Claiming the Sea God

By J.B. Black

In the midst of war, can love find a way?

Njall lost everything as a child. Nyraeg’s deadliest winter came, stealing his parents and sister before his eyes. The little magic he had saved only himself. Adopted by the king and made blood-brother to Prince Loke, Njall swears he won’t lose this new family.

When a war for the throne threatens Loke, Njall will do whatever it takes to keep him safe — even if it means betraying his soulmate.

He can only hope soulmates guarantee forgiveness.

Pelagius ruled the seas, enjoying the life of a god and guiding ships through the rough waters of his realm. Often saving sailors thrown overboard or wrecked ships, Pelagius isn’t surprised he meets his mate in a wreckage.

The god never expected it was a metaphor for their relationship. Betrayed and abandoned — trapped with a terrified warlock, Pelagius fears his fate may break him.

Can Njall win back his mate? Will the god understand? Or will Njall’s determination to save his brother cost him everything?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.B. Black
• Release date: Jan 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215240762

J.B. Black

Three sides to take care of all your wanton desires:Jess adores the steamy side of romance, exploring the quick scenes that leave your heart fluttering as strong, fertile heroines find their Happily Ever Afters!If you enjoy mpreg and a wake on the more fantastical side with fated mates, JB Black will fulfill your every desire.Brendol enjoys M/M without the fantastical edge. No pregnancies, just gay sex and romance!

Book preview

Claiming the Sea God

M/M Gay Fantasy Romance

J.B. Black

Love shouldn’t hurt.

Njall lost everything as a child. Nyraeg’s deadliest winter came, stealing his parents and sister before his eyes. The little magic he had saved only himself. Adopted by the king and made blood-brother to Prince Loke, Njall swears he won’t lose this new family.

When a war for the throne threatens Loke, Njall will do whatever it takes to keep him safe — even if it means betraying his soulmate.

He can only hope soulmates guarantee forgiveness.

Pelagius ruled the seas, enjoying the life of a god and guiding ships through the rough waters of his realm. Often saving sailors thrown overboard or wrecked ships, Pelagius isn’t surprised he meets his mate in a wreckage.

The god never expected it was a metaphor for their relationship. Betrayed and abandoned — trapped with a terrified warlock, Pelagius fears his fate may break him.

Can Njall win back his mate? Will the god understand? Or will Njall’s determination to save his brother cost him everything?

Claiming the Sea God is a gay fantasy romance with adventure, mpreg, and a HEA.

Claiming the Sea God by JB Black

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.

CLAIMING THE SEA GOD

Copyright © 2024

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Chapter One

No amount of bailing would fix this. Aage’s allies had charged them on the way back from Dazland. All that work — all this time away from Loke, and those allies would mean nothing because Njall would not reach his brother’s side to bring him word. There would be no chance to warn him. To march to meet them and finally push Aage back and reclaim the capital of Nok. Aage would win. His armies would march westward, and Loke would die.

Njall, we have to abandon ship! Herdon pleaded.

Sneering, Njall called back, Do you think Aage’s men will hesitate to slit your throat?

They were in the middle of the ocean. Miles from the coast. Even if Aage’s ships were only spots upon the horizon, they would catch up quicker than any man in the water could hope to get to shore.

Gritting his teeth, Njall pressed his hand against the wood as those around him fought to keep them afloat. A small spark of magic hummed beneath his skin. It rarely helped. Recognizing plants meant next to nothing. Every skill he had came from hard work while stories told of warlocks and wizards slaughtering their enemies with a wave of their hands. That would be a worthwhile skill.

Be fucking useful, Njall hissed.

He could feel the wood. Though dead by all reasonable means, it hummed with potential. If he could seal the damage, they had a chance. He’d convinced the sandbar to disperse, but they’d already run aground in the strange shallows of that rocky mid-sea hell. Loke needed him. Njall couldn’t die here. His brother was all he had left.

If we prepare, we can fight! Petr cried.

Herdon shook his head. They’re too far behind us.

They could argue all they wanted. Njall could feel a storm coming. Static built up in the sky. Soon, there would be lightning. The current stillness of the wind would turn to a raging howl. He tasted the icy deadliness of the winter that took his family. Both winters. Both families.

Njall, what do we do!? Ulf shrieked.

Gritting his teeth, Njall commanded, Shut up!

He’s gone mad, Petr groaned.

Njall gripped the wood, ignoring the water rising around him. He could do this. If he got this boat to shore, they could make their way northward to Nyraeg. Slowly, the wood shifted. The edges stretched closer. Time. All he needed was more time.

If that didn’t work, they’d all end up in the sea scrambling for something to cling to. Petr would probably get himself killed. Ulf and Herndon would have sense, but Njall would use the barrel of mead. There wasn’t much left, so it would be mostly air. If he balanced it right, he could drink from it. Drunk and floating wouldn’t be ideal, but it’d be better than drowning and sober.

Keep bailing! Njall commanded.

Not that they had a choice. They were too far to abandon ship. Sense had them bailing water. If he could focus, he could put them back together. Could heal the hull and save Loke. He had to return to his brother’s side. His brother needed him. Njall could not die here.

Oh, gods help us, are those sharks? Petr cried, and he flailed. We must lighten the load!

Lighten the load? We’ve left a trail of corpses behind us. Dishonored our dead, turning them over to the waters, Ulf complained even as he moved all the faster.

Too much water. He couldn’t convince the wood to go back together fast enough. If only he had more power. All those stories about magic users, but he called upon only ashes. The dredges of an empty well. Just enough for Njall to repeatedly recognize how futile his efforts were.

Is the damage shrinking?

A heavy silence — heavier than the storm brewing in the air — fell over the few men remaining. Those who had survived the slew of errors, the fires which set their mast aflame, leaving their sail in near ruin. In moments, they would be lost to the water.

Keep bailing, Njall growled, keeping his eyes on the wood.

Ulf sputtered, Magic?

If you have time to chatter, you have time to bail, he roared, but the three men seemed to have given up.

Herdon lifted his sword where he stood above the rising tide. This is why we’ve run into trouble! A magic user! On a Nyraegean ship!

"I am trying to fix the hole in this ship. You can either help keep us afloat until I succeed, or you can