Warrior Lord, page 1
Table of Contents
Excerpt
Praise for Nancy J. Cohen’s Drift Lords Series
Warrior Lord
Copyright
Dedication
Author’s Note
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
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Glossary
Author’s Note
A word about the author...
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Magnor could take her places she’d never thought to visit. With him, she could travel the stars.
He completed her and made her feel cherished. She’d be lost if he abandoned her after all they’d experienced together. Erika clung to his arm as though the physical contact would convince him to remain.
“You would give up your family’s money for me?” A muscle in his jaw twitched as he gave her a sideways glance.
“If you’d decide to stay as a result, yes, I would.”
“I see.” His lips compressed, and he maintained his forward pace.
Maybe she’d been wrong about him. Maybe he didn’t really care about her at all. His mission was what mattered, and she’d merely been a tool to that end. As soon as they vanquished Loki, he’d be free to leave.
Praise for Nancy J. Cohen’s Drift Lords Series
WARRIOR ROGUE
“I am officially hooked on this series. If you like steamy romance combined with action and fantasy, sci-fi or mythology, check out the Drift Lords.”
~WiLoveBooks
~*~
“...futuristic, paranormal romance series blends aspects of science fiction with magic and mythology then tops it off with steamy sexy scenes that are so hot you will need a fan and a mint julep drink to cool off.”
~Manic Readers
~*~
“Nancy J. Cohen has created a very realistic world with characters you cannot help but love.”
~Faerie Tale Books
WARRIOR PRINCE
“...mythology, romance, betrayal, sexy aliens and beasts who want to destroy Earth. If those are things you like then this is definitely the book for you.”
~Paranormal Romance Guild
~*~
“With a mix of humor and action this exciting intergalactic romance is based on an Old Norse legend brought up to date for a new generation. Any romance or sci-fi fan would enjoy this book.”
~ Night Owl Reviews
~*~
“The sense of action and adventure and the feeling that you truly have fallen down the rabbit hole will keep you enthralled until the very end.”
~NoraAdrienne’s Reviews
Warrior Lord
by
Nancy J. Cohen
The Drift Lords Series, Book 3
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Warrior Lord
COPYRIGHT © 2014 by Nancy J. Cohen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: info@thewildrosepress.com
Cover Art by Debbie Taylor
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Faery Rose Edition, 2014
Print ISBN 978-1-62830-445-9
Digital ISBN 978-1-62830-446-6
The Drift Lords Series, Book 3
Published in the United States of America
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my wonderful editor, Amanda Barnett, whose valuable insights make my books stronger.
And to publicist Lisa Dawn, publisher Rhonda Penders, and the staff at the Wild Rose Press. It’s a joy to work with you.
Author’s Note
Glossary of Terms can be found after page 402.
~*~
Other Nancy J. Cohen titles
available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.:
Silver Serenade
and
The Drift Lords Series
Warrior Prince
Warrior Rogue
Warrior Lord
Prologue
Prophecy states that the six daughters of Odin must unite with the six sons of Thor to chant the ancient words and prevent the coming darkness.
I am one of the prophesied six men.
My name is Magnor. I have no place to call home. Cast out from my people on the planet Karrell for a crime I did not commit, I now fight to protect Earth and the universe from the evil demon Loki and his allies, the Trolleks.
This mission is my last chance to redeem myself. I must find the sacred Book of Odin. Within the text lies the means to defeat the enemy. Success is paramount, or all will be lost.
Chapter One
Where else but Las Vegas could a bearded man wearing a cape and sword swagger inside a casino without drawing attention?
Erika Sherwood stared at the man who peered around, a bewildered look on his face until his gaze slammed into hers.
Her heart slowed, as though the world had frozen in that moment. Despite the bells ringing and people chattering and roulette wheels spinning, her awareness narrowed. She couldn’t drag her eyes away from his searing glance.
Her pulse jumped when the man strode purposefully in her direction, his cape flapping behind him. With his powerful physique and resolute jawline, he looked like a superhero come to life. She supposed he’d bought that fabulous costume at a store along the Strip.
He claimed the empty seat beside her, exchanged a few words with the blackjack dealer, and set out a pile of chips. Tension charged the air around him. Her sideways glance absorbed his longish black hair and trim beard and the wide breadth of his shoulders. She pulled her skirt down, aware it had hiked up indecently, but his gaze didn’t go there. Instead, his dark eyes fixated on her wristwatch.
“Miss?” The dealer’s questioning glance fell on her.
“Oh. Hit me, please.” She grimaced at the eight of spades she’d drawn. Drat, now she was over the limit.
