"Wed?" She yanked his hand from her. "Immortals cannot wed mortals! It's unnatural." To watch him die a little each day, until he withered with age ...

"Precisely. So I must be of your kind. And even were it not forbidden, I still would not wed you without ohal a. I know of no warrior older than sixty winters. I've forty. Two decades should be but a taste of life with you."

In a crestfal en tone, she said, "You want me to ... wait?" Her plan was foiled, utterly. Not only would she not get what she came for, she'd be punished for trying.

"Only to be claimed. Rest assured, I'll sate you in other ways til then."

But she wanted to know everything, to experience it all . "How many battles do you have left?"

He lifted his chin. "A mere six dozen or so."

"Are there even that many wars?" she cried.

"Between the vampires and the unal ied demonarchies, a lifetime of war awaits."

"Seventy battles could take years! I came here because I wanted you to be my first lover."

"By all the gods, I will be, woman. But not yet. You wait for me, Reginleit. I will seize ohal a for you, for us."

"And what would you expect me to do while you are out fighting? My Valkyrie nature hungers for war as much as yours does. And I hold no love for vampires." Her mother's people, the Radiant Ones, had been exterminated by them.

"You will remain behind-"

Eyes widening, she opened her mouth to give him a blistering reply.

"-to train, as all my men do before they go to battle," he finished.

"Train?" she scoffed. "I've readied for war all my life."

"Using the wrong weapon. You still wield your long sword?"

"Yes."

"With your smallheight and Valkyrie speed, you should be fighting with two short swords. I could teach you how."

She pursed her lips, reluctantly intrigued by that idea. "And once I am trained ..." she prompted.

As if the words were pulled from him, he said, "You can join me at the front. But only after I deem you ready."

She dug one fang into her bottom lip, actual y considering his offer.

He must have taken her silence as acceptance, because he leaned down to kiss her neck, his mouth so hot in the rain. Against her skin, he rasped, "And, brightling, know this ..." His tongue flicked out to lick drops from her. "I vow to you now, I will be your last lover."

She couldn't think when he was doing that! "I-I haven't agreed to this. Am I to have no say? Again?"

He inhaled as if for control, then raised his head. "Give me a chance, and I will claim your heart. all I need is time."

She didn't believe that could happen. An immortal like her could never ful y love a mortal. Her instincts would rebel against tender feelings like that.

After all , she could never give her heart to a man who would take it to the grave with him, leaving her broken and yearning for eternity.

Stil , there was something captivating about Aidan's utter confidence. As if he knew something about her that she didn't even know herself. And her out-of-control desires were making it difficult to deny him. "I will give you three months, warlord. You have three months to win me."

"Ah, Valkyrie"-he curled his finger under her chin-"your heart will be mine in two."

-iii-

Seven months later

Where is he? I'm going mad without him here.

Regin paced their longhouse as a blizzard raged outside. Aidan was a week overdue from a campaign.

She'd ridden the countryside searching for him for days, but found no sign.

There was rumor of a capture.

Did he even live?

Aidan. The bear of a warrior she could never all ow herself to love, but the one she wanted above all others.

Even though she was a ful immortal now-her appetite for food had disappeared, her need for war burgeoning-she lingered with him here at his camp.

I am better for being here, for being with him. She was a better swordswoman-though he hadn't deemed her ready for war yet, and she secretly feared he never would.

She was a better lover. Though he hadn't coupled with her.

Seven months ago, she had tried repeatedly to seduce him, coaxing him to take her completely. Yet in time she'd come to want more of him, too. No, he couldn't win her heart, but he'd won her desires. He'd pleasured her relentlessly, teaching her to slake him as well.

Each time he set off to battle, she demanded, "Take me with you, warrior." His ploy to keep her in camp? He left her sexual y sated and sprawled on the furs, exhausted but glowing with bliss. Already pining for him to return.

As he'd done so long ago, Regin had begun to ask herself, why not him?

Because once she'd learned how to handle her stormy berserker-knowing when to tease him, when to claw him, when to draw him into her arms and murmur, "Shh, be at ease, warlord"- life with him had been surprisingly gratifying.

