Today marks the end of this segment of the Medieval Monday blog hop featuring our hero and heroine's First Encounter.

Here is my final snippet from The Highlander's Viking Bride:

After tonight’s encounter, she vowed to avoid her sire more than ever.
Unsettled by her reaction to the new MacGerry laird, it was best to stay away until they concluded their business. She wasn’t sure she could stomach watching whatever duplicity her father planned, and she didn’t want their visitors to think she played any part in the treachery.
                                             * * *
Don't forget your opportunity to win an ebook from each of our Medieval Monday authors ends with this post! Give it one more shot and comment below to enter!
                                              * * *
In case you missed any of the previous snippets, here is the excerpt in its entirety: 

The Sinclair’s voice boomed from the high table.
“Allow me to express my sympathies on the loss of yer father. I dinnae know him, but all said he was a good man. This feud has been costly for both clans. I welcome the offer to end hostilities between our people. No one here can remember why we are at odds.”
“’Tis the same for us,” Calder replied.
“Then let us toast to new beginnings,” Sinclair offered as he raised his
quaich high. Around the tables, the others followed their laird’s example. So far, their welcome was more than Calder could have hoped for. A prickling sensation down his spine cautioned him something was afoot.

Katja reluctantly heeded her father’s summons to the great hall. She much preferred taking meals in her chamber as constant criticism and scorn from her father made for poor company. Her only regret was not spending the time with her brothers. She remembered the days before her amma died when mealtimes were pleasant, even enjoyable. She did not remember the days when her ma was alive.

Everyone in the keep knew guests had arrived—rumored to be the hated MacGerrys. Her father would likely use the opportunity to dangle her as bait again for some sort of alliance, her hand in marriage as part of the bargain. She grimaced. The MacGerry laird was as old as her sire—as were all the men her da had presented as prospective husbands.
“I willnae marry a man thrice my age. Why does he keep bringing such old relics about, Freki? Has the man not made the acquaintance of anyone younger than two score?”
Her companion did not answer.

Katja hurried to the great hall with Freki at her side. If she allowed her sire to wait too long, he would add to her humiliation by displaying her like a freshly caught trout in front of his guests. Much as she disliked appeasing him, flaunting her disdain was far worse.

When they reached the door to the hall, she raised a hand, whispering a command for her companion to wait outside the door as she perused the people seated in the great hall. Pale auras of color surrounded each man, giving the room a festive look were it not for the unsettling tale each told her. The reds of anger and lust, the brown of dishonesty, gray and sulphur of dark thoughts and pain. From long practice, she ignored the pale green of pity she knew were aimed at her.

Skirting the red auras, Katja moved silently into the room, attracting no
attention. Years of avoiding her father gave her the skill to move about the castle like a ghost, finding tremendous value in being invisible when the need called for it. It wasn’t until she stood near the foot of the lower tables that anyone noticed her. Laird Sinclair’s eyes gleamed.
“Ah, here is my daughter. Katja, meet the new MacGerry Laird.”

Calder glanced at the young woman who’d entered the room as silent as a ghost. Though the Sinclair men did not stand in respect at her introduction, Calder, Finn and the rest of the MacGerry men rose immediately from their seats. She offered a small curtsy, her gaze dropping to the floor, seeming uncomfortable with
the attention.

Calder stood stricken as if struck by a smithy’s hammer. He could do
nothing but stare at the lass in front of him who’d haunted his thoughts and dreamsfor so long. To his amazement, she appeared even more beautiful than he remembered. Grey. Her eyes were grey, not the dark blue he imagined. If he’d been told she was an angel come to earth he would not have doubted the claim for a moment.
Finn tugged on his sleeve and inclined his head toward the girl. Calder
retrieved enough of his wits to speak. “’Tis a pleasure to meet you, Lady Katja.”

The sight of a young man instead of the old laird she expected startled Katja. Tall, lean of muscle with dark brown hair and fair skin, his deep blue eyes were the color of sapphires or perhaps the ocean on a calm day. A high forehead, strong jaw and full lips made for a very handsome face. Lips which curved into a kind smile at her.

