Pleasured by the Viking Read Online Free PDF

“And tell him that he will only have his bride if he honors our agreement for peace.” In the torchlight, the chieftain’s face was rigid with anger. “I will have words with him about this treachery.”
    The Norman took a step backwards, never taking his eyes off Auder. As they departed, they took the wounded soldier with them, and then they were gone.
    Auder rushed to Gunnar’s side, touching the blood at his temple. “Are you all right? Can you stand?”
    Gunnar caught her wrist, his eyes burning into hers. “You’re not going to go through with this marriage, Auder.”
    She didn’t answer him, for though it terrified her to be living among these men, worse was the thought of war between them and her clan. His blood stained her fingertips, and everything inside her clenched at the thought of Gunnar coming to harm.
    â€œI don’t have a choice.”
    Later that evening
    The Bel fires blazed upon the hillsides, and the clouded sky held off its rain. As the night of Bealtaine began, the Dalrata tribe members mingled with the Ó Reilly clan. Trahern sat in the midst of everyone, preparing to entertain them all with his stories. After the attempted invasion earlier, the atmosphere among the people was strung tight. Both the Irish and the Norsemen took turns guarding the cashel, though it seemed the Normans had indeed gone.
    Her mother Halma sat with Maeve Ó Reilly, a matron who loved to gossip. Maeve sent Auder a nod of approval and continued speaking with Halma. It was the first time in many weeks that she’d seen her mother smiling.
    When she went to join them, Maeve reached out to take her hand. “You’ve done the right thing, Auder Ó Reilly. I’ve been telling Halma that I can think of no one more courageous to marry the Norman.”
    â€œI’m still not so sure,” Halma began.
    â€œNonsense.” A mischievous smile perked at the matron’s mouth. “With her looks, she’ll have that Norman eating out of her hand after one wedding night.”
    Auder didn’t believe that at all, but she wasn’t about to ruin Halma’s evening. For now, her mother looked content. Not nearly as alone as she’d been. And for that, she was grateful to Maeve.
    â€œWhen I was married,” Maeve continued, “I kept my husband well satisfied. If I asked him to bring me the stars from the sky, he’d have tried his best to get them.” To Halma, she added, “Stop your worrying. She’s a brave girl, and you should be proud of her.”
    â€œI am,” Halma said. And with the soft words of praise, tears brimmed in Auder’s eyes.
    â€œIt’s going to be all right, Mother,” she said. “Enjoy yourself tonight.”
    When she left the two women alone, she blinked until the tears faded away. Maeve’s prediction couldn’t be further from the truth. Auder knew she thoroughly lacked the ability to please a husband.
    Her doubts multiplied until she found herself walking toward the storytelling. She saw Morren moving among the people, seeing that everyone had enough food and drink while Trahern settled back to begin his tales.
    The chieftain’s voice took on a mystical quality as he transformed the mood of the clan, capturing them in the spell of his words. As the evening drifted into night, children began falling asleep in their mothers’ arms. Trahern took his wife’s hand, and pulled her to his side. It was as if he drew strength and comfort from Morren, and Auder envied the love between them.
    Would any man ever look at her in that way, as though she meant the world to him? The weight of her betrothal vow grew more difficult to bear, for she suspected the marriage was of little importance to the baron. He’d never even seen her face, though he’d agreed to wed her.
    She forced her thoughts back to Trahern’s story, wishing she could lose herself within it. She needed