In The Halls of the Mountain Troll

By Tanith Davenport

Every day she faces nightmares. He just wants her to dream.

Astri Ingebrigtsen has no time for romance. A member of an elite team of trollhunters, tasked with controlling and concealing the troll population, her days are too full to focus on anything else, so filled with nightmarish brutality that her nights have become dreamless. So when hot researcher Kai joins the crew to help them in their latest job, hunting a mountain troll, Astri ignores the chemistry between them—something her jealous teammate Micke fails to do.

Astri knew Micke was a jerk, but even she never expected him to send Kai up into the mountains alone to face the troll, unaware that she was asleep in the trailer. Now, trapped in the mountains with a destroyed car, she and Kai need to work together to confront the creature, and their bond grows—but even if they get out alive, can Astri trust Kai with her heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Jun 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784305741

Tanith Davenport

I first started writing seriously when my tutor on a creative writing course pointed me towards the Romantic Novelists' Association and their New Writers' Scheme. Thanks to them, my debut novel "The Hand He Dealt" was accepted by Totally Bound in 2011 and was nominated for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012. I haven't stopped writing since. Last year my short "Spiritwalker" was released as part of the "Some Like It Haunted" collection by Totally Bound. This year I'm working on two new shorts plus the upcoming release of my back collection as audiobooks. When I'm not writing, I love to read historical fiction and non-fiction as well as anything paranormal. I love to sing, watch horror movies and go to rock concerts. I also have two cats who like to hide all day and then destroy the house at night.

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A Totally Bound Publication

In the Halls of the Mountain Troll

ISBN # 978-1-78430-574-1

©Copyright Tanith Davenport 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2015

Edited by Sue Meadows

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Simmering and a Sexometer of 2.

IN THE HALLS OF THE MOUNTAIN TROLL

Tanith Davenport

Every day she faces nightmares. He just wants her to dream.

Astri Ingebrigtsen has no time for romance. A member of an elite team of trollhunters, tasked with controlling and concealing the troll population, her days are too full to focus on anything else, so filled with nightmarish brutality that her nights have become dreamless. So when hot researcher Kai joins the crew to help them in their latest job, hunting a mountain troll, Astri ignores the chemistry between them—something her jealous teammate Micke fails to do.

Astri knew Micke was a jerk, but even she never expected him to send Kai up into the mountains alone to face the troll, unaware that she was asleep in the trailer. Now, trapped in the mountains with a destroyed car, she and Kai need to work together to confront the creature, and their bond grows—but even if they get out alive, can Astri trust Kai with her heart?

Dedication

For Kath

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Jeep: FCA US LLC

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want: Johnny Marr, Morrissey

Let the Right One In: Sandrew Metronome

Tannoy: Tannoy Ltd.

‘Lord knows…it would be the first time’ (Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want): Johnny Marr, Morrissey

Chapter One

Rain spattered the windows of the café, mist making the sunlight bleak. At a table by the wall a man was sitting with a breakfast tray, a small stack of paper on the seat beside him, oblivious to the sideways glances given by the other customers. His messy beard, tousled brown hair and heavy duffel coat gave him the appearance of a slightly cleaned-up vagrant.

This place is too expensive. Astri Ingebrigtsen dropped her food on the table and sat down across from him, throwing her dark hair back out of her face. At this price these eggs should be gold-plated.

Get Micke to pay. Otto grunted, looking down as he dug through his paperwork. He wanted to stop here.

I did. He moaned.

Otto rolled his eyes just as Micke appeared beside him, breakfast in hand. Without a word Micke picked up the papers then dumped them unceremoniously on Otto’s tray before sitting down with his own.

Paying for Lise’s too? Astri asked casually.

Get lost, Micke snapped.

As Lise joined them with her own food, Astri turned her attention to her breakfast, smiling to herself. Micke was so easy to wind up.

But God, it had been a miserable week. She cast a rueful glance out of the window to where their trailers sat in the car park, each attached to a Jeep. They were a necessity when they were on a job that required travel, but try as they might, it was impossible to keep them properly warm inside, even with the help of space heaters and extra blankets.

And this had been a long job. Traveling every day, out hunting every damned night. She was beginning to think it would never be over.

Otto was spreading a map out on the windowsill, eating his svele one-handed as he ran a finger along the road markings. The shrill ring of a mobile phone cut through the air and he cursed, dropping his fork and burrowing his hand into his coat pocket.

Otto here. He paused. Not yet. We left Trondheim this morning.

Astri exchanged glances with Lise. This sounded important.

We should get there around two. We’ve booked ahead. Tell him to wait in our cabin. Otto hung up the phone and eyed Astri and Lise, who looked back at him innocently.

That was Gunther. Our new addition will be meeting us in Orkanger.

What did you say his name was? Lise asked through a mouthful of bread.

Kai. Kai Amundsen. Otto glared