“Married men aren’t allowed to raid; too many battles take place during raids, so he would have to stay on the ship. It is more important that he remains on earth and finds more Viking brides.”
This had been the fear of all the women in the vault. Raine had worried about it, too, but she was just as worried about getting eaten.
Huffily, Raine gave him a disgusted look. “So,” she said snidely, “you plan on kidnapping and raping us, and then want us to pretend it’s okay just because you can say without our permission that we’re married?”
Ulf’s eyes glowed redder, and his skin took on a reddish hue. “Rape? Viking men don’t rape women! Skars would not, nor would any Viking, take an unwilling woman. They’d use their own ax on their cock and hands rather than do such a thing.”
Stunned at his vehemence, she chose her next words carefully. “I didn’t willingly marry Skars.”
Ulf contemplated her frown. “Skars told us you saved his life. Did you not?”
Not knowing where Ulf going with his question, she told the truth. “I did.”
His frown cleared. “Then you’re married by Viking law.”
“On Earth, we do it differently. The man, or woman, asks them to marry them. Then, after a long …” she drawled out, “while, they get married.”
His frown returned, showing his confusion. “Why would Skars have to ask? By saving his life, you showed you’re willing to take him to your bed. He accepted by claiming you as wife. All that is left is for Thorsen to perform the ceremony and the bedding.”
“That’s not all that is left!” Astounded at their belief, Raine looked to Tayla for help and only saw her shrugging at her.
“You’re on your own, kid. Makes sense to me. I wouldn’t save anyone’s life unless I was willing to sleep with them, either.”
“That’s archaic,” Raine sputtered out, not knowing what else to say.
Ulf nodded at her.
“It is an ancient law,” he admitted.
“What if the woman doesn’t want to be married?”
“Then she divorces him,” Ulf explained. “Never heard a tale of anyone divorcing a Viking.”
“Well, you will when—”
Tayla put a hand on her, preventing her from saying what she was about to say. “Let’s wait on that,” Tayla cautioned, her voice low. “At least until we find out the benefits of being married to Skars.”
Raine narrowed her eyes on the calculating woman. “There is no we here.”
Tayla ignored her. “Ulf, as a matter of interest … would Raine’s friends be given the same protection as being married to Skars would?”
“Thorsen offered as much,” Ulf confirmed.
“There you go.” Tayla became even more calculating. “No Skars, no protection,” she warned. “You can’t think just about yourself right now.” Tayla tilted her head toward the other car.
Raine hated to admit it, but Tayla was right. She would be expected to take one for the team. The problem was that she had never been much of a team player. Not that she hadn’t wanted to, but because no one had wanted her on their team. Now, it was finally her opportunity to belong to a team, to make up some of the mishaps that her co-workers blamed her for.
There was another reason much more important to go along with being married to Skars, if for no other reason than Piper. It had been a miracle the young girl had survived this long.
“About the bedding …” Looking to where Skars was chopping aliens up like he was making a Caesar salad, she asked delicately, “I don’t have to actually bed him until after the ceremony, do I?”
“Neinn. That is your choice.”
Raine gave a sigh of relief. This may be doable.
“Of course, him being a Viking,”—amusement filled his face above the bushy beard—“there is no law preventing him from changing your mind.”
Chapter 7
Raine
Raine prayed for divine intervention at the arrogant gloat Ulf gave her. He had every confidence the bedding would happen on Skars’ timetable.
“What other responsibilities will Skars have after the ceremony?”
“The married clan members have many responsibilities. The warriors need to be fed, clothed, their quarters maintained. Those who don’t raid provide for the warriors. In return, the warriors provide protection and provisions to sustain the clan.”
Raine just shook her head at the information she was being given. No wonder Skars wasn’t looking forward to nuptial bliss.
“So, Skars was just going to put me on hold while he’s out doing his manly fun shit?”
Ulf looked confused. “Manly fun shit?”
“Raiding,” she explained.
“Já.”
Why was she so angry? It wasn’t like they were really married. Because Raine had a feeling of who was going to get the short end of the stick. She didn’t see Skars cooking and cleaning.
“Then it’s a good thing for him we’re not really married,” she said with deceptive calmness.
“You are.”
Exasperated, she glowered at him. “You just said I wasn’t until the ceremony.”