“Not having any luck?” The newcomer nodded at her diminishing pile of chips. “Maybe this isn’t your game.”
“Excuse me, mister…?”
“My name is Magnor.” He quirked an eyebrow when the waitress came by with another round of free drinks.
Erika lifted her third Viking Volcano from the tray. Who could resist? The fruity drinks were on the house, a popular ploy to keep gamblers in their casino.
She raised her glass in a friendly gesture before taking a sip. “Is Magnor your first name or your last name?”
“It’s my only name.” His mouth curved as he watched her reaction.
“O-kay.” She wasn’t in the mood to challenge him. Those drinks had already gone to her head, making her happy to accept his remark along with his blatant stare. Probably half the people in Vegas used false names anyway.
“Do you work here?” she asked, realizing his outfit matched the resort’s Nordic theme.
He stiffened. “I should say not. I am a guest, like you.”
“Sorry to have asked, but you fit the part.”
“It is my customary attire as a warrior of the Tsuran.”
“I see,” she said in a noncommittal tone. Maybe he was an actor deep into his role. He could be taking a break from a movie set. Were they filming a sequel to Thor in the area?
“Nice timepiece you’re wearing.” He nodded at the object of his scrutiny.
Erika slid her hand under the table. “It was a gift.”
Her parents had given her the watch for her sixteenth birthday with the caveat that she ask no questions about its unusual properties. It ran with no visible mechanism and no battery and had a peculiar symbol engraved on its face.
Her forehead wrinkled. Why had Magnor chosen to comment on her watch when most men would offer a line about her flaming red hair or her flashy clothes?
Come on, Erika, why do you care what he thinks? You came here for the art show, remember, and not to meet men?
It must be the alcohol causing that low buzzing sound in her ears and not his imposing presence.
“This announcement is for all of our engaged couples out there,” blared a loudspeaker voice. “It’s the last call if you want to enter our exciting contest. The lucky winners will be married on live television, after which they’ll receive a complimentary stay in our honeymoon suite, fifty thousand dollars, and a new car. Entries are being accepted in the Green Room all day Friday until four o’clock.”
“Fifty thousand dollars,” Erika muttered. “Man, could I use that money!”
Magnor nudged her, a grin on his face. “Why don’t we enter the contest together?”
The smile transformed his features, making her want to study the craggy lines and furrows that made his visage so interesting.
“What?” she said when his words finally registered.
“I need a room, and the hotel is full. If we win, that will solve my problem. You can keep the car and the cash.”
“B-But the winners have to get married. On live television.”
He waved a hand. “Oh, that. Las Vegas is all about fantasy, is it not?”
Her eyes widened. “You mean, the wedding will be filmed like a reality show, but it isn’t real?”
He winked at her. “All of the contestants get bonus credits on their club cards. What have we got to lose?”
Erika stared at her diminished pile of chips. She’d lost two hundred dollars in less than an hour.
She scooped the remaining credits into her purse while considering the man’s outrageous suggestion.
In her earlier days, she’d have accepted his proposal without a second thought. Back then nothing had mattered except her plants, her pottery, and her own pleasure.
Eventually, she’d erected an armor of self-discipline around herself so she could accomplish her goals. However, this resolve had evaporated under the influence of the drinks and the man’s piercing gaze. Who wouldn’t want a hunk like him as her fake fiancé?
Her head spinning, she wondered how a few cocktails could affect her so strongly. She’d been better able to hold her liquor in the past. Was there something else in those fruity drinks that made her so amenable?
Ignoring the warning bells in her mind, she scraped back her chair. Her knees wobbled when she stood. Magnor rose and steadied her with a firm grasp on her elbow.
“I accept your offer,” she told him with bravado. “If we lose, at least we’ll be ahead by several credits. And it might be fun.”
“We should seal the deal if we are to play an engaged couple,” Magnor said, closing the distance between them.
His head descended before she could protest, and his lips met hers. The pressure of his mouth electrified her and left her breathless. When he stepped away, she staggered.
He gripped her arm and guided her along. “This way, my lady. I believe the Green Room is just past that shiny black Jaguar on the rotating platform.”
She let him steer her, berating herself for not heading toward the exhibit hall instead.
Then again, she’d already set up her booth for the art show on Saturday, so there wasn’t much else for her to do the rest of today. She deserved a break, especially since this was the only getaway she could afford for the year.
When she’d wandered into the casino earlier, she’d quickly forgotten her purpose. The free drinks and enticing games had tempted her to relax and enjoy the resort amenities. Tomorrow would be time enough to get back to business.