His eager blue eyes stared at her, as if caught in a pleasant dream. Katja’s stomach twisted in a way she’d not experienced before. Heat scorched its way from her head to her shoulders, tingling along her breasts and descending lower. She didn’t recognize or understand the strange awareness. Her breathing picked up its pace as her heart beat tripled. How could one look from a man inspire such a reaction?

She averted her gaze in an effort to wrestle her body and emotions under control. Inhaling deeply, she raised her eyes again only to find the same sensations slamming into her anew. She needed a distraction.

Use the sight. It doesnae lie.
Looking past her normal ability to see, she glanced first at her father. The darkening gray aura surrounding him reflected his greed, his nature growing more corrupt with time. A band of deep brown layered on top of the gray was new today. She knew it as a sign of deceit and wondered what he was up to. Scanning the rest of the table, the light blue surrounding her brothers Bjorn, Christer and Patrik reflected confusion. Whatever her father contrived with the MacGerry, they knew
nothing of it.

Katja exited the room quickly, daring her sire to rebuke her abruptness. As she crossed the doorway, Freki rose, following close behind. She made the necessary arrangements with the housekeeper, then headed for the respite of her bedchamber.
She slammed the door and threw the bolt as soon as she and Freki entered the room. Her father was clearly up to some deception. No matter his generous words, his brown aura said everything she needed to know, guaranteeing he would try to trick the MacGerry in some manner despite his seemingly warm hospitality.
Though the MacGerrys and Sinclairs had been bitter enemies longer than she could remember, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for them. Even the MacGerrys deserved better than betrayal at the hands of her father.

After tonight’s encounter, she vowed to avoid her sire more than ever.
Unsettled by her reaction to the new MacGerry laird, it was best to stay away until they concluded their business. She wasn’t sure she could stomach watching whatever duplicity her father planned, and she didn’t want their visitors to think she played any part in the treachery.

Blurb:
Calder MacGerry, laird of an impoverished clan, has resolved to end the
bitter feud between the MacGerrys and Sinclairs. He jumps at Laird Sinclair’s offer of marriage to his only daughter, Katja, to seal the agreement between their clans—only to get more than he bargained for.
Katja’s chance to escape her father’s harsh treatment appears to be too good to be true. But becoming Lady of a clan that despises her because she’s a Sinclair, doesn’t make her life any easier. When the attacks turn deadly, she fights her way out, making a dangerous passage to the Shetland Isles for refuge with her Viking family.
Calder and Katja’s marriage, built on mistrust, rushes quickly into disaster. As Calder seeks to repair the damage, Katja discovers not another enemy, but a husband who pledges a new beginning.
Buy link:
Amazon: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0728HWJRY

Today's spotlight is on an excerpt from Lane McFarland's book, Elsbeth. 
Another peek into our hero and heroine's First Encounter.

EXCERPT Thirteen:
 The nun’s guileless belief indicated her  innocence in the ways of men in battle.  After Longshank’s defeat at Stirling  Castle, Edward meant to set an  example and strike fear in the
 Scots. His barbaric, depraved acts were  taken on all women, including those devoted to the church in an attempt to terrify and bend the people to his will. “Ye are not safe, especially in this house of worship.”
                                                  * * *
Join Lane next week to find out what happens on her blog!

And you can find my snippet for week #13 on Lane's blog today!
                                                  * * *
BLURB:
Elsbeth MacDougall recoils at the violent Scottish rebellion and the bleak plight of orphans. Vowing to protect the homeless, she embarks on a journey to Scone and sets her course to become a nun, sheltering children from the cruelties of war. But when Brandon McLeod arrives
at the Abby, he shakes her convictions and stirs provoking emotions she buried long ago.
After English soldiers murder his family, Brandon McLeod determines a course of revenge and leads numerous clans in Scotland’s fight for freedom. Bent on the annihilation of English oppression, he is resolved to a life of solitude, vowing never to marry and chance the pain of
losing loved ones again. However, that was before he met the enchanting Elsbeth.

