Oath Breaker (Sons of Odin Book 3) Read Online Free

have no intention of using Ulfrik, or of hurting him.”
    “I apologize,” Dagrun said quickly. “I shouldn’t have assumed your ill intentions. Ulfrik is a good judge of character, and I should have known he would not be fooled by a falsehearted woman. I was wrong to question you.”
    The firelight danced in Dagrun’s red-gold hair as she sat beside Selia on the hearth, and her softened expression again reminded Selia of Hrefna. Selia nodded, her righteous anger dissipating.
    “I understand. I am protective of my brother as well. I would be very angry if I thought anyone had deceived him. And the truth is, we will never know who fathered Geirr. He could very well be Ulfrik’s son.”
    Dagrun appeared surprised. “Oh, Geirr is Ulfrik’s son. Of that I have no doubt.”
    “What?” Selia turned sharply. “How are you so sure?”
    “I knew Ulfrik’s mother well. Treasa was very kind to me.” Dagrun’s voice wavered. “My mother was frequently ill, and I spent a good deal of time with Treasa. I saw her spirit in Geirr as soon as you arrived.”
    Selia pondered this. Geirr had Muirin’s eyes, but his face and build were clearly that of one of the sons of Ragnarr. What was Dagrun talking about?
    “I don’t understand,” she said. “He looks like Alrik. And Ulfrik.”
    “I’m speaking of his mannerisms,” Dagrun replied. ”The way he moves. There is a grace about him, don’t you see it? Treasa had that.”
    “I hardly think—”
    “His smile is Treasa’s,” Dagrun insisted. “Not his mouth, but his smile. And his hair. Treasa’s hair was like spun gold—she used to let me brush it for her, when my mother was asleep. That boy was fathered by Ulfrik, of that I am certain.”
    “If you’re so sure, you should tell Ulfrik.”
    Dagrun hesitated before stating, “He has lost so much already. If you do not plan to stay with Ulfrik, it would be cruel to tell him the boy is his son. I think you should be the one to tell him.” She paused. “Or not.”
    Selia nodded but avoided the woman’s gaze. If Dagrun was correct and Ulfrik had indeed fathered Geirr, Selia had stolen a child from its natural parent.
    Seven years ago, Selia had been young and naive, blinded by her love for Alrik and furious with Ulfrik for lying to her and manipulating her emotions. There had been no way to know which of the brothers had fathered Muirin’s child. And Selia needed a male child to succeed Alrik as Hersir, to prevent her own child from being thrust into the violent life of a Finngall warlord.
    Her bargain with Muirin had seemed a clever solution to so many problems. But the day of Geirr’s birth everything had gone horribly wrong, ending with the slave girl’s death.
    And as Selia had grown to love Geirr as her own, the fateful bargain she’d struck haunted her, worrying at her like a vengeful ghost as the years passed.
    She’d saved one son only to sacrifice another.
    How would Geirr’s life had fared if she’d allowed Ulfrik to take the babe as he’d returned to do, so many years ago? The thought of the boy being raised away from her was like a knife in Selia’s heart. But what right did she have to consider her own feelings, knowing the pain she’d caused Ulfrik with her actions? There were so many wrongs to be righted. And she didn’t know where to begin.
    Selia’s self-recrimination was interrupted as the door opened. In walked Ulfrik and Ingrid.
    And behind them, Ainnileas and Eithne.

Chapter 3
    Selia leapt to her feet with her heart pounding in her ears. With an excited shriek that made Dagrun jump, Eithne threw her hands in the air. Such exuberance, Selia well remembered.
    Eithne rushed across the room with a quickness of movement rarely seen in the stout woman. Her ample bosom heaved with emotion as she clutched Selia close.
    She could barely take a breath, but held on tightly to Eithne’s plump, familiar form, suddenly feeling like a small child once again. She had missed the woman terribly, the