People jostled them as they hurried along. Allowing the caped man to hustle her past the flashing lights and dinging sounds of the slot machines, she breathed in a deep breath of cooled air. Thankfully, this was a non-smoking casino. She hated the places where clouds of smoke pervaded the atmosphere.
Viking-garbed attendants stood at attention at various entrances, most of the men having deformed features like they all went to the same makeup artist. Mythological lore being the theme of the resort, she didn’t find it odd. Instead, tipsy from the cocktails, she gauged their appearance to be appropriately troll-like. Their beady eyes watched her as she moved through the throng.
In the Green Room, an elevated dais held an arched canopy decorated with white tulle and tiny white lights. A pair of contestants sat in chairs on stage while their interview was filmed for broadcast. Wearing a portable microphone, an official questioned them. He had on an emerald robe more suitable to the Wizard of Oz. Why not? In Vegas, all was flash and little was substance. People expected weirdness.
Grabbing her hand, Magnor rushed forward as a clerk behind a corner desk called for final entries.
“Picture IDs and sixty dollars cash, please,” the clerk said as their turn came in line. He had them fill out and sign several forms each. “There, you’re all set if you win. Take this number and wait over there.” His gesture indicated a queue of other hopefuls.
Erika’s stomach turned cartwheels as they advanced. How would she answer those questions the official was asking? How long have you known your fiancé? Where did you two meet? What made you know you were right for each other?
Her frightened glance met Magnor’s laser-beam gaze. He touched her lips with a gentle forefinger.
“Do not worry. Say whatever comes to mind. It’ll be the right thing.”
As she gazed into his mesmerizing eyes, she felt an irresistible compulsion to learn more about him. His slate gray irises glinted under her observation. She glanced away, discomfited by the reaction he aroused in her. They were strangers, and yet something sizzled between them.
Whoever this man was and for whatever reason he showed interest in her, she acted like putty in his hands. Since clay was her medium for sculpting, that said a lot.
It said more than she wanted, truth be told.
She approached the steps to the dais with trepidation after the official, Dennis Slate, called their names. Was it her imagination, or was the crowd of observers thickening around them? More of the hefty attendants moved to strategic locations at the perimeter of the room, their abnormally large ears and long noses making her wonder if they were related.
Her pulse leapt when a pretty blonde grasped her forearm. The buzzing sound in her ears increased to painful decibels.
“Be sure to stop by the Longhouse Restaurant for a complimentary breakfast buffet in the morning,” the lady said in a sugary tone. Her cold blue eyes sent a chill skittering along Erika’s spine.
She withdrew her arm, her skin tingling where the woman had touched her. “Sure, I’ll do that.”
The blonde turned to Magnor at her side and made him the same offer. He snatched his arm away as though he’d been burned. His face flushed, and his mouth tightened. With a slight shove at Erika’s back, he hastened her along, but not before she’d caught the flash of alarm in his eyes.
****
Sweat popped out on Magnor’s brow. Great Cosmos, that had been close. If he hadn’t kissed the fiery-haired Earth woman, he might have been confounded by now. Once spellbound to the Trolleks, he’d have been forced to join their sleeper army of mind slaves.
Hopefully they didn’t recognize him as one of the Drift Lords. He considered himself a team member even though his status was provisional. And while he lacked the unique genetic trait that his fellow warriors possessed, this difference might be what kept him off the enemy’s radar. At least, Magnor hoped the Trolleks regarded him as another weak human.
Unfortunately, he’d run out of the elixir from his home world that had protected him from the Trollek mind spell, and since he’d been banished from his land, chances of getting any more were nil. Either he had to resort to the painful means used by the other Drift Lords for immunity, or he’d have to taste his lady’s lips on a regular basis. Erika Sherwood had no idea of the power she held or of her role in the ancient prophecy.
Magnor didn’t realize she’d be in the casino when he had stepped inside. His mission was to obtain the sacred Book of Odin. Supposedly, the ancient text mentioned a weapon that could defeat the Trolleks. He’d received a tip that a clue to the text’s location was hidden at the resort.
The beasts roamed everywhere in the casino. Their alluring females passed around free drinks while their disguised troops made sure none of the humans strayed to forbidden areas.
He wondered where their recruitment center was situated. Doubtless this resort had one, like other tourist attractions commandeered by the invaders. He could explore later, once he and Erika had won this game and settled into the newlywed suite.
Her wristwatch had identified her as one of the six Earth women in the prophecy. Instinct must have drawn him to her. Now she’d become a target for the enemy, since his arrival may have activated her dormant power. Once they went upstairs, he could set up a protective perimeter in their room.
