A Fate Inked in Blood

Trapped in a loveless marriage and condemned to a life of gutting fish, Freya dreams not of domesticity but of battle—and of burying an axe in her husband's back. When he betrays her to the region’s jarl, she’s forced into a deadly fight that reveals her secret: the blood of a goddess runs through her, granting her the magic of a shield maiden.

Legends say such power could unite Skaland, and the jarl, eager to claim the throne, binds Freya with a blood oath and orders his son, Bjorn, to protect her. Now, Freya must train to master her newfound strength, survive divine trials, and navigate treacherous politics.

But her greatest challenge may be resisting the pull of her reluctant protector, because succumbing to Bjorn would mean unraveling her destiny—and dooming the realm she was born to save.