The Viking Warrior's Bride
A battle for power and passionA skilled archer with the heart of a warrior, Gwendolyn of Alvey has proven herself capable of defending her homelands. But the threat of invasion and her father’s deathbed wish force her to do the unthinkable: wed Vidar, leader of the enemy.Duty to form an alliance between two powerful clans binds Vidar to Gwendolyn, but desire tempts him to distraction. Her nature is to dominate, but he’s determined to seduce her into submission on the battlefield – and in the bedchamber…
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A battle for power and passion
A skilled archer with the heart of a warrior, Gwendolyn of Alvey has proved herself capable of defending her homeland. But the threat of invasion and her fatherâs deathbed wish force her to do the unthinkable: wed Vidar, leader of the enemy.
Duty to form an alliance between two powerful clans binds Vidar to Gwendolyn, but desire tempts him to distraction. Her nature is to dominate, but heâs determined to seduce her into submission on the battlefieldâand in the bedchamber...
âWith this ring, I accept you as my husband.â
Gwendolyn had neglected to put the ring on her finger, so she moved to rectify that, but Vidar stopped her by covering her hand with his. Gently, he took the ring from her and slid it on her finger. He didnât say anything, but it felt as if heâd claimed her. Just as his ring claimed her finger, he had claimed her as his.
He moved away, only to turn back with the sword his Jarl Eirik had given him. It was ornate, with two rubies set into the gilded hilt. He held it out to her, lying flat on both of his palms. âI am entrusting this into your care, to be given to our firstborn son. May you bear me many.â
She nodded and took the sword from him, handing it off to Rodor. âI accept,â she said, her voice low enough that only Vidar and Rodor were likely to hear her. âBut we never agreed to children.â
Now that the ceremony was finished heâd relaxed, and he even smiled at her when she said that. âIâm looking forward to the challenge, my lady.â
They were well and truly wed now.
Author Note
Vidarâs story brings to a close the books Iâve planned in the Viking Warriors series. Iâve had so much fun exploring the world of Jarl Hegardâs sons, and their journeys to find love in the unforgiving Viking age. Each book has meant so much to me, but I am especially happy to bring Vidarâs story to you.
We first met Vidar in Enslaved by the Viking when he was a young teenager working on his older brotherâs ship. We saw him again when he played reluctant nurse to his ailing and grumpy half brother in One Night with the Viking. Now Vidar has shrugged off the weight of his overbearing brothers and has come into his own with his very own love story.
However, his journey is anything but what he wants it to be. Heâs been saddled yet again with another responsibility that he doesnât want: a wife. No longer free to roam the seas, he must take up the responsibility of his wife and her ancestral estate whether he wants them or not. Heâs in for a surpriseâbecause Gwendolyn isnât in the market for a husband any more than Vidar is for a wife. When these two clash, no one is safe!
I hope you enjoy Gwendolyn and Vidarâs story. Please find me on Facebook if youâd like to chat about it (Facebook.com/harperstgeorge). Thank you so much for reading.
HARPER ST GEORGE was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was this setting, filled with stories of the old days, that instilled in her a love of history, romance and adventure. At high school she discovered the romance novel, which combined all those elements into one perfect package. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two young children. Visit her website: harperstgeorge.com.
Books by Harper St George
Mills & Boon Historical Romance
Outlaws of the Wild West
The Innocent and the Outlaw
A Marriage Deal with the Outlaw
Viking Warriors
Enslaved by the Viking
One Night with the Viking In Bed with the Viking Warrior The Viking Warriorâs Bride
Digital Short Stories
His Abductorâs Desire
Her Forbidden Gunslinger
Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk.
For Tara Wyatt,
who was there from the first Viking book. Thank you!
Contents
The hills had stood like sentinels for the past day and a half, watching over the boats as they steadily drew closer. The menâs oars cut through the murky water in a rhythm born from years of practice, a near silent heave-and-ho that kept the horde advancing with merciless efficiency. Vidar glared out at those hills, provoked by their silent taunting. Gwendolyn of Bernicia lived somewhere in the midst of them. His enemy. His bride.
He swallowed past the thickening in his throat that accompanied the thought while his palms itched to grab his sword, to do something to fight the ugly truth of the wedding that was to come. No matter how Vidar wished it, he and the men were not here to do battle. They were here to see him married.
Heâd never met Gwendolyn and, if heâd had his way, he never would. Vidar wasnât supposed to be the groom in this match arranged by his brother, Jarl Eirik. Vidar was supposed to be fighting to the south to expand their territory. The only reason he was here was because the true groom, Magnus, had decided to marry the low-born Saxon woman whoâd saved him when heâd been gravely wounded.
