My fists clenched in fury as I peered through Jarl Aderick's window from my perch up in a tree, hidden behind the numerous branches to conceal my presence as I watched my dronning kiss that imbecile of a leader.

A growl escaped my throat as I continued watching the pair against the wall, watching her face contort and slacken with pleasure, yet I could not help but feel torn. Anger as he was the one invoking the pleasure, and the becoming of arousal as I imagined myself in his place, making my future bride writhe against the wall with need and desire.

Shivers of excitement and pleasure rolled over my skin like a wave, making me shake with anticipation as the images in my mind continued to flash and evolve into something dark and delicious.

"Sven? Do you wish to continue with the plan? Or change it perchance?"

My head tilted to the side, listening to my second in command as I kept my gaze on the scene through the window.

"Nei. We shall keep it on schedule...for now." I trailed off as I shifted my weight on the thick sturdy branch that I was crouched on. I winced as it groaned from my heavy weight.

Terje only grunted in response.

The wind from the mountains rolled around my fur cloak, making the tops of my ears sting with the cold. I reluctantly pulled my eyes away from the Dahlsten manor towards the mountains. The tips were barely covered with snow, but the breeze held just the slightest flakes of snow.

The gust sent a chill down my spine, the hair on the back of my neck rising as I realized that winter was to come earlier than I had originally thought...that meaning I could attack Aderick sooner and take my beloved to my home as my bride. I smiled maliciously as I closed my eyes, picturing myself thrusting my sword through Aderick's chest...for all the things he had that I craved.

To see the light leave his eyes and watch his chest stop moving from the breath he took in his lungs would satisfy all the hardships and trouble I went through to get here, as Jarl of my own clan.

Once Aderick was dead, I could rule the entire land of Norway. To be King of it all...the gods would bow to me as I entered the halls of Valhalla, a sight unseen as my successes in battle outshined any previous warrior or Jarl to enter.

My eyes opened and snapped back towards the window.

And my prize...my beautiful golden-haired prize made all the hardships these past years well worth it. But, I acknowledged with a harsh grimace, it seems as though I would have to take her away sooner, else she would become pregnant with Aderick's child.

That would be most unfortunate.

I would not let it come to that point...if so, I would have to take drastic measures to ensure the Dahlsten bloodline ends with Aderick.

One of my men in the tree to my left spoke up, tearing me away from my thoughts.

"Jarl Sven, you picked a beautiful bride...by the gods look at the mane on her and her breasts," Björn groaned in delight as he peered through the window at my bride.

Quickly before he could react, I yanked my small knife from my belt and thrust it into his soft throat. Björn's green eyes widened in shock and a tinge of fear as blood spurted out of his artery, spraying on my face, thick rivers of hot liquid running out of his body. His hand weakly raised to touch the knife handle sticking out of his neck, yet he made no move to remove it. I examined the light slowly leaving his eyes, the beast within me roaring with bloodlust as the man who dared to speak of my future dronning that way died before my eyes. I ripped the knife out of his neck, wiping the blood on his shirt carelessly, now bored with him. He let out a choked gurgle before he toppled head first off the limb and towards the ground, where his body landed twistedly with a thud.

I rolled my eyes. Fool. No man would talk about my queen like that and not be punished. I slid the knife back in its hilt, glancing briefly at Terje who's lips were pursed in frustration.

He let out a long sigh as he looked down at Björn's bloodied corpse below.

"Sven...he was one of our best fighters. Why must you kill them?" He looked back up to me, a frown wrinkling his forehead. He ran a hand over his dark braided hair.

"You heard him," I hissed. "No one shall talk about my bride that way and live to see another day."

He remained silent, knowing how easily my temper would spike once more at a half-ass response.

My hazel-eyed curvy angel could not be tainted by any man but me. I was to own her body, her mind, her everything. To dominate that lovely beauty of the south, to tame that wildfire within her eyes, and seduce that almost ungodly perfect body of hers with my fingers and mouth. By the gods, I could picture her gold curls splayed across my furs, her face thrown back in pain and pleasure, that plump red mouth parted as she would gasp from my abrupt entrance into her tight maiden cavern. My shaft hardened and I shifted my body away from Terje so he would not notice my hard on.

