The Barbarian Read online

  The Barbarian

  The Barbarian

  The Series – The Barbarians

  Book 1

  Description

  This is a Happily Ever After, Galactic Cyborg Heat Series, Hot Romantic Fiction Novel. A tantalizing story of passions and desires, that brings two very different people together in a way they never thought possible.

  NOTE TO READERS: If you love the work of Anna Hackett and Eve Langlais you will love this. This is a Fantasy romance, filled with hot sex, strong dominant men and sexy females who know how to hold their own. It’s gritty, confrontational and steam will be coming out of your ears. If you’re looking for something to get those juices flowing, you just found it. Enjoy!

  This novel is written mainly in British English, with American words and slang from both.

  ***

  Elenore knew what she wanted. At 25 she was an old maid and didn’t mind one bit thank you very much.

  She liked her books and her work with weapons. She liked her place in the Castle and knew exactly what she didn’t want. She didn’t want to be married. Didn’t want to be chattel. Didn’t want a man telling her what she could and couldn’t do.

  No, that life was for others. She didn’t need a man or want one. Her mother had argued differently most of her life. Her father on the fence but he now needed alliances.

  War was coming and they needed help, but would the price be too high?

  And when he came at last, her fears nearly killed her.

  The Barbarians had arrived.

  ***

  Eldron. He didn’t need alliances. Ruthless and determined to the core he got exactly what he wanted.

  His reputation preceded him. It scared many and no one fucked with him or his people, but the offer of a contract from the East was intriguing.

  He knew there were new threats at their borders. Their Lord was offering a daughter.

  Maybe it was time to take a look and if he liked what he saw….

  And maybe, take it.

  Copyright January 2020

  All Rights Reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.

  Other Books By the Author

  Always

  (An Historic Native American Indian Romantic saga)

  When the Wind Blows

  (An Historic Native American West Romance)

  Mine

  (A Bataari New World Sci fi Alien Romantic saga Book 1)

  A Hot Blooded Mate

  (A Bataari New World Sci Fi Alien Romantic Saga Book 2)

  Taken

  (A Bataari New World Sci Fi Alien Romantic Saga Book 3)

  Blooded

  (A Vampire Romantic Novel Book 1 House Arturo)

  Bonded

  (A Vampire Romantic Novel Book 2 House Arturo)

  Bate

  (A Vampire Romantic Novel Book 3 House Arturo)

  Broken

  (A Vampire Romantic Novel Book 4 House Arturo)

  Galactic Cyborg Heat Series

  Books 1 - 28.

  The Covenant

  Books 1 – 3

  Prince of the Demon Realm

  Book 1

  Intragalactic Gods Series

  Book 1

  Vegas Mob Series

  Nickolas

  Russian Mob Series

  Nicolai

  Alexi

  Sonny

  James

  Medieval Romp Series

  The Barbarians

  Book 1

  Book 1

  A word from the Author.

  Hello, I'm Jessie and I thank you for buying this book! I know you did not have to.

  There are so many choices out there. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that someone else will enjoy one of my stories. And for me, it's about telling a story that I'd like to read myself.

  I am not caught up in POV or literacy genius. It's simply not me or my style and I will never be that person, so I apologize to all those who are focused on the POV and the genius of literacy. I envy those that are.

  On the days where my pain and meds stop my thinking processes, writing these books have been my lifeline. It reminds me that I still have the ability to rise to the challenge and that I refuse to go quietly into the night.

  But, I'm just like you, someone who wants to bring some passion into my life and hopefully yours too. A good story that's hard to put down, that brings some escapism, sexy fun and pleasure into our reading. We all love a bit of that!

  And, I hope I achieve that for you in this book. I sincerely hope you enjoy it so much that you want to look out for the next in the series. (Coming soon) And if I'm lucky, you will have had such a good time, you'll recommend it to your friends and I thank you kindly.

  My very best wishes to you and yours. Jessie x

  About the Author;

  Jessie, (pseudonym) is married with sadly no children but 3 wonderful dogs that fill her life with much laughter, joy and love. She is a ‘second mother’ to her foster children, now grown with children of their own who call her grandma and her husband’s two children and her nephews who she accepts, she spoils rotten.

  Having been a 30-year career social worker. Now retired due to ill health. And many years of supporting services across all sectors and leading several teams, Jessie has now turned her attention to another love of her life, books.

  In a career that required the ability to write court paperwork, lengthy reports, create protocols and procedures, and having been published in a medical journal for a study on addiction, Jessie is now concentrating on producing stories she would love to read and buy herself. When not busy on her laptop you will find her cooking, reading her favourite authors or swimming in the sun.

