Seeking: Warrior Bride

By D.R. Grady

Fergus the First was the oldest Aasguard warrior and is presumed dead. Only he’s very much alive and has met his mate, Lucy the Lucky. The only problem with finding his mate now is after a vicious attack, his legs are paralyzed. A warrior who cannot walk or stand to fight... are they even a warrior?

Lucy the Lucky had not counted on the stubbornness of her mate. His focus on his inabilities have blinded him to the endless possibilities of their future. If he cannot see that his experience and knowledge are far more valuable than his legs she wonders if they can even have a lasting relationship.

He has a choice. He can overcome this obstacle or allow his paralysis to end their union before it even begins. Will his stubbornness be their end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.R. Grady
• Release date: Mar 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005750589

D.R. Grady

From D.R. Grady comes vivid tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal and fantasy romance, all with a generous dollop of humor. D.R. Grady books are clean stories for avid readers who love witty dialogue between heartwarming, brainy characters, as well as extraordinary supernatural beings or powerful, capable warriors. No matter your preference, fall in love with these clever, empowered characters who recognize love and companionship when they find it. Choose your own adventure!

Book preview

Seeking: Warrior Bride

D.R. Grady

Copyright © 2022 by D.R. Grady

Smashwords edition

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Seeking: Warrior Bride Blurb

Fergus the First was the oldest Aasguard warrior and is

presumed dead. Only he’s very much alive and has met his mate, Lucy the Lucky. The only problem with finding his mate now is after a vicious attack, his legs are paralyzed. A warrior who cannot walk or stand to fight… are they even a warrior?

Lucy the Lucky had not counted on the stubbornness of her mate. His focus on his inabilities have blinded him to the endless possibilities of their future. If he cannot see that his experience and knowledge are far more valuable than his legs she wonders if they can have a relationship.

He has a choice. He can overcome this obstacle or allow his paralysis to end their union before it even begins. Will his stubbornness be their end?

Seeking Series Characters

Seeking Series Characters

Aern – clumsy black dragon, former companion to Vidar, mated to Fricassa

April the Lovely – Aasguard warrior, companion to Romulous

Ari the Noble – Aasguard warrior, married to Kellen, sister to Lajos and Vidar, part owner of the Aasguard school

Bram – green lake serpent at Aasguard school, school guardian

Chipmunk Chip – dragon to Wystan

Duke of Larkswallow – frail, elderly duke who performs all ceremonies at Montequirst

Driies – Raene’s legendary sword

Drika – human warrior, sister to Rajie, nearly finished with her transition to Aasguard

Eduard, King of Oxland – neighboring king and good friend

Emma the Petite – Aasguard warrior, smaller than most

Faulk, King of Chariovalda – human ruler to the west of Swiftland and Montequirst, married to Rajie

Felicity the Valiant – Aasguard Warrior, mate to Rykert, Maeze is her dragon companion

Felix – yellow dragon, companion to Rykert, mate to Maeze

Fergus the First – First Aasguard warrior, thought dead, but has lived through intense pain until discovered

Fricassa – green dragon, former companion to Lajos, mated to Aern

Haines, Duke of Lockwillow – cousin once removed to Raene of Montequirst

Harry – father to Lukas and Stefana, financial genius, married to Stella

Isaac – male sea serpent, friend to Lucy

Keark – (deceased) dragon, father to Maeze

Kellen the Mighty – Aasguard warrior, married to Ari, part owner of the new Aasguard school

Lachland – (deceased) dragon to Fergus, died saving Fergus from the vaspiris

Lajos the Swift – Aasguard warrior, King of Swiftland, married to Stefana, joint ruler of Swiftland

Lucy the Lucky – Aasguard warrior, the first female to train

Lukas the Next – new Aasguard warrior, twin brother to Stefana

Maeze – blue dragon, companion to Felicity, mate to Felix

Margina, (deceased) Queen of Montequirst – mother to Raene

Lady Marilou Larkswallow – training to be a healer mage, granddaughter of the Duke of Larkswallow

Marxin – (deceased) dragon to Kellen, cousin to Aern

Mikal – (deceased) dragon to Ari

Mkhai the Calm – Aasguard warrior

Mozark – powerful mage, friend of Kellen and Rykert

Myrtle – lake serpent, healer, working with Eliza on their healer school, Bram and Serene’s mother

Punzel – female sea serpent and Fergus's companion

Rajie, the Queen of Chariovalda – human ruler to the west of Swiftland and Montequirst, married to Faulk

Rialta, Princess – sister to King Eduard of Oxland – she aids Raene now in Montequirst as the acting princess

Romulous – flying horse, companion with April

Lacey, Queen of Oxland – married to Eduard and good friend

Raene, Queen of Montequirst – married to Vidar the Loyal - ruler of Montequirst

Rykert the Bold – Aasguard warrior, mate to Felicity, Felix is his dragon companion

