Viking Claim (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 2) by Sky Purington Page B

as she cinched her trousers and adjusted her tunic.
    Wits? About the last thing he felt was smart. No, he was about as foolish as they came.
    “ Hel ,” he said under his breath.
    “Sure, if that’s what you want to call this. Feels about right.” Clothes once more in place, Veronica stared down at him. “I followed you to make sure you got back safely so c’mon then.”
    Raknar came to his feet. “Nothing will hurt me out here. But you?” He shook his head. “You need to be seen safely back.”
    “Then back we go,” she murmured and walked.
    Let her go. This is best.
    But he couldn’t. Not yet. He followed, grabbed her hand and pulled her against him. Not to kiss or touch. Just to hold.
    “What are you doing ,” she rasped against his chest and though her hands wedged between them to push him away, she didn’t. He felt her need to break free from him as much as he needed to get away from her but…just a few more moments. So he folded his arms around her, rested his chin on the top of her head and breathed her in. Held on. To her. Them. This.
    She pulled away too soon, shaking her head. “I can’t. We can’t.” She started walking. “I’m sorry.”
    Raknar ran a hand through his hair in frustration and followed, saying nothing. The best thing he could do right now was let her go. Let Kol have her. Anyone but him. Women he loved didn’t come to a good end. Not that he thought he could love her.
    He came to a halt, frowning as he watched Veronica walk away.
    No.
    Not love.
    But Raknar knew it was. Hel , he had known before he stepped out of the English forest exactly what this was between them. Disgruntled,  he strode after her. “Veronica, wait.”
    “Veronica?”
    Raknar scowled as Kol trotted out of the night and stopped in front of her, eyes concerned. “You slipped away without me seeing.” He glanced at Raknar. “But I see you’re safe enough.”
    “I am, thanks.” She nodded toward the celebration. “I’m heading back now. Care to join me?”
    “Of course.” Kol wrapped her elbow with his and started walking. “Nice night for a stroll.”
    Raknar was no fool. The minute his brother sensed he and Veronica were getting intimate, he wasted no time heading this way. And while moments before he might have been content to let his brother have her, now he wasn’t quite sure. So he strode along her other side, closer than he probably should.
    Though Veronica didn’t look his way, he could still feel how aware of him she was. Kol was of dragon blood so he could sense precisely where her desire lay…and it wasn’t with him. Regardless, his brother was not one to give up easily so he steered her closer to the shore and away from Raknar.
    Instantly territorial, Raknar’s nostrils flared and he followed.
    They narrowed eyes at one another over her head.
    “If I'm not mistaken, she turned you away, brother,” Kol said, words low, dangerous.
    “And if I'm not mistaken, she has never desired you,” Raknar shot back.
    Veronica suddenly stopped short and stepped back, her expression borderline disgusted. Hands on her hips, she shook her head and said the last thing he expected.
    “You can both stop whatever this is. I’m not staying and if I were.” She shrugged, totally unapologetic. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be with either of you. Nope, I think I’d much rather be with Kjar.”

Chapter Seven
     
    “So you said you would prefer to be with me and walked away from them both?”
    “I did,” Veronica declared to Kjar and Megan as she sipped the God-awful ale. All right, so it wasn’t that bad. But who knew she liked warm beer? Ugh. Uncouth. Her little secret.
    Kjar again flung back his head and laughed, merry eyes on her as he chomped on what appeared to be a chicken drumstick. “Are you sure then? After all, I'm a demi-god.”
    “Oh, stop throwing that one around,” Megan said, chuckling as she eyed the brothers across the fire.
    It was easy to forget that Kjar’s