Page 61 of Alien Viking's Passion

He put his other arm next to Aretha’s forearm. “Look again.”

Her arm had a fine network of lines and patterns, like fine silver threads just under the skin. Her eyes widened. “I have Marks!We have the same ones!”

“You’re Karestir,” Signe said from the bow of the ship. “Mates that the gods fated to meet and to love each other from the dawn of time. Surely neither of you can be surprised by this? I’ve rarely seen a love so strong!”

Craxon nodded. “It’s an overwhelming sensation. No wonder I couldn’t contain my passion. Can you wed us now, Signe? You have the red robe of the seeress and soothsayer. You obviously have the ear of the gods!”

The old woman snorted. “My prince, you are a ruler! When the Prince of Ragnhildros marries, it must be done in his land, in front of his people! Not on a small, foreign-owned ship on the open ocean, fish and krakens the only witnesses!”

Aretha was busy rolling up her blouse to see how far the Marks went.

“It’s a full sleeve,” she said. “They stop at the shoulder. And they are as white as yours are, Craxon!”

He finally staggered to his feet and took her into his arms. “They are. Nothing could make you more beautiful, but they make you mine for good.”

“And you mine,” she reminded him. “I’m sorry about Valtyrr, my love. I think you were close with him.”

“I was,” the prince said. “And I will always be. But he died the hero’s death, and he’s feasting with Eira in Valhalla. And if they see us now, they’ll smile.”

“They’ll be laughing their butts off,” Aretha said into his chest. “We must have looked pretty silly at times.”

“I wonder when Kofraks stole his shape,” Craxon growled. “Because he was being very persuasive about me leaving Hjalmarheim. That could have been Kofraks talking. I thought he acted weird.”

“It must have been. Sounded like he really wanted us here. He put me in a box and carried me aboard. I heard you talking to him.”

“Oh,thatbox? He said there were fish inside!”

“Kofraks wanted you both here to give his curse the strongest effect,” Signe said. “But even he couldn’t know that you are Karestir.”

Craxon took Aretha’s head between his hands and kissed her deeply. “I love you. Now we have to get this ship in order and sail to Ragnhildros, so that we can be married. Tyra!”

He got busy setting the course, trying to fix the shattered mast, and raising the sail.

The weather was back to fair, the winds were good, and the krakens had all slunk back into the depths. The air was fresh, and the crew had all survived the battle.

And he was engaged to Aretha.

It had been the most painful day of his life. But it was also the best.

25

- Aretha -

Aretha went over to Sonic, who had bored his way into a food crate and was munching on hard bread. “Hey! I think you got us out of a really tricky situation.”

He gazed at her with his three eyes, then launched into the bread again, sharp teeth glinting.

“You’re much smarter than I thought,” Aretha went on. “I think you understand a lot more than you let on. But that’s fair. Was it your people that dug the tunnel under the lake? With teeth like yours, I guess you could, if you had a century or so.”

Sonic turned his little tail to her and burrowed further into the crate.

“Aretha Kofraks-bane!” said a cold voice from behind her.

She straightened and made sure Fjernstjerna was in her belt and within reach before she turned around. “Tyra, isn’t it? Sorry, our prince used to be shy and he never introduced you to me.”

“Lendkven Tyra of Prince Craxon’s household,” the tall, older shieldmaiden said. “I am the Royal Chaperone. It was my duty to see to it that Prince Craxon never fell in love. I seem to have failed.”

“Sounds like a tough job when the prince is as strong and active and alive as Craxon,” Aretha said courteously. Surely this couldn’t be more trouble to deal with?

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