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Prologue

Hark! Hear this tale, the legend of Aidan the Fierce and Reginleit the Radiant One, a pair of lovers both bound and cursed by fate

It begins, as -this one between an iirl ould never know death and a jaded mortal man who lived only to kill

Theirs is a story of woe and warning Take heed and listen well

-i-

The Northlands

In ages long past

"So this is debauchery," Reginleit uards led her into the mead hall of the notorious warlord Aidan the Fierce

At twelve years of age, and newly quit of the paradise of Valhalla, Regin was certainly getting an eyeful

As she and the guards wound through the crowd of hundreds of berserkers, she gaped at drunken warriors sparring in naught but loincloths while half-clad whores served ale, trenchers of meat, andother needs

Luckily Regin's disguise would conceal her expression-and her glow She rechecked her cloak with gloved hands The hood was deep, falling far over her face

By the light of the fire pits s, and so mind couldn't yet attach names to

Yet none within this battlefront encahed; no jaunty music could be heard

Though they'd seized a bloody victory today-froainst an army of va, snarling even Much like the bears these mortals revered

Mounted bear heads with o bears decorated the rafters and doors

Everything she'd ever heard about the uncivilized berserkers was apparently true Her favorite half sister, Lucia, had once told her, "Berserkers are grie when faced with the loss of sos to them They are obsessed ar and intercourse-they think of nothing else Even our older sisters avoid them"

Regin had known the risk in co here, but she wasn't fearful As Lucia had also told her, "Sometimes I don't think you have the sense to be afraid when you should" Regin had interpreted that to inleit"

Besides, she had no choice She needed the aid of these mortals She was horseless and had barely escaped a vao Her belly was empty-the trenchers of stew and haunches of venison atop laden tables made her mouth water

And Lucia was in danger

Rehtened her shoulders Since the berserkers were her father's guard, surely they'd be duty-bound to serve her as well But if shesword holstered across her back or even her claws They extended through slits in the fingers of her gloves, concealed by her draping sleeves-

Two nearly nad warriors locked in cohts continued all around, brawls over woe, with their eyes glowing and ht

Fitting that this encae of a war zone For decades, these berserkers had defended this strategic pass against an ies in the valley below; she began to see that anything keeping these men here on the battlefront-and out of civilization-was a boon

As she and the guards wended deeper within, Regin stopped abruptly A short distance away, seated atop a throne on the hall's dais, was a male she'd seen in frenzied combat earlier One she'd watched raptly