He treated her like a goddess, spoiling her with gifts and surprises. And they laughed constantly. She savored the sound of his laughter coming from his big barrel chest-as well as his gruff words of affection: "Remember those years ago when I vowed I would love you one day? I told you true."

Could any male make her feel as he had the night he'd lightly rasped his blond stubble over her stomach and murmured, "I want babes with you-berserker sons and Valkyrie daughters." He'd raised his head, gazing at her with clear gray eyes. "Give them to me one day?"

Having a Valkyrie for his mate had done nothing to curb his arrogance. He behaved like an immortal already-even more arrogant and lordly-thril ing her. "Woden will look upon me with favor," he'd told her.

"No male could treasure his daughter more than I do you."

'Twas simple enough. Regin desired him above all males and knew she always would, which meant two decades was far too short-

He stumbled through the door.

She gave a cry, leaping to her feet. "Thank gods, you've returned! Where have you ..." She trailed off at the wild look on his face. "Aidan?"

His eyes ablaze, he dropped his bloody ax, then ripped off his sword belt and crimson-stained tunic.

His tattooed chest heaved as he stalked toward her, his expression warning her to take a step back.

Then another.

"Aidan, say something."

"They tried to keep me from you." He backed her into the table, cornering her, predatory.

"Who? The vampires?"

"No one keeps me from you. Not immortals, not men, not a god. Nothing can keep me from you."

"Aidan, wh-what are you doing? You're on the very edge. You must calm yourself."

"My life passed before me, Reginleit. I'd rushed to battle because I want you forever-only to fall without a single night inside you? The idea sent me into a frenzy!"

She'd never seen him this far gone when not fighting. They both worked to keep him from reaching his berserkrage, knowing he'd lose control to the beast within.

The beast that roared inside him to claim its mate.

"I left a wake of death to return to you"-his hand shot out to cup her nape, yanking her close-"to make you mine in all ways." He dipped his head to nip her breast, making her gasp. "Tonight I'll ride your little body til you scream with pleasure."

"Have you fever? Are you maddened?" She shoved him away, but again, he stalked closer. "You know why we can't!"

"We can! You are mine to claim. Ohal a is mine to take! I demand it all -mine by right."

"This is the berserkrage speaking ... speaking nonsense. Think about what you are saying! We've set our course, and we will be steadfast."

Regin knew that the hotter his rage, the faster and stronger he'd be. If she didn't make it out of here with a burst of speed, all would be lost. She feinted left, then ducked to the right, sprinting past him-

He caught her dress, snatching her back.

"Aidan, nay!"

He seized her in the cage of his arms, carrying her to their bed, dragging her down with him. "'Tis unnatural to deny this fated need. You know this-you feel it too!"

Before she could escape, his hands fisted in the front of her dress. With a roar, he rent the material clean from her body, his smoldering gaze raking over her br**sts and lower to her sex.

He was going into that mindless state, his muscles bulging even more. "You wanted me to claim you before. Is that no longer true?"

"Of course I want you to, but not yet!"

He tore off his boots and breeches, rising up above her. His mighty shaft swel ed with lust, moisture beading the proud crown.

Raw male. Against her will, the flesh between her legs dampened, her br**sts growing heavy.

Whenever the spirit of the bear quickened inside him, she responded-as if he'd imparted some of his beast, imprinted it upon her.

Because once it rose, she grew desperate to answer its cal .

Now she fought the growing need. "Nay! Do not do this!" She pummeled his chest, but when he was like this, she was no match for his strength. He caught her wrists, easily pinning them over her head.

"Aidan, I-I am pleading, just wait-" The words caught in her throat when he dipped his head to one of her br**sts, his lips closing over her nipple.

As he sucked, his finger slid into her core. "Wet for me," he growled around the peak. A second finger delved as he moved his hot mouth to her other breast, suckling with greedy lips, his tongue swirling.

Her ni**les were damp and throbbing, her sex quivering to his touch. "Aidan!"

"You're ready, nigh coming." But he slipped his fingers from her. She whimpered, undulating for them. With her arms still captured over her head, he covered her body with his own. "You are mine, Reginleit!" He rocked his h*ps between her thighs.

