Immortal Enemies
Raves for novels by Jessie Lane
Big Bad Bite
“If you like funny paranormal romance with crazy but endearing characters, Big Bad Bite will be for you.”
- Swept Away By Romance
“I enjoyed the crisp, fast paced writing style that flows smoothly through the story. Within the pages, humor, action, suspense, and romance all mix together for a laugh out loud story that keeps you hooked to the very end. It’s not completely lighthearted though. Some intriguing subplots balance well against the humorous situations to reveal a serious side to the story… All in all, Big Bad Bite is steady and action packed with plenty of twists and turns that delighted me. I enjoyed the light and dark aspect that is brought into play-they blend well together… Jessie Lane is definitely an author to watch for those who love zany, adventures, romantic PNR.”
- Smexy Books
“Big Bad Bite was one of those books that was hard to put down. There was action, mystery and plenty of heat. There were also more than a couple of tense moments along with even a few tears. I love a book that keeps me on the edge of my seat and this one definitely did that. The world building was also great. Just the way I like it… familiar enough to make ‘sense’ yet unique enough to make it the authors’ own.”
- Creative Deeds Reads
Walk On The Striped Side
“…this series is building to be a go to for PNR fans!”
- Little Read Riding Hood
“Seriously y’all if you’re looking for a fun and sexy paranormal romance you need to pick up Walk On The Striped Side, I’ll never look at cat toys the same way… Fans of Shelly Laurenston and Jessica Sims will fall in love with Jessie Lane’s Big Bad Bite series.”
- The Book Nympho
“Not only did Gage fulfill my alpha male, hot guy requirement, but this book had so many times when I was reading it that I was literally laughing out loud or giggling… This book is so good, the writing is flawless, it’s seriously highly, highly recommended.”
- Book Boyfriend Reviews
“Fans of outrageous, snark filled, sexy paranormal will enjoy Jessie Lane’s latest release-Walk on the Striped Side-book two in her Big Bad Bite series. A lightweight paranormal filled with lots of action, sarcasm, threats of bodily harm, and that’s just in the first few pages. Heavily character driven, our hero and heroine go balls to the wall as they fight their way through love, loss, reconnection, and annoying siblings. Per usual, Lane offers the reader a crisp, fast paced writing style that flows smoothly through the story. Humor, action, and romance all mix together for a laugh out loud story that keeps you hooked to the very end.”
- Smexy Books
Lone Wolf Wanted
“Jessie Lane writes fun, sexy characters with a bit of sass.”
- Patricia A. Rasey, national bestselling author
Bears Do It Better
“This is my first book by Jessie Lane and most definitely will not be my last. I have not laughed this hard at a book in a while. The quirky humor was great.”
- Reading in Sarah’s Corner
Sassy and a little Bad-Assy
“Absolutely hysterical! Really enjoyed the playfulness of the characters and their word play. While not completely comedic it had just the right amount of emotion to make both H/h feel real. I do love my HEA's. Thank you Ms. Lane for bringing a little laughter to my day.”
- Amazon Reviewer
Immortal Enemies
Jessie Lane
Immortal Enemies
By Jessie Lane
Copyright © 2019 Jessie Lane
Published by Whiskey Girls Publishing
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2019 by Jessie Lane
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Jessie Lane, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. If you no longer want this book, you may not give your copy to someone else.
The purchase of this e-book allows you one legal copy for your own personal reading enjoyment on your personal computer or device. You do not have the rights to resell, distribute, print, or transfer this book, in whole or in part, to anyone, in any format, via methods either currently known or yet to be invented, or upload to a file sharing peer to peer program. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. If you no longer want this book, you may not give your copy to someone else. Delete it from your computer. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The authors acknowledge the trademarked status in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
This book contains mature content not suitable for readers under the age of 18. This book contains content with strong language, violence, and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are over the age of 18.
Editing by Raw Book Editing
Cover design by Simply Defined Art
Cover Image by © Kiselev Andrey Valerevich | Shutterstock
Created with Vellum
Immortal Enemies
More than a thousand years ago, their love burned brighter than the sun.
Now, the only thing that burns is his hatred for the woman he once sacrificed his life to save… and his skin in the daylight.
