Viking's Claim: New Midgard

By Brynn Paulin

Auden

 

My people didn't fade into humanity, melding into them as seasons changed. We disappeared. We found a way to go on, a way to thrive and let our power flow. We are one with today's people yet apart from them, traveling between the modern world and New Midgard through our magical portals.

Today's Earth does not know of our magic, does not know of our ways. We are separate, and contact with old humanity is forbidden.

 

Then I see her.

 

She's mine, and I'm taking her.

 

Echo

 

I've seen him over and over for the past six months, almost as long as I've existed in silence. He's always in the same place. Always on the same day. Always watching me.

 

If he speaks to me, I don't know. All I hear is the echo of the screams, the never-fading memory of what happened to change my life. I'm lost in my own world, unable to reach for what I want and unable to communicate with this stranger, who watches me like one obsessed.

 

I should be frightened, but I'm not. He's the only constant in my ever-changing existence.

 

Then my existence tilts again. I don't know this place. I don't know these ways. There's only him—and all the people who despise my intrusion into their community. And even the man who's brought me here may be unable to keep me. Not if his people have their way.

 

But now that I've seen their world, I can't go back to mine. Which leaves me one fate. And it's not life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Supernova Indie Publishing Services LLC
• Release date: May 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781623443344

Book preview

Viking’s Claim

New Midgard

By Brynn Paulin

Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Powered by Your Imagination

Viking’s Claim

by

Brynn Paulin

Auden

My people didn’t fade into humanity, melding into them as seasons changed. We disappeared. We found a way to go on, a way to thrive and let our power flow. We are one with today’s people yet apart from them, traveling between the modern world and New Midgard through our magical portals.

Today’s Earth does not know of our magic, does not know of our ways. We are separate, and contact with old humanity is forbidden.

Then I see her.

She’s mine, and I’m taking her.

Echo

I’ve seen him over and over for the past six months, almost as long as I’ve existed in silence. He’s always in the same place. Always on the same day. Always watching me.

If he speaks to me, I don’t know. All I hear is the echo of the screams, the never-fading memory of what happened to change my life. I’m lost in my own world, unable to reach for what I want and unable to communicate with this stranger, who watches me like one obsessed.

I should be frightened, but I’m not. He’s the only constant in my ever-changing existence.

Then my existence tilts again. I don’t know this place. I don’t know these ways. There’s only him—and all the people who despise my intrusion into their community. And even the man who’s brought me here may be unable to keep me. Not if his people have their way.

But now that I’ve seen their world, I can’t go back to mine. Which leaves me one fate. And it’s not life.

Copyright

© 2020, Brynn Paulin

Viking’s Claim

Cover Art by Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Electronic Format ISBN: 978-1-62344-334-4

Published by: Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Thank You!

Thank you for your purchase of Viking’s Claim.

I hope you enjoy the story and will consider leaving a review or telling a friend about the book.

I love hearing from readers! To keep in touch and follow my news, please visit me on my website at www.brynnpaulin.com.

Chapter One

~ Echo ~

He was there again. It was the same every Thursday. I traveled from my apartment to the little shops around the city where I sold my jewelry and took custom orders. And halfway through it, around three, I passed Thornsen’s Coffee and Pastries. The man was always outside, leaning against the building and watching me the whole way.

In all fairness, I watched him, too. He made a striking figure, dressed all in black. It complimented his short, dark hair. His close-cropped beard matched his wavy locks, and even from a distance, I could tell he had deep-set, light-colored eyes. He was tall, lean with slim hips. Yet, his wide shoulders couldn’t be ignored. His torso made the delectable vee women drooled over. Today, his figure was mostly hidden by a dark, embroidered coat with fur trim. It seemed out of place for the fall day, but who was I to judge?

I swallowed hard and made myself look away from his perfectly sculpted features before I walked into traffic. It wasn’t as if I’d hear someone yell a warning or beep their horn. I couldn’t hear anything and hadn’t since the night my family had perished in the accident that left me deaf.

The guy probably wasn’t even looking at me. He likely worked in the area on Thursdays, and our schedules collided. Even so, his image always stuck with me all day after I saw him. Shaking my head, I focused on my surroundings, imagining what they’d sound like. I never wanted to forget. But it was just echoes from the past. Considering my name, that seemed eerily appropriate.

Hiking my bag up on my shoulder, I crossed the busy street with the rest of the crowd traversing the New York streets. I loved the autumn weather, even in the cramped city. By the time I headed home, I’d need to take the subway to the train station though. The temperature was already dropping, and I’d soon regret I hadn’t worn a coat today. Maybe my guy had the right idea.

Pfft. My guy. In my dreams.

A man like him wouldn’t want a little dumpling like me.

A stab of pain went through my heart at that thought. My father had called me that, his special endearment for me. I was a bit curvy and soft, but he’d always called me that from when I was an infant.

Well, today was the day for Echo Falkenberg to feel sorry for herself, wasn’t it? Pushing away my sad thoughts, I focused on getting to my stops then heading back to my place in Kingston. It was my refuge, the little place where I spent most of my days holed up and making my jewelry. It was only on Thursdays that I ventured out to make deliveries to the artisan shops where I sold my wares.

* * * *

~ Auden ~

My gut clenched as I watched my woman walk past the Thornsen