Page 64 of Alien Viking's Plunder

“Just don’t learn any others,” Josie panted. “Except French, maybe. I know some words you might like.”

They sat like that for a while before they stirred.

“Let’s check on the stew,” Josie said, feeling hungry.

Bragr didn’t move, his thick arms heavy on her back. “Mhm.”

She straightened and kissed his bearded chin. “Or we could just stay like this.”

He slowly straightened and stretched. “We will stay like that the whole night. But we do need to eat something, and that pot smells really good.” He lifted her off him, got up, padded to the fireplace, and opened the lid. “Mmm. Stay where you are. I’ll get it for you.”

Josie stretched and pulled a fur over her, up to her eyes. “Thank you.”

Bragr brought over two plates. Josie dug in without hesitation. The food on this alien planet was a lot better than the freeze-dried stuff the staff got onUnity.

“Tomorrow we’ll get to your home,” she said when she was finishing up, draining a cup of myod. “What will happen then?”

“I will show you my jarlagard, and we’ll see how you like it here in Hjalmarheim. That’s all I know.”

“Will you help me find Aretha and the other girls?”

“I think finding them will be easy. They will not be hidden.”

Josie thought about it. This looked like it would work out after all. She would meet Aretha, they would talk about what to do, and probably Aretha would want to go home. And the other girls, too.

But Josie knew she wouldn’t be going. She didn’t know if it was just Bragr or the weird sun or the planet itself or maybe even the lace, but she knew that she felt better on this planet than she ever had on Earth or onUnity. She felt strong and attractive and important. And loved.

Oh, who do I think I’m kidding?she thought.It’s all because of him.

He made her feel attractive because he couldn’t keep his hands off her. He made her feel strong because he let her fight. He made her feel important because he was protecting her at any cost.

But they’d been alone all the time. What would happen when they got to his people? Would he change, the way everyone Josie knew would change depending on who was in the room?

Well, he was a straightforward man. She could just ask.

“Bragr, when we get to your people, will you change?”

Bragr smiled. “Good question. You have already seen me as I am on raids. And you have seen me as I am aboard ship. You have seen me as I am when alone with you. Have I changed a lot during those times?”

“You really haven’t,” Josie admitted. “But I don’t know what you’ll be like at home. What happens with us?”

“I have an oracle that I visit every year,” Bragr said. “A seeress who predicts the future. I went to see her recently, but she made no mention of us.”

Josie was astonished. “Really? An oracle?”

“Really. But her predictions are always about random things. They are always true, but I can’t choose the topic. She has to say only what the crystal shows her.”

Josie’s eyes went narrow from suspicion. “She has acrystal ball?”

“It’s not a ball, just a big chunk as black as obsidian. Except darker.”

“And her predictions always come true?”

Bragr drained his cup. “Always.”

“Because they’re so vague they could mean anything at any time?”

“No, they’re mostly specific. She never gives a time for the events, except that they will come to pass within a year. And they do.”

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