Arne Eriksson grew up in a time when Vikings ruled the seas. He’d longed for the day he would earn his entrance to Valhalla. A treasured afterlife he’d never see since being turned into a vampire.
The person responsible for making him a monster– the woman he’d once wanted to marry.
Liv Nornssdottir was the outcast of the Viking era. The daughter of the mystical Norns and accused of not being entirely human, the village shunned her.
All except for one… a boy who grew into the man she came to love.
When he sacrificed himself to protect her, she did the only thing she could think of to save him– she had him turned into a vampire. Something so taboo she knew it would cost her Arne’s affections for all eternity. In the moment, she didn’t think, she reacted.
She’s been running from him ever since.
Lovers turned to immortal enemies.
The problem is… he’s found her.
And Arne is none to happy to learn the woman who damned him to an eternity without glory is also his mate.
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
C
hapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Part II
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
Note from the Author
The Midnight Coven
About the Author
For more information on Jessie Lane:
Also by Jessie Lane
Excerpt from
Immortal Skye
Dedication
To my husband – I can’t thank you enough for loving me every day the way you do.
You are my treasure. My riches. My Valhalla.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank Amelia Hutchins for talking me into this madness. Then I would like to thank Chelsea Camaron, Barb Shuler and my editor Mandy at Raw Book Editing for helping me through this little roller coaster. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.
Part One
Norway 900AD
One
The sun touched the horizon and cast the sky into hues of fire and blood. Night would descend soon, and if I didn’t hurry to finish my tasks, I would be unable to sneak away to see the girl.
Hefting up the bundle of firewood in my arms, I made my way back to our dwelling to give the wood to my mother. It was my job to help her while my father was off seeking riches and glory. Emerging from the edge of the woods, I started my trek in haste to the longhouse we shared with several other families. Drawing closer, the smell of cooked fish filled my nose, making my mouth water. It didn’t matter how hungry I was; there was no time to eat. Not if I was going to catch a glimpse of her.
Running down the jagged and rocky incline, I carefully traversed the terrain so I wouldn’t fall. There was no time to waste, and even something as minor as a trip of my feet could cost me my prize for the day.
Closing in on the place I called home, I took in its familiar features. The roof was curved and shaped like one of the ships my father always sailed away on, only flipped upside down. Small wooden tiles covered the would-be boat’s frame, protecting us in most part from the weather outside. Strong hewn logs made up the outside. Some straight, others slanted, each with its base buried deep in the ground with their tops supporting our roof. Inside, the walls were caked with clay, helping to keep us warm in the winter.
Unfortunately, the clay didn’t let in enough air. Which meant the smell of unwashed bodies often assaulted my senses, driving me back outside into the fresh air. It didn’t matter what the weather was outside, I was there as often as possible. Not only for the fresh air, but because I felt the most comfortable in nature.
Running toward the main entrance of the Jarl’s Hall, a flash of movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. Running up from the side, just behind me, was a lanky form covered in a light brown tunic and leather leggings. I had but a moment to brace myself, tightening my hold on my cargo before the impact hit me hard in my right side.
“Argh!” A frustrated scream slipped out of me as I was tackled to the ground.
Once we landed, my body was crushed under the heavier weight.
Refusing to let my cargo go, I tightened my left arm around the wood, and then used my free right hand to push at the person who was now sitting on top of my chest.
“Get off me, Ødger!”
The Jarl’s son sneered down at me. “Or you’ll do what, little bug? Make me?”
Oh, how I truly did want to make him do something.
Forcing him off the top of the closest mountain to an agonizing death below was what I wished for the most. Not that I could make that come to happen right now— but that didn’t mean I didn’t hope for it.
Ødger was our Jarl’s oldest son, and therefore the next in line to become Jarl.
The only person more powerful than a Jarl was the King.
Needless to say, King Harald had more important things to do than come down to our village to deal with one entitled, annoying Jarl’s son.
The only person more powerful than a King was a God.
I had prayed to almost all of them many times for the strength or opportunity to put Ødger in his place once and for all.