I quickly rubbed a hand over my face to rid of those images, locking them away for later tonight. I would have to find a willing...perchance even unwilling slave to satisfy my needs. The more unwilling the better, I thought with a curl of my lips, to imitate the fire that would come from her.

But Aderick Dahlsten put a stall to my desire to control and possess her. He was there and I was not, which made my blood boil and fury rise.

Britta Haraldsson. The last Haraldsson to walk this earth...a blip to my plan, but one that was wholly accepted once I set eyes upon her sleeping figure in the cave. The rumors surrounding her allure did not dissappoint and I berated myself for not discovering it before. Rumors were exactly as they were...tales that could be true or false. Occasionally both, as the truth bled into lies that caused numerous deaths and wars. Which lead to why I dismissed the tales of a golden beauty with a pure heart residing to the south near the sea.

"Sven, they are asleep. 'Tis best if we head back towards camp."

I nodded absentmindedly, torn whether to leave or get a closer look at my dronning. I looked towards my second in command, keeping my features blank.

"You go on and report to the rest of the men." I reluctantly dropped my gaze towards the frozen ground, my lip curling in a snarl. "And take that piece of shit with you and get rid of him."

Terje sighed, burrowing deeper into his cloak before nodding. He nimbly ducked and weaved under the branches as he made his way towards the body, eventually dragging it back into the woods heading towards camp. I spat on the ground, smirking as I noticed the trail of blood as Terje walked away.

I had a small group of warriors in case anything went wrong a few miles away along the base of the mountains, waiting on my signal for a surprise attack on the Dahlsten clan. But, I wanted to wait until the best moment possible. Hopefully sooner than I originally planned, I did not want to rush such delicate matters.

Grabbing a branch, I swung down the tree limb by limb before lightly landing on my feet, the frozen ground unrelenting under my boots. I hissed quietly as shocks ran up my legs. My breath released in an icy puff, the only sign of my prescence known in Dahlsten territory. I avoided the window of Aderick's bedchambers, though I longed to gaze upon Britta more than I already had for the evening.

I had one thing on my mind, and it involved a woman underneath me...willing or unwilling.

Walking carefully towards the marketplace, I moved with the advancing shadows of twilight as they wrapped around the back of buildings, keeping my eyes peeled for a young slave.

One that had blonde hair would be divine.

Hearing voices, I forced then pressed myself flat as possible against a building, my bloodied knife in my hand in preparation. Once they faded, I continued on. I repressed a laugh at how easy it was to casually sneak around the outskirts of the village, my presence completely unknown to the people milling about. I halted my steps after a bit and slid amongst the shadows as a curvy shade began walking towards me. I put away my knife carefully, hearing the click as it slid into its hold on my side. I slowed my breathing down to a minimum as the thrill of kidnapping a woman rose. By the gods, it was such an intense rush...one that I was beginning to crave.

A few dark curses escaped this person as they came closer, the soft feminine voice muttering under their breath, but loud enough that I could hear snippets. I leaned on my toes, ready to pounce on this person before her words made me freeze.

"He should have been mine! That Haraldsson kjerring took away my chance with him," A growl left this now interesting woman who was connected to Britta and Aderick.

My eyes widened at the opportunity that this woman could bring - a deeper advantage towards my attack. More options for different angles of attack, where to raid the best shops, and where the slave quarters were for the plundering and ravaging for my men. I figured that this unknown woman would relent giving me any information, but if I made a deal with her I could take everything for myself. A trade, perchance.

Only one of us would get the end our deal, the other, well...

Disappointment filled me as the woman finally came into view. I noticed her dark wavy tendrils that fell to her waist, not the golden unruly curls that I craved. She would have to do, I reluctantly sighed. She was too valueable not to pass up. A bonus was her body, one that I would enjoy ravaging as I waited for Britta.

I stepped out from the shadows, making the woman jump in fright. Her forest green eyes snapped to mine in surprise before masking in fear as I covered her full mouth and pinched her neck, just in the right spot before she collapsed unconscious in my arms.

Looking around cautiously, I checked to make sure we were alone before I scooped her up into my arms, her tattered red dress almost trailing the ground as I turned around and began walking into the forest.

A nasty smile erupted on my face, my plan unfolding almost perfectly.

Let the fun begin.

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