Free Viking Claimed (Triad Series Book 4) by Kate Pearce Page A

fjords that joined together in our old village to become one. I think Frey will like him.”
    “I pray she does.” Aki hefted his pack onto his back. “Let us hope the Oracle makes the correct prophecies and that none of us will be disappointed.”
    Aki watched as Morek spoke one final word to the commander of the Pavlovan military team left behind to guard the village and help them rebuild.
    “Disappointed like poor Elli Slavin was you mean?” Einarr shook his head. “Frey said it was horrible for her.”
    Aki stopped walking. “What happened to Elli?”
    “Do you not know?” Einarr took a step backward. “If Elli has not mentioned it, I probably should not—”
    Aki grabbed his twin by his shirt and almost hauled him off his feet. “Tell me, halfviti .”
    Einarr sighed. “Elli was taken to the Temple on her eighteenth birthday and matched with a male called Carlin Gran at a public ceremony. He was based off-planet so Elli hardly saw him for six years. When he finally returned to Pavlovan, he asked Elli to meet him at the Temple. She thought he intended to ask the Oracle about their third. But he didn’t. He publicly asked to be released from his bond because he had fallen in love with two others.”
    “Esca told me some of this earlier.” Aki’ dropped his brother and his hand clenched into a fist. “Carlin Gran is a dishonorable cur. No wonder Elli is worried about whether even the Oracle can deem us a good match.”
    “She probably fears being publicly humiliated again.”
    “I would never do that to her.”
    Einarr winked at him and shouldered his own pack. “Then you’d better make damned sure the Oracle doesn’t announce you are bonded to another male before she mentions Elli.”
    “Why would the Oracle do that?”
    “Because as we both know all too well, Aki, the Gods like to destroy our certainties. Have you even told Elli about Morek?”
    “She told me not to contact her,” Aki snapped. “She said she wanted to concentrate on bringing Frey safely back to you.”
    “And you obeyed her?” Einarr shook his head as though Aki was a complete fool. “Talk to her, Aki. She and Frey are safe now.”
    Aki gave his brother a scathing look and marched off to walk alongside Morek.
    “My twin is a fool,” Aki muttered.
    “Mine too, but I still love him.” Morek glanced at Aki. He’d braided fresh flowers into his hair and the perfume lingered as he turned his head. “What has Einarr done?”
    “He’s suggesting that he knows more about how to handle a woman than I do.”
    “He is already mated, aye?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then he probably does know more.” Morek pushed through the foliage and led the way out onto a more substantial roadway. “I have little knowledge of how a woman thinks myself and I am quite willing to admit it.”
    “He says I should have told Elli about you.”
    “You haven’t?” Morek walked on in silence for a few paces. “Are you ashamed of fucking a Hakron? Some Pavlovans think the Neveks and the Hakrons are inferior primitive beings.”
    “Nay!” Aki grabbed hold of Morek’s bicep to make him stop walking. “I am not Pavlovan. I thought I should wait until the Oracle confirms that we are all meant to be together before I went ahead and told her exactly whose bed I have been sharing.”
    “Why would she mind?” Morek raised his eyebrows. “Pavlovans are free to share unless the mating Triad decides against it.”
    Aki hesitated and then found himself looking into Morek’s eyes. “ She was…discarded by a previous male in a very public way. I want to tell her in person.”
    “If that is the way it must be, I understand.” Morek nodded. “ If she is there when we arrive, I will keep away from you both until you give me leave to approach .”
    “ That is very…good of you .”
    “ If we are to be a bonded Triad, she is my female as well. It would not pay to hurt her before I even meet her .” Morek slapped him hard on the back. “Now walk faster,