The Viking warrior
In her cellar...
Lady Annis must stop Viking Rurik Sigurdsson from discovering the truth about his family’s death. Her only solution is to imprison him. But as the ruggedly handsome Viking starts to charm his way out of his cell and into her heart, can she be sure he’s not still intent on vengeance—or perhaps an unexpected alliance is the solution?
Sons of Sigurd
Driven by revenge, redeemed by love
When Sigurd, King of Maerr on Norway’s west coast, was assassinated and his lands stolen, his five sons, Alarr, Rurik, Sandulf, Danr and Brandt, were forced to flee for their lives.
The brothers swore to avenge their father’s death, and now the time has come to fulfill their oath. They will endure battles, uncover secrets and find unexpected love in their quest to reclaim their lands and restore their family’s honor!
Join the brothers on their quest in
Stolen by the Viking by Michelle Willingham
Falling for Her Viking Captive by Harper St. George
And the story continues with:
Conveniently Wed to the Viking by Michelle Styles
Redeeming Her Viking Warrior by Jenni Fletcher
Tempted by Her Viking Enemy by Terri Brisbin
Coming soon!
Author Note
This story is set in what is today known as Ravenglass in the Lake District. Originally a Roman settlement, this area has been known by a handful of names throughout the centuries, including Clanoventa, Glannibanta, Tunnocellum and Cantiventi. I chose to use Glannoventa, because it is the widely accepted Latin name.
I hope you enjoy reading about Annis and Rurik. If you would like to know how the mystery of King Sigurd’s betrayal and death is finally solved, please make sure you pick up all five books in the Sons of Sigurd continuity. Find me on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/harperstgeorge) or go to my website to keep up with what I’m working on now (www.harperstgeorge.com). Thank you so much for reading.
HARPER ST. GEORGE
Falling for Her Viking Captive
Harper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was these settings, filled with stories of the old days, that instilled in her a love of history, romance and adventure. In high school she discovered the romance novel, which combined all those elements into one perfect package. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two young children. Visit her website, harperstgeorge.com.
Books by Harper St. George
Harlequin Historical
To Wed a Viking
Marrying Her Viking Enemy
Longing for Her Forbidden Viking
Outlaws of the Wild West
The Innocent and the Outlaw
A Marriage Deal with the Outlaw
An Outlaw to Protect Her
Viking Warriors
Enslaved by the Viking
One Night with the Viking
In Bed with the Viking Warrior
The Viking Warrior’s Bride
Sons of Sigurd
Falling for Her Viking Captive
Visit the Author Profile page
at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For Michelle Willingham, Michelle Styles, Jenni Fletcher and Terri Brisbin. It was a pleasure creating the characters in Sons of Sigurd with you.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
Excerpt from The Mysterious Miss Fairchild by Sarah Mallory
Prologue
The Kingdom of Maerr, Norway
AD 874
They were meant to have arrived at a wedding, but they were greeted by the remnants of a massacre. The smell of smoke had been heavy in the air long before Rurik drew his horse up at the highest point of the rise and stared in disbelief at the valley below. Maerr was in chaos. It was as if a vǫlva had spread her dark magic, transforming his home from a place of beauty and celebration to a scene of death and agony in the mere hours since they had left.
His oldest half-brother, Brandt, drew to a stop beside him. ‘What madness is this?’ he whispered with a stunned reverence that could only be summoned when the horror of a situation eclipsed belief.
The air in the valley was filled with smoke and ash. From this distance, only the sounds of wailing reached them. Bodies lay scattered across the clearing, but Rurik could not tell whether they were living or dead. Weak afternoon sunlight reflected off the blue-grey waters of the fjord, drawing his attention to the stark emptiness. The murderers had fled, leaving his brother Alarr’s wedding a bloodbath.
Were his brothers alive? Alarr, Sandulf and Danr had been left behind while Rurik rode north with Brandt to quell a disturbance in a neighbouring village. Had they been left to face their deaths alone or were they among the living?
As his heart resumed its beating, pumping his blood in a fierce rhythm, Rurik roared his outrage and fear as he followed Brandt towards Maerr, their handful of warriors trailing behind them. A rush of anger prickled over his skin and, with no other adversary in sight, it focused on their father. Advisors had warned him against the recklessness of inviting so many warriors, some of them old enemies turned new allies, to the wedding. Having that many strangers about, many of them unknown to their family, invited danger.
King Sigurd had not listened. He had been too caught up in his grand scheme for power to take well-meaning advice from his trusted men. If he could organise co-operation between the diverse group, he could elevate himself from a minor king to someone whose influence would rival that of King Harald Finehair himself, or so he had reasoned.
Father was nothing if not ambitious and it might have killed him.
The need to fight coursed through Rurik’s blood like a second heartbeat, urging him to take action. He had inherited that impetuous need for action from Sigurd and it was not easily tamed. Gritting his teeth, he urged his horse faster and made it into the clearing at the same time as Brandt. His gaze immediately sought out his brothers among the chaos.
‘Where is Ingrid?’ Brandt shouted for his wife as their youngest brother Sandulf ran to meet them. The boy who was barely out of adolescence had blood on his clothing, but Rurik could not tell if it was his own or if