Despite my many prayers to Odin, I doubted the Allfather of the Gods was going to come riding down from Valhalla on his magical eight-legged horse Sleipnir and drop Ødger off the side of the mountain for me.
Which meant I was stuck with the insufferable older boy until I was mature enough to either move away to a different settling, or strong enough to get rid of him myself. I wouldn’t dare bring shame to my mother and father, but neither would I put up with this horse’s ass any more than I was obligated. Thinking of where I wanted to be most right now, which was not under Ødger, I lost what little patience I had and decided it was time to extract myself from this mess.
Lifting my left leg, I bent at my waist and brought my leg over his head until it was wrapped around the front of his chest, then pulled both it and him, backward. The move took the Jarl’s son’s weight off me as he fell to the side after being unbalanced and pushed off. Not wasting any time for him to recover, I rolled away and got to my feet with my firewood still tucked safely in my arm.
Ødger lay sprawled on his back in the dirt, gawking at me in surprise. His face started to mottle red in anger, and I knew if I didn’t get away now this whole situation was only going to get worse. So, I used the only leverage I had at the moment to finish this fight and hopefully make it so Ødger would leave me alone.
Pitching my voice low, so that only the Jarl’s son would hear what I was about to say, I delivered my verbal blow. “You will leave me alone, Ødger. If you do not, I will tell your father when he comes back from a-Viking that it has been you who has been setting the outlying farmers’ buildings on fire. Think of how he would have to discipline his own son for tormenting his people so?”
Ødger’s face quickly blanched of all color, but it didn’t take long for his eyes to grow steely in determination. “You think to threaten me, Arne Eriksson?” Sitting up, he glared at me, doing his best to intimidate me as he slowly rose off the ground. Taking a measured step toward me, he hissed, “My father would never believe you.”
Without taking my eyes off his face, I saw Ødger’s fists ball up by his sides. His body was tensing, preparing for a fight. The Jarl’s son was four summer’s older than my own ten years, and a head taller. What he had yet to gain in strength compared to the other boys his age, he had made up for in speed, stealth, and deviousness.
That didn’t mean I was going to let him win this fight.
Or any fight, for that matter, if I could help it.
Gathering my courage, I closed the distance between us until I was looking up at Ødger’s face with my own conviction burning in my eyes. “Perhaps the Jarl wouldn’t believe me alone, but he would believe what I have to say if there were others who told him what I spoke was true. Others, such as Ulf and Knut Thorvaldsson. The sons of your father’s second in command. They care for you even less than I do. The three of us saw what you did, as well, and if I ask it of them, they will tell Jarl Birger that we watched you from the woods as you set fire to the thrall’s quarters on old Gorm Leifsson’s farm. That fire cost farmer Gorm all but two of his slaves. How happy do you think your father would be to learn it was his own son who did that?”
Ødger’s facial features turned downright stony as his eyes squinted back at me in hatred. A smarter boy would have been afraid of that look.
I was not always a smart boy, but I had outwitted the Jarl’s son, for now.
Taking a step back, I kept eye contact with the seething Ødger as I laid down my final verbal taunt. “Leave me alone, and your father never has to find out about what you did. Bother me again, and I will make sure it is the first thing he hears once he steps off the boat when he comes home.”
With my message sent, I turned on m
y heel and started to make my way back toward my original destination, the Jarl’s Hall. I could now see my mother was standing in the doorway, warily watching what had been going on between me and the Jarl’s son. Breaking into a jog, I took my bundle of firewood to her. Pasting a reassuring smile on my face, I greeted her as I handed her the logs. “The firewood, Mother. If you don’t need anything else from me right now, I’m headed off into the woods to hunt.”
Briskly taking the heavy load from me, she cocked her eyebrow and gave me a look. “What have I told you about fighting with Ødger?”
Doing my best to give her an innocent expression, I shrugged. “We were not fighting.”
That statement caused both of her eyebrows to shoot clear up to her hairline in surprise. “Oh?” Nodding her head in the direction I had just come, she tossed back, “Right. Because he usually looks so red and angry after you two have finished playing some sort of game.”
Sometimes it did not do to have a mother who was almost as smart as the Gods themselves. It often meant I had to explain myself more than I liked to, or my backside would get beat in retaliation.