Salunga – (deceased) dragon to Felicity, mother to Maeze

Seamus – (deceased) dragon to Wystan

Serene – lake serpent who connects with Ari, healer, Bram’s sister, Myrtle’s daughter

Stefana, Queen of Swiftland (former Princess of Montequirst) – married to Lajos, joint ruler of Swiftland

Stella – mother to Lukas and Stefana, lifelong friend to Margina, married to Harry

Vidar the Loyal – Aasguard warrior, King of Montequirst, married to Raene

Wystan the Gentle – Aasguard warrior, Lucy’s cousin who trained her

Contents

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 16 (CONFLICT)

Special Request

Learning Excerpt

Other Works by D.R. Grady

About Author

Chapter 1

To call Fergus the First stubborn proved a ridiculous understatement. Especially now—with his firmed lips and shaking his contrary head.

Lucy the Lucky tamped exasperation. Fergus, you heard Eliza. She and Myrtle said it is too early.

His dark eyes flashed. I need to know.

With a deep breath and a silent plea for additional patience, she waited until his gaze met hers. As a fellow Aasguard warrior I understand. However, Eliza and Myrtle, both renowned healers, have repeatedly told you it is too soon for you to try to walk.

The line of his jaw tightened. This is frustrating.

Lucy leaned over to cup his chin. A day ago you suffered in intense pain. In a nether chamber in sunken Atlas, wishing to die. Today you are at the newly built school for Aasguard warriors, a hero to our people and beyond. A legend in the flesh. She wanted to kiss him, but that would be far too soon. And better to not reward this bad behavior. Give it a few days. From what I gathered, the longer you wait, the better your chances of walking.

I understand that.

But you want to be out there training and being the Aasguard warrior you were a century ago. She leaned closer. Again, the longer you wait to try walking, the better Aasguard warrior you will be.

How do you figure?

Lucy released his chin because the desire to kiss him overwhelmed. He reached out to grasp her hand in his large, calloused one. He desired the connection too and that reassured her.

You have survived a vaspiris attack. What does surviving a fatal attack mean to an Aasguard? As the first ever Aasguard warrior, the man had certainly drilled this information into the impressive number of students he had taught through the centuries.

It will make us stronger. His growled response made her hide a smile.

Correct. But what is the qualifier?

You must give yourself the proper time to heal. This emitted even more growly than the previous statement.

She sat back and waited. Even counted in her head.

I hate this. I am in no pain now. I feel better than I have in over a century. Even before the attack.

Lucy had fully expected this counter argument. He would not have tolerated it from any of his students and she couldn’t allow it now.

She went for dirty pool. Still relevant, but dirty nonetheless. All those years that Punzel stayed with you, would you repay her by ruining all chances to ever walk again? To ever stand on your two feet?

His snarled response was lost in the vehemence that accompanied it.

Eliza just told you that if you wait a few days before you try to stand or walk, your chances of walking, running, and especially training rise to what extent?

Ninety percent. He sounded like an unhappy schoolboy. Yet even though they had only met today, she could tell he would do as the healers said.

Myrtle, a lake serpent healer here, had made him a potion and she stated that she could smell less of vaspiris in his blood. This indicated that the herbal concoction she offered him was working to drive the last of the poison from his body.

Once that poison was gone, chances were excellent that he could practice standing again for the first time in over a century. He had been on his way to say goodbye to his good friend Lajos the Swift and his dragon, Fricassa. En route, not far from Atlas, a portal opened and a nasty, poisonous creature called a vaspiris had attacked him. His dragon Lachland had killed the creature, but died in the battle.

The poison had paralyzed Fergus from the waist down and caused more pain than he had endured in all his years of service. Vaspiris poison caused paralysis and pain, but the victim cannot die. Cannot will themselves to die. Fergus would have floated in the ocean, paralyzed and in pain, and probably been eaten by a sea creature if not for the sea serpent Punzel, who rescued him, after being injured herself.

Atlas, a prosperous kingdom in the Nesslock sea, had experienced a giant earthquake deep in the ocean and the entire island crumbled beneath it. The city fell into the depths of the ocean, so far down that only deep sea creatures could travel there. Punzel had been close enough to be injured by the falling debris.

She managed to carry Fergus to Lajos’s old chambers. Lajos and Fricassa had been on an errand for the king and missed the fall of the island. The sea serpent and Fergus lived in Lajos and Fricassa’s chambers for the next century plus. Until Rykert the Bold and Felicity the Valiant had discovered them today. [Seeking: Fellow Warrior - Book 4 - The Seeking Series]

It had been a long day. Fergus's discovery had sent joy and celebrations throughout the community. Many of whom had already traveled to the first ever Aasguard School’s grand opening. They already had the hope of the school, only to learn that Fergus still lived.

A day of hope and joy their bedraggled community desperately needed.

A huge sigh dragged from Fergus's lungs. What is a few more days?

That’s the spirit. She could not resist leaning forward to kiss him. He did deserve a reward for shouldering this news.

