted on some of the thick, creamy balm. He continued his ministrations, washing away the dirt and blood to expose each hurt and then tending to it as carefully as he could. Despite everything that had occurred that day, a great sense of peace descended upon him as he worked his way down Morek’s muscled body.

It took him a while to realize that the calming sensations flowed effortlessly from Morek’s mind and had enveloped his completely. For the first time since arriving in this foreign world, he felt whole again.

“There. That is better.” Aki murmured.

Aiding Morek gave Aki his first chance to really look at the Hakron male—his gleaming green skin, long dark hair and sensuously curved lips. When Morek opened his grey eyes, and stared right back at him Aki didn’t look away.

“Will you come to my bed, Viking?”

“Aye, if you want me.”

After the increasing incursion of the new religions in his home village, it was refreshing to find a culture that accepted a man might desire both sexes without being considered a godless sinner. And Morek’s desire for him was as straightforward as the man himself. Aki could no more have denied him than he could Elli.

Morek rose in one fluid motion. “I want you more than I want to breathe.”

Aki followed the other male out of the Great Hall and down several narrow streets until they came to a small thatched hut at the very end of the row. Morek opened the door and bowed.

“We will be safe here until morning. The first scouts of the Pavlovan army are already within our boundaries and have sworn to protect us from further attack.”

There was a fire built into a stone fireplace on one wall, a small table and chairs, and on the other side a large bed covered in furs and animal skins in colors Aki didn’t recognize.

“My main home is at the Temple.” Morek took off his cloak, wincing as he flexed his bruised shoulder. “This is where Ungar and I grew up. It is a simple place.”

“It reminds me of my own home,” Aki said hoarsely. “I hated the Pavlovan city. This feels more… real to me.”

“You wouldn’t find me in one of those cities.” Morek shuddered. “I went with the Oracle once and that was enough. All that noise, all those thoughts…” He shook his head. “I begged to be allowed to stay home. There were others eager to take my place. The Oracle agreed I could carry out my duties just at the Temple.”

Aki undid the clasp of the cloak one of the Hakron had lent him and laid it carefully over the chair.

“Are you hungry, Aki?”

“Nay, the women in the hall fed me while I waited for you.”

Morek fetched a jug and two clay pitchers. “Then shall we just share a drink to send our dead on their way to
Harven
?”

Aki took the cup and clinked it against Morek’s. “We call it Valhalla.”

“And what does a Viking warrior do there?”

“He fights alongside the Gods all day and then returns to the hall at night to hear songs of his exploits sung by the bards and to enjoy a never-ending feast.”

Morek smiled. “That sounds like our
Harven
. Except our warriors get to enjoy other more sensual matters as well.”

“As they do in Valhalla.” Aki licked his lips. “All together in a big, writhing naked pile of bodies.”

“I can only offer you one body—unless you wish to join your brother and Ungar?”

“Watch my brother fuck?” Aki grinned. “No, I thank you. I’ve had to listen to him with his female for the last few weeks. That was quite enough.”

“Have you met your other mate yet?”

Aki held his gaze. “Aye. She is not convinced I mean what I say and wishes the Oracle to confirm our mating.”

“She is wise.” Morek nodded. “She will have to approve of me as well so it is better if all the issues can be resolved at once.”

“You think you are bonded to me and to Elli?”

Morek sank slowly to his knees. “I hope so, First Male, otherwise I have waited for you in vain.” He rubbed his undamaged cheek against Aki’s thigh. “I wish to prove myself worthy of you.”

Beneath his leather trews, Aki’s cock kicked up and Morek purred and ran his tongue down the length of Aki’s straining shaft.

“Let me taste you.”

“What about your injuries? You—” Aki stopped talking as Morek set his teeth over his stiff cock and reached up to untie the laces that held Aki’s clothing together.

He groaned as his iron-hard shaft was freed and eagerly swallowed between Morek’s demanding lips. Within seconds, his hips were rolling into the motion, thrusting himself deeper and harder into the hot, wet cavern of Morek’s mouth.