Bloodmark (42 page)
Authors: Aurora Whittet
Grey spat, “Guard of Calista—great job you did protecting
her
.”
The devil himself couldn’t have had a more menacing face than what consumed Odin’s. “There are moments that distinguish between men and boys. Warriors and the dead. One breath separated me from saving her life. You will not question that again,” he said. His eyes shot to mine, piercing them. “The wolf’s hide I carry with me is Calista’s killer. His body is a reminder to all who cross me. I will not fail again.” Turning to me, he said, “My lady, my soul is yours.”
A territorial growl came from Grey’s chest. He didn’t trust Odin.
“Why do I need your protection, Odin, son of Jarl?”
His head remained bowed as I stood in front of him. The fierceness of Mother pulsed through my veins as I waited for his answer. I felt a surge of strength I had never felt before. My childish fears were slipping away, and a fierce woman was taking her place.
“One whom you trust will betray you. Lady Calista foretold it. I gave my sworn allegiance to protect you when that moment came, and I will not forsake her rule.”
“Why did you not protect me in the Netherworlds?”
He looked up at me with his black eyes that filled with regret. “Until you accept my allegiance, I cannot fight royalty, even to save your life.”
I gagged, remembering Adomnan’s sickening expression as he touched me. “You chose not to stop him, because of some archaic covenant?”
“My vows to Calista do not allow me to step outside the order. Her words still control my actions . . . until I swear my allegiance to you. I wanted to break them, I wanted to shelter you from them, but I didn’t have the right. Even after her death, my vows still rule my actions.”
I turned my back to him with disgust. Laws and rules stopped him from saving me. Saving me from the memories that were burned so deeply into my soul, from having to take Adomnan’s life. The taste of his blood still embodied my mouth. I shook my head.
“I don’t trust you,” I said before turning around to face him. I studied his face, but nothing reassured me of his character. “I need to consult with my pack.”
I gestured my family into the kitchen, where I knew the girls waited. I looked to Baran for answers.
“He is the only one of Calista’s guard who didn’t betray her. I have known him for centuries, but he has been to hell and back. His soul is dark with her death, but I would trust him with my life,” Baran said.
Mund said, “You have to follow your heart with whom you trust.”
Grey didn’t say anything. He simply held my hand. His lips were firmly drawn together with worry. I knew now what I had to do. It wasn’t about the childish dreams of a girl, but of the greater good of the pack. With a small tug of his hand, we walked back into the living room to face Odin once again.
“I accept your allegiance to myself and my pack,” I told him. He nodded and handed me Calista’s journal in return. I felt the warmth of the leather in my fingers. “You will not cross me,” I threatened.
He kneeled in front of Grey and me, completely submitting to us. I didn’t know what part he had yet to play, whether good or evil, but his life was already intertwined with mine. The fates had already decided our paths must cross.
I now knew the sacrifices I had to make. The prophecy called to my soul, like a link to my heart. I was the chosen one. Only I could bring balance to the earth and unite us for Old Mother. As Grey and I went to face the Bloodrealms, I wasn’t afraid. No matter what hidden evil lurked there, I had faith in our love, and I could see our future.
Don’t miss
Bloodrealms
the next book in the BloodmarkSaga.
Pack Reference
Boru – Ireland
Ashling Boru
Bridgid Boru
Cadence Kingery-Boru
Donal Boru
Felan Boru
Flin Boru
Mund Boru
Queen Nessa Vanir-Boru
Niamh Boru
King Pørr Boru
Quinn Boru
Ragnall Boru
Tegan Kahedin-Boru
Kahedin – Wales
Lord Beldig Kahedin
Brychan Kahedin
Gwyn Kahedin
Dvergar – Iceland
Adomnan Dvergar
Bento Dvergar
Crob Dvergar
Eamon Dvergar
Uaid Dvergar
Verci Dvergar
Kingery – Switzerland
Channing Kingery
Killian – Scotland
Baran Killian
Khepri Killian
Willem Killian
Vanir – Greece
Calista Vanir
Lady Faye Vanir
Mother Rhea Vanir
Norse Lands – Finland
Odin Pohjola (son of Jarl)
Bloodrealms – Valhalla
Æsileif
Bloodmark Glossary
Beltane
Gaelic festival halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice
.
Bloodmark
A pack symbol tattooed in blood.
Bloodmoon
A red moon that comes once during each season
.
Bloodrealms
Underground city in Valhalla
.
Bloodsucker
The clan of humans that hunt werewolves
.
Carrowmore
Carrowmore is one of the passage tomb cemetaries in Ireland. In Bloodmark they are the resting place of the humans in the battle of 4600 BCE
.
The Dream
The prophecy foretold by Calista Vanir
.
Elder Gods
The original werewolves
.
Foresaken Packs
Werewolves that broke their vows to Old Mother
.
Hills of Tara
Location of the Vanir and Dvergar battle commemorated by ancient monuments in Ireland
.
Netherworlds
Underground werewolf city in Canada
.
M’ eudail
Gaelic for ‘My dear’
.
Rock of Cashel
The home of the Boru pack.
Samhain
Gaelic festival marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter
.
Tha gaol agam ort
Gaelic for ‘I love you’
.
Winter Solstice/Yule
Gaelic festival for winter solstice
.
Special Thanks
Thank you to my husband for his endless support and love; my son for showing me the world anew; my mother for teaching me how to love; my father for teaching me persistence; and my family for putting up with me all these years. I love you.
Thank you to my dearest friends and family who took the time to read the first awful draft of
Bloodmark
and shared their enthusiasm and constructive critisim with me. I’m in a circle of brilliant minds. Sarah DeYoung, Jessica Epp, Heidi Gayle, Jennifer Rich, Melissa Robinson, Kourtney Rose, Jennifer Sandstrom, Sarina Sandstrom, Sylvia Sandstrom, Sandy Showalter, Christopher Ryba-Tures and Brian Whittet.
To Cory Bauer for lending me his talent and creating a Kickstarter video for
Bloodmark
. Thank you to my Kickstarter Pack, your pledges and faith in me are priceless. A special thank you to Emily Adams, Adam Boltik, Rothanak Chhoun, Marian Deegan, Sarah DeYoung, Jessica Epp, Michael Green, Shashi Lo, Rhonda J. Luschen, Kevin & Laura Pankratz, Darin Pfeifer, Jennifer & Leslie Rich, Jerry Sandstrom, Sandy & Brad Showalter, and Steve Whittet.
Thank you Jessica Flannigan Consulting for your amazing PR talents and attention to every little detail of the fancy life. Eliesa Johnson you are the goddess of photography.
I would like to thank my editor for all her guidance, patience, and sense of humor. Amy Quale and the entire Wise Ink crew.
Music for Bloodmark
Thank you to Leslie Rich and Caleb Peterson for writing and performing the beautiful song
Bloodlines
for the Kickstarter project. And thank you to Leslie Rich for writing and performing
Heart Strings
that touches the very soul of
Bloodmark
.
facebook.com/themusicofleslierich
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