BUY LINK: Amazon

 Bambi Lynn joins me today with an  excerpt from her erotic short story, The  Viking Bron.

 Week 12:

 Leda tossed the satchel containing  everything she owned in the world—two  extra shifts, a comb, and a pair of  knitted socks—into the corner. Fear and uncertainty threatened to be her undoing, but she tamped down her anxiety and did as he bade her.
                                                * * *
Follow along next week at Ruth A. Casie’s blog. Be sure to comment for a chance to win an e-copy of Bron.

You can find my week 12 snippet from The Highlander's Viking Bride on Bambi's blog HERE.
* * *
Blurb:
After escaping the brutal tyrant who holds her under his boot, Leda’s newfound hope is shattered
to discover her safe-haven to be nothing more than a den of brutal Norsemen, intent on
conquering all of Francia and claiming its riches for their own. When she is offered as a bed
slave to the fiercest Viking of them all, she despairs to realize freedom comes at a price.
Brondulf Adilson has struck terror into his enemies for as long as he can remember, to include
the women who share his bed. Shunned for his frightful appearance, he doesn’t expect
compliance from his new thrall and is resigned to forcing her to his will.
But the beauty he finds himself saddle with turns out to be anything but meek and compliant.
Buy Link Amazon

Judith Sterling joins me today in the Medieval Monday blog hop First Encounter series with her book Soul of the Wolf.

Excerpt, Week 11:

 She shook her head. “You return if  you like. I’d rather stay.”
 “To be drenched by the storm?”
 “’Twill be refreshing. I’m still warm  from the walk.”
 A cold raindrop splashed onto  Wulfstan’s cheek. “I doubt you’ll  remain so. Come, don
your mantle and—”

“There’s no need. I’m quite warm-blooded. I was about to propose you take my mantle back to the keep. ’Tis cumbersome when wet.”
                                                * * *
My snippet from The Highlander's Viking Bride is on Judith's blog HERE. 
                                                * * *
​Soul of the Wolf – Blurb
A Norman loyalist, Lady Jocelyn bristles when ordered to marry Wulfstan, a Saxon sorcerer. She
nurses a painful secret and would rather bathe in a cesspit than be pawed by such a man...until
her lifelong dream of motherhood rears its head.
A man of magic and mystery, Wulfstan has no time for wedded bliss. He fears that
consummating their marriage will bind their souls and wrench his focus from the ancient riddle
his dying mother begged him to solve. He's a lone wolf, salving old wounds with endless work.
But Jocelyn stirs him as no woman ever has.
Their attraction is undeniable. Their fates are intertwined. Together, they must face their demons
and bring light to a troubled land.

Buy Links
Buy at The Wild Rose Press
Buy at Amazon
Buy at Barnes and Noble

 Let's welcome Ruth A. Casie to the  Medieval Monday blog hop today! She's  offering a snippet from her book, The  Guardian's Witch.

Excerpt Nine:

 “Good day, Lisbeth. I’ll leave you to your  patient.” Bryce’s voice was courteous yet
 arrogant.

 Mine. The whispered thought rang in his head. The very idea startled him.

Lisbeth looked at Bryce. “Good day, Bryce.” Alex heard the touch of sadness in her voice. Then all was quiet.
The flexing fist at Bryce’s side was not lost on Alex. Neither was Bryce’s discomfort at Lisbeth’s silence and steady stare.
“Ann, send word when … I will need to tell the king,” Bryce mumbled. The door closed behind him.
“You can wash up here.”
                                             * * *
You can find my snippet on Ruth's blog today HERE: 
                                             * * *
Blurb:

England, 1290
Lord Alex Stelton can't resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it's his. Desperate for land of his own, he'll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.
Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she'd never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.
Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can't get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they'll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.
​
Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZgvmDw
BN: http://bit.ly/ZQkCuY iBook: http://bit.ly/TGWiBook
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-guardian- s-witch