She felt his thick manhood pulsing, seeking ...

And gods help her, she tilted her h*ps so it could surge home.

"Mine!" he roared.

"'Tis done now, brightling," Aidan said, his voice hoarse from his bel ows of pleasure, his body warm and relaxed over her. "No going back." He put his forehead to hers.

She could hardly stem her tears. Over the last few hours, she'd experienced more ecstasy than she'd ever imagined. But now sand in the hourglass had begun to flow. Only so much remained. "Do you have regrets, warlord?"

"That I was not doing this every hour for the last several months."

Somehow she forced herself to smile. "You had better make this the best twenty years of my life."

"You think I've given up on eternity with you?" He stood, rising before her, naked, big and bold. So beautiful she wanted to weep. "If you knew my feats, the clashes I won to escape those vampires. Don't you understand? Nothing can keep me from you! Nothing could touch me. With you as my woman, I feel immortal already."

And gods, he looked it.

"Woden should be honored to have me as a son."

"Aidan!"

"Wil he deny me when I win a thousand battles bearing his mark?" He pounded his tattooed chest. "I wil win the entire world in his name if I have to!"

The power of this warlord's body. The strength of his will . The might of his sword ...

He was so confident that even she began to believe it. If they were together, why couldn't they do any-thing?

He rejoined her, covering her once more. "And you will wait for me. I do not ask this of you. I demand it." His lips descended on hers, his rough kiss brooking no refusal.

As she arched up to him, she knew she would wait forever. Something about this male had always drawn her, captivated her. She couldn't explain it, but she was through fighting it. Love or not-this was her man and always would be. ...

More hours of blissful coupling fol owed, more unimaginable pleasure.

And afterward, as she began drifting to sleep with their bodies still joined, he cradled her face with his cal used palms, brushing kisses over her forehead, her cheeks. "I promise you eternity, Reginleit. And

each day I will love you more than the one before-"

Suddenly pain stabbed in her torso like fire. "Aidan!" A blade had sunk into her? How? In a panic, she pushed up against him. Blood poured as she disentangled them.

"Reginleit?" he bit out in confusion. A sword tip jutted from his chest.

"Aidan!" she shrieked. "Ah, gods, no!"

A vampire loomed behind him; the assassin had traced into their home and stabbed Aidan from behind.

The vampire wrenched the sword free, raising it to finish Regin as well. "For the lives you took yesterday, berserker! For your wars ... now you and your woman die!" He swung; Aidan shielded her with his body, taking the blow across his back.

Just as the vampire readied to strike once more, Brandr burst inside, cleaving through its neck with his ax. The vampire col apsed.

Brandr cast one look at Aidan and fel to his knees. "Nay, Aidan," he rasped. "The fiend must have fol owed you back."

Stil struggling to protect her, Aidan rol ed onto his lacerated back, reaching for his sword.

Brandr hastened to hand it to him, but said, "There are no more, my friend. R-rest easy."

When Aidan turned his head to her, shock threatened to engulf her. Even as she numbly curled up beside him, in her mind she was still shrieking, still hungering to slaughter the thing that had done this.

Aidan's mighty chest labored for breath. "Brandr will earn ohal a and watch over you." He faced his friend. "Vow it."

His voice ragged, Brandr said, "I vow it."

Seeming relieved, Aidan turned back to her. "I love you, Reginleit."

She swal owed back a sob. This cannot be happening. "I-I love you, too."

"Nay. Your heart is ... still your own." He raised a bloody hand to her face, and she knew he'd lost sight in his eyes. "I but needed more time."

She seized his hand in both of hers, squeezing hard. "Then take it, warlord. Take more time-you fight for us! You heal so quickly, you can recover from this!"

But his lids slid shut, his breaths rattling. Brandr roared with grief.

"Aidan, come back to me." She wept over him, tears spil ing onto his skin. "Come back to me, come back to me!"

Just before his breaths ceased, he vowed, "Somehow, love ... I will find you."

***

And Aidan did.

Yearning for Regin endlessly, he was reborn again and again for the next thousand years, re-embodied in different guises and lives, with no memory of his past. Yet each borrowed lifetime ended more tragically than the last.