Fergus jerked forward to wrap a big hand around the back of her head and hold her close as he took over what she intended to be a quick kiss. She preferred his take on the embrace.

Their mouths opened and she enjoyed—savored—her first taste of this warrior who was hers.

She released his hand to thrust both hands into his dark hair, now cut short and tidy. Their tongues explored one another and learned each other.

When they parted, she stared into his dark eyes and fell even harder for this man. Her mate, if her instincts were correct. She suspected they were.

They had not led her wrong in the past.

Thank you. His voice rasped.

She smiled. You are welcome. And thank you.

They shared a smile that made her heart soar and her hopes sail higher than her deceased dragon was wont.

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Fergus the First never expected to live this long. Had never considered a school to train Aasguard warriors and now healers. To see the Age of the Aasguard when they were free to marry, free to do as they wished. They could open a business, work for whomever they chose, no longer offering their swords as treasury protectors or bodyguards.

Had never expected to meet the one warrior meant for him. Here she was, Lucy the Lucky. A woman he heard of all his life. Somehow he was given an unexpected treasure in her.

And I cannot walk.

He gritted his teeth at the mischief of the fates. Why could not I have met her while whole?

Denial and recriminations did no one any good. If any of his former students had expressed themselves in this manner he’d have had more than a few pithy things to say.

What is your level of pain? Eliza’s voice right over his head startled him but he showed no sign of this.

So out of practice…

She should not have been able to sneak up on him. What made this all the worse was that she did not try. Her intention exactly as it always had been—to aid and improve her patients to full health once again.

He rubbed a hand over his face. You are far better off now than you were this morning. This pithy reminder to himself also reminded him of his warrior status and what such a status meant for their kind. I am the first, therefore I must act in a manner befitting my station.

A quick assessment of himself physically showed he was much the same as he had been after Eliza’s healing session. I am in no pain. A relief to state this.

No pain was a marked improvement over the last century.

That is wonderful news, Fergus. The healer mage hovered her staff above his legs and shut her eyes. As though her assessment was all internal. It might very well be. He didn’t know how the mages worked.

Why is it wonderful news? Lucy asked. She leaned into him and his heart expanded. Her pert face with those delicate, perfect features warmed him as he had not been in a milennia. Those lovely green eyes and the way stray curls not restrained within the confines of her tidy braid bobbed around her face.

It means that the poison has not gained ground. Eliza finished her assessment. It also indicates to me that the herbal Myrtle and Serene made in conjunction with your own Aasguard healing abilities are quelling this poison. Hopefully driving it out of your body. If so, there is no reason why you cannot walk again. Why you cannot even fight again.

Fergus opened his ability to read the intentions of others. Buried within this ability lay the option to also read what a person did not disclose. He detected something but not enough to say.

Eliza, what are you not saying?

The mage bit her lip. "I am awaiting a sign. I will not speak of that sign, but I believe it will become obvious as to when you should attempt to walk. She indicated his seated self. If you think upon it, Fergus, you have made great strides already today."

How do you figure? This might have emitted more brusquely than he intended.

You are no longer in pain and you’re seated upright. All of this happened only today. This morning you and Punzel were trapped in Atlas and your pain remained intense. Agony only an older Aasguard warrior could have endured. Eliza’s piercing gaze met his. Now you are without pain, seated in a wheeled chair, and improving by the moment.

He blinked. This was all true.

You are pleased with his progress, Eliza. Lucy summed up his improved situation.

"I am not even certain pleased is the proper term for what I am thinking." Eliza placed her staff above him and performed another examination.

Do you have an idea of when you expect whatever you are waiting to occur?

That will depend entirely upon your healing process. By rights, Fergus, you should be dead.

That had been my intention when I sought out Lajos.

Eliza’s eyes held shadows. Tis a shame that so many of you chose that path. There is much to look forward to these days.

He inclined his head. I agree. We hope any who thought to enter the next life have deferred that notion for the next millennia.

We now have a school to train new Aasguard warriors, and hopefully, new healers. This opens so many possibilities. Lucy’s visage appeared to sparkle in the flickering light beside his bed.

A new bed for him. He had been confined to Lajos’ old one for so long it would be wonderful to sleep on a new mattress for a change. On a different one. And without the enduring, intense pain that had been his other companion.

Eliza pointed her staff at him and he floated off the chair and stretched out. Lucy hurried forward to tear the covers back and soon he lay on a most comfortable mattress. He wished to be clean, however. No sooner had he thought this than Eliza waved her staff. In seconds he was clean and wore a different set of warriors garb.

The clothing smelled fresh and not as though they had been worn for centuries. Thank you, Eliza.

You are welcome. I removed these from the stock here at the school. You may speak with Kellen and Ari on the proper payment and such. She flicked his centuries old ones into the trash.

I am certain I can afford these. He hadn’t been able to work the last one hundred and fifteen years but he suspected his treasury had still grown over the past century. Also, he and Punzel had protected the Atlas treasury, so large it spanned an entire floor of