  She hopes you can join her on the adventure….

  Get in touch with Jessie for her mailing list ….

  https://www.facebook.com/Jessie-Rose-Case-270737356695855/

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  The Barbarian

  One.

  Forward.

  This wasn’t how it was meant to be…..

  The news had shocked them all. It was too soon.

  Why were they coming now?.... Did they know half their army was gone?....

  She’d rallied what troops were left. It wasn’t like they were completely unprotected and if it came to it, they could survive a siege, but this was all wrong.

  She headed to the tower for a better view. Pulling her cape around her, it was colder than she’d first realised having come straight from the great hall on giving instructions. She shivered with the cold as she waited for the tell-tale signs of life to come over the crest of the hill in the far distance.

  Maybe the messenger was wrong?.....

  Hope burnt in the pit of her stomach. Messengers were rarely wrong. They were sent with a purpose. They were coming from the West. It was too soon. Each moment of hope that the messenger had been wrong was entwined with the frost that had started to encroach upon her clothing. Her cape not thick enough to fend it off. A spider’s web of cold creeping up from its fringes, yet she couldn’t truly feel the cold.

  That day had long passed with the knowledge that contracts were to be made.

  Contracts, bargaining chips, alliances. Sold in marriage. A sour taste filled her mouth
as she thought of it. She’d never wanted it for herself or her sisters, but unlike her, they were younger, more sheltered and caught up in the romance of it all.

  Romance?.... Chattel more like…. Owned…. It wasn’t for her.

  Her feet rooted to the spot, she couldn’t make herself leave. Time passed as the numbing cold took away any pain. She needed to see. Needed to believe it wasn’t true.

  Eventually, one, then more, moving black dots were on the horizon cresting it, then moved slowly down towards her. Like an arrow looking for its target and with it, any hope of a mistake was shattered.

  Her legs cut out from under her as she grasped out with her frozen hand for dear life at the wall. The herald hadn’t been wrong after all. The thick snow on the ground hadn’t deterred them or slowed them down. They were coming.

  This wasn’t how it was meant to be…..

  Her legs eventually gave way as she clung to the parapet all the while unable to tear her eyes away from the black line getting thicker coming towards her.

  The timing had been perfect. She’d give him that….

  The perfect battle strategy. Her parents away seeking more alliances but only one came from this direction. Only one had been requested from the West. One, they did not want but had had no choice in seeking out.

  Vicious and deadly their reputation preceded them. A Lord would be foolish not to seek them out in alliance.

  Were they here as friend or foe, they were the only choices in this life and she already knew the price would be too high and part of her wanted to weep.

  Unless it was a war party….. Then all would be lost.

  She was so tired. Her eyes stuck with frozen tears. Turn back… she whispered.

  Her lashes almost immoveable and still they came nearer not heeding her words. So many men. Battle hardened. Mercenaries. Men who knew the price of war.

  Concentration became harder but she was determined to see. Her eyes cracking as her brow furrowed. Through the fog of cold slowing her thoughts, there was no mistaking their leader, even if he hadn’t been leading them onward.

  He was the largest of them all. A legend in the stories of his battles. Looking for all the world as fearless and unafraid astride his beast.

  He was impressive….

  He dared those who wished to harm them to attack. Brave or stupid?... She wasn’t sure and didn’t care.

  She could see his battle stallion clearly now, so proud like his owner. Like all those behind him and watched as the honour guard went out with the Friar to meet them.

  Friend or Foe…. They would soon know.

  She blinked slowly at the cold all around her. The Friar turned and gave the signal…. Friend.

  If she had the energy, she’d laugh at how incredible they looked. How beautiful in their nightmare. But this was no laughing matter. Her brain slowed as it welcomed the cold taking over. She’d pushed things too far. She knew better than this but still could not take her eyes from the oncoming tragedy and the male that led them.

  They would …..be ….here …soon…. and their world would never be the same again.

  The Barbarians had arrived.

  This wasn’t how it was meant to be….

  ***

  The bloody castle looked empty…. Eldron snarled as he looked ahead. Sloppy.

  They followed the Friar and the honour guard sent out to greet them. The castle was as grand up close as it was from a distance but not as grand as his. Although this land was rich in profit. They’d been approaching it for hours noting the landscape and wealth. On the Friars signal foot soldiers lined the entrance but the soldiers on the walls remind alert.

  He couldn’t blame them. His reputation preceded him. He was ruthless and a killer. They all were. Eldron fumed.

  It was no wonder they needed help if this was how they protected themselves….

  It wasn’t good enough. He could have taken the castle for himself easily. He still might.

  His horses rode up to the gates and came to a stop before the great doors.

  “I am Eldron. Lord of the West. I come in contract to Lord Aimar and seek admittance.”

  The doors gave way and opened. He rode into what was clearly an outer courtyard looking around. He would know his enemy. The Friar dismounted and ran into another courtyard. He noted it was all well cared for, soldiers stood at arms, their armour and weapons in good repair. It held a good defensible position, but it was clear much of the guard were missing. A defensive line of soldiers only.

  It would hold against attack but not against him or his men. He sneered again arrogantly.

  Useless….

  Eldron dismounted, his elite with him and gave the order for his men to do the same.

  Men came to take their horses, offered hot wine and briers to warm themselves by.

  He waited for his men to dismount, drink the goblet offered them then followed the Friar spotting several soldiers and staff coming and going taking orders from two young females who stood in the archway of another courtyard watching his approach nervously.

  The Lords children, he guessed. There were only two, where was the third?

  Eldron moved towards them, knowing his elite were with him. He would not scare the females and slowed on approach.

  Plastering a smile on his face he introduced himself and his men trying not to look too intimating although that was his default setting these days.

  They curtsied and turned to the Friar. He heard the words ‘we cannot find her Friar’ and the dismay on all their faces. He recalled the intel on Lord Aimar again.

  The third was missing….

  Eldron looked at the oldest of the two. She was pretty enough but her fear was palatable and unwanted.

  Was this his contract prize?....

  His anger at that conclusion got the better of him. “What ails here.” He demanded. “Where are the rest of your knights?” Unable to keep his annoyance at bay that these females had been left at risk.

  The females curtsied again and rose clearly distressed. Both were fine females. Delicate. Breakable. Not for him.

  “My Lord, welcome to Castle Barwick, our father and mother are seeking hospitality in the nearby lands and we were not expecting you until next month. My sister Lord, is missing. When the herald arrived with news of your coming, she gave orders to receive you in good faith and now we cannot find her.”

  Eldon frowned an unnatural fear creeping up on him. The weather if unprepared for was a killer. He’d know, he’d seen plenty of it.

  “That would have been hours ago. Has she outside in this weather all that time?”

  The younger one answered. She was fragile and near breaking close to tears.

  Brute took a step towards her. Then stopped glancing at him.

  Interesting…

  “It is unlikely, her horse is still here. But we do not know sir. Our men are looking.” The older of the two told him. He tried to recall their names. This was Olivia, his offered contract, the other Ava.

  “How long since she was last seen?”

  “More than six hours.” The young one wailed wringing her hands.

  “Six hours…. she could be dead.” He spoke without thinking. Both females burst out crying clinging to each other. The Friar trying to console them.

  Eldron ignored them and what was going on around him. He took stock of his surroundings more thoroughly so did his men.

  Two courtyards, one larger than the one before it. A grand castle in the middle. If she were inside, they would have found her easily. It was likely she was out here somewhere.

  If he were looking for an oncoming threat, he’d go to the highest point possible. He looked back at the outer ring and up. Turning he saw the tower.

  “Have you checked the tower?”

  Both females looked at each other in confusion. He knew instinctively they had not considered it in this weather.

  Eldron held back his frustration.

  He knew it wouldn’t look good for any alliance if h
e lost one of the females due to his early arrival. Not checking everywhere was a grave mistake and stupid.

  A growl clawed up his throat. The females took a step back.

  “Go inside.” He told them angrily. “Brute and Galron go with them. Her rooms will need to be made ready if we find her.” He turned to a castle guard.

  “You, who’s in charge?” he pointed to the foot soldier.

  “Master Gilmore Sire.”

  “Get him to that tower.” The man scurried off.

  Eldron and his elite jogged back towards the outer ring. An older male crossed the yard in a hurry moving towards him. The soldier he’d dispatched ran up to meet him halfway, pointing back towards him. He joined him quickly giving a short bow.

  “My apologises Lord for not being here to greet you in person, we are looking for the Lord’s eldest child.” He told him out of breath.

  “Did you look up there?” Eldron asked pointing to the tower. The male looked up and frowned.

  Damn it….

  “There was a lookout up there, but they came down once we’d been informed of your coming.”

  Eldorn held back his annoyance. “Show me how to get up there. The rest of you,” he looked to his men. “Search for the female.”

  ***