Promises of the Runes by Christina Courtenay (book extract)

 

Promises Of The Runes

He travelled through time to capture her heart.

 

The amulet was still in the palm of his hand. Was it some sort of conduit to the past? The image of the anguished woman in his vision was seared into his mind. Perhaps it could help him find her?

 

Ivar Thoresson is desperate for adventure. As an archaeologist specialising in Viking times, he wants nothing more than to travel back to the ninth century as his loved ones have done, to learn everything he can about the era which fascinates him. And whilst his adopted family have always made him feel loved, the chance to meet a true ancestor, the warrior Thorald, is a temptation he cannot resist.

 

But while