Ice Gods (Paranormal Romance Novella)
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About this ebook
A trip to Iceland to find her father turns into a nightmare when she is transported to the icy palace of Valhalla and lands in the middle of the Ice Gods family feud. Odin's son has loved and protected her from afar. Now she is in his world, he can finally make her his.
Helen Scott Taylor
Helen Scott Taylor's first novel, The Magic Knot, won the American Title contest in 2008, was a Golden Heart® finalist, and was chosen as one of Booklist's top ten romances of 2009. Since then, she has published other novels, novellas, and short stories in both the UK and USA. Her published works have been finalists in a number of contests including the Holt Medallion, the Lories, the Prism Contest, the Write Touch Award and the Maggies. Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie and an aristocratic chocolate-shaded-silver-burmilla cat who rules the household with a velvet paw. She believes that deep within everyone there's a little magic. www.helenscotttaylor.com
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Ice Gods (Paranormal Romance Novella) - Helen Scott Taylor
Ice Gods
By
Helen Scott Taylor
*
Copyright © 2012 by Helen Taylor
Cover design © Helen Taylor
*
Smashwords Edition
*
The right of Helen Taylor to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Copyright owner.
Chapter One
Annika approached the grand entrance to the hotel at Santa's Magical Wonderland in Iceland and halted beneath a banner that read: LIVE YOUR DREAMS THIS CHRISTMAS. Against a backdrop of snow-cloaked wooden lodges, shuttle carts shaped like white cats zipped along carrying smiling mums and dads with giggling kids.
A cacophony of Christmas tunes blasted from the rides in the nearby theme park, lending the whole scene a manic out-of-this-world feel, as if a cartoon had come to life.
Despite telling herself numerous times that this business opportunity was an unmissable chance to finally visit the land of her birth, Annika couldn't quash the horrible feeling of trepidation at coming here without telling her aunt Una. What if she botched this lucrative travel deal and lost Una's company the business? The woman would have her head on a plate. Her temper was legendary.
Annika's neck prickled. Two scruffy, black birds perched on a wire over the road were staring at her. She squinted at them, a sense of unease wriggling up her spine. This Christmas resort had a weird atmosphere, or maybe it was just her strange mood.
She closed her eyes for a few seconds and silently called her spirit guide for reassurance. His warm, loving presence flooded her mind and she immediately felt better—stronger—ready to negotiate her first contract alone.
Gripping her briefcase handle, she sucked in a steadying breath, and walked under the impressive ice-palace facade of the Magical Wonderland hotel. A familiar sense of isolation closed around her as she threaded her way between the happy family groups.
Twin girls dashed past, holding a younger boy firmly by the hand. She paused to watch them catch up with their mother and have a group cuddle. She'd longed for a brother or sister, although she'd have been satisfied with just a mother or father. All she'd had was the aunt from hell.
With a sigh, she turned her attention to the building. The hotel had a welcoming ambience. A huge Christmas tree hung with shiny decorations towered to the apex of the glass-domed atrium. Mock ice walls and dangling icicles gave the feel of a frozen palace, while characters dressed as elves mingled with the visitors, offering photo opportunities to the excited kids.
The resort staff wore green velvet outfits trimmed with white fur. A receptionist looked up and smiled as Annika approached the check in desk.
May I help you, ma'am?
I have an appointment with the managing director.
The woman's gaze sharpened with interest before she checked her computer screen. You are Annika?
At her nod, the woman extended a hand, indicating she should come around the end of the reception desk to a door marked PRIVATE. As she passed a display of resort freebies, Annika grabbed a red and white button with the slogan LIVE YOUR DREAMS THIS CHRISTMAS. Perhaps it would bring her luck. If she negotiated a good deal, her aunt might trust her to take on more responsibility. She was fed up with being chained to her desk in the London office.
The receptionist punched in a security number and opened the door to a plushly carpeted hallway. She indicated Annika should proceed to the far end. Another woman dressed in uniform admitted Annika to the MD's inner sanctum and gestured her towards some leather chairs arranged around a low glass table.
Would you like a cup of coffee, Annika?
No thanks.
Her stomach did nervous somersaults as she dropped down onto the soft leather seat. She closed her eyes and opened her mind to the loving presence of her spirit guide. His quiet strength filled her, steadying her nerves.
She called the presence in her mind a spirit guide, but in truth she had no idea who or what he was. When she was a little girl, she'd assumed everyone had someone who talked to them inside their heads when they were frightened or lonely. She'd soon learned to keep it a secret when other kids at school told her it was weird.
Silently she rehearsed what she would say to secure a good deal for Una's travel company. If she did well this time, Una would have to admit Annika was ready to handle the foreign destinations alone.
A buzzer sounded. The second receptionist ushered Annika towards a set of double doors. Tyr will see you now.
Annika's heart jigged. Her fingers touched the button in her pocket. May my dreams come true,
she whispered. She would secure this deal then take a few days to sightsee and research into her family. If she had any living relatives, she was determined to find them.
She swallowed a few times and cleared her throat, then breezed through the door, trying to imitate Una's confidence. One look at the man who rose from a chair to greet her and her step faltered.
Tyr stood tall, his powerful physique showcased by a dark suit. His shaggy black hair gleamed under the office lights while stubble shadowed his lean, bronzed face. With that coloring, he obviously wasn't a native Icelander. Her research indicated he'd founded the resort in the late fifties, but it must have been his father who did that. Tyr only looked to be in his thirties.
He stepped out from behind his desk and extended a hand, his lustrous golden gaze sweeping over her. Annika's heart thumped as the firm warmth of his palm swallowed her hand.
Annika?
He spoke her name in a thick velvet whisper, as if it were sacred. The seductive foreign lilt of his voice zinged along her nerves. She had the weirdest feeling that she recognized his voice, even though she'd never talked to him before.
Hello, Tyr. It's nice to meet you.
For long moments he scrutinized her, and she couldn't drag her gaze away from his compelling golden brown eyes.
Where's Una?
he eventually asked. I was expecting her as well.
His question broke the spell. He used her aunt's Christian name as though he knew her. Annika had thought the email Tyr sent was an initial inquiry into a business arrangement. If Una already had a deal with him in the works, Annika was going to be in so much trouble for interfering.
She pulled