Series: Valkyries Rising #2
Publication date: January 17th, 2023
Synopsis:
As the god of war and bringer of order and justice I can have anything. Except one mortal woman.
I came to Astrid's prayer for justice. Why, I didn't know. I should have left after that, but I didn't. Something about the mortal woman lured me like no other had. It was wrong, I knew that. I should have allowed her to live out her short years as they were intended.
Yet, not even I am a match for a yearning heart.
From shared drinking horns to unforgettable nights, I am determined to bring her the honor she deserves, just as she has sworn to shield me from the horrors of the world. But when trouble amongst the gods stirs, Astrid may just pay the price for my transgressions.
And the price for spilling the blood of my valkyrie, is one too steep for any god.
Valkyrie Lost is book 1 of a trilogy within the Valkyries Rising series. While an MF fantasy romance, it is only the beginning of a slow-build, reverse harem story, told through paranormal romances Valkyrie Renewed and Valkyrie Freed. Valkyrie Lost takes place before any events in the Legecy world (Valkyrie's Legacy, Neon, Valkyries Rising).
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Excerpt
I left the bedroom with some trousers for Tyr. I wasn't sure they'd fit, but we could try. The tunics we had were out of the question.
I stopped short in the threshold of the central room. My heart seized at the sight of Tyr holding the unfinished tunic. Even from here, it was clear that would fit him, and there was no hiding who it was for.
Tyr looked up when he realized I'd returned. "I thought you said you weren't sure you had something that would fit me."
"That's not--what I mean is--" My tongue wouldn't work as my brain panicked more. I couldn't tell him it was for him. "It's not finished."
His brow spiked and he looked at the tunic again. "Looks finished."
Whatever magic kept me rooted in place released its hold and I rushed over to him, trying to grab it. "Tyr, no!"
He held it out of my reach, grinning like mad. "And why not? Is there something you're not telling me? Is this for someone else?"
"No!" I nearly choked after that confession. "That's not--I mean--"
Tyr chuckled. "Trickster god got your tongue, Valkyrie?"
My heart thumped. There was that name again. Why did I like it so much when he called me that? "It's not good enough."
That was a truth I could allow. He was a god. He deserved the best. And that tunic wasn't the best. Neither am I...
Tyr rubbed the fabric between his fingers. "I think the quality is superb. I'm going to try this on, unless you have any legitimate objections."
Heat seared my cheeks. "None that'd you take..."
Gods, why hadn't I hidden that instead of running off in a huff? Now this was just going to be one embarrassing moment when he rejected--
Tyr loosened his belt and pulled his soaked tunic over his head. The hard muscles of his abdomen and arms flexed and pulled taut with the movement. Every thought in my mind left me.
He stood before me, half-naked, exhibiting several levels of alluring masculine sex. My mouth dried and heat pooled between my legs. My chest heaved as I struggled to keep my breathing even and my hands from reaching out and gliding my hands along those planes of muscle.
Tyr grinned, as if he could see what his current state of dress did to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if I looked as much of a mess as I felt right now, and then he pulled the new tunic on.
The garment slid over his body, fitting like a glove. I'd managed to make it perfectly for him.
Tyr tested the fit and felt the fabric again. "I've never had such a nice tunic before."
Heat of the same intensity pooling between my legs seared my face. "I highly doubt--"
He pressed his thumb against my lips. "I meant what I said."
I held his gaze, and that was a mistake. My knees wobbled, threatening to bend under the intensity of his stare. "You like it?"
"It's for me, right?"
I bit my lower lip and nodded.
He grinned. "Good. I wouldn't allow you to give this to someone else."
My heart thumped hard against my ribcage.
Tyr hung his wet tunic up by the fire to dry along with the boots he'd kicked off, and plopped down in a chair. He looked about to get comfortable.
"Tyr, you can't wear it yet," I said. "It's not finished. I wasn't lying about that."
He pulled at the material and looked at it. "Looks finished to me."
I dropped the trousers in my hands and stepped closer, grabbing his tunic. "Tyr, please take it off. I need to finish it."
I gasped when he grabbed my arms and yanked me onto his lap. My body molded against his powerful form, and I was acutely aware of the hard object pressing against my legs that was distinctly not a sword.
Tyr chuckled low against my ear. "And what are you going to do about it, Valkyrie? Do you think you can make me remove it?"
A pleasant shiver ran down my spine and between my legs. I swallowed, my pulse thumping in my ears. "I didn't realize you would be the most difficult man to disrobe."
USA Today bestselling author SHANNON PEMRICK is a full-time slow-burn romantic fantasy author, fuller-time geek, and unrelenting dragon enthusiast. She owns too many novelty mugs, not enough chocolate, and maintains a forbidden love-affair with all things shiny. When she's not burning her fingers across a keyboard handing out adventures and HEAs, she's rolling dice and getting lost in RPGs or searching for brides for her dragon overlords.
To find out more about Shannon and her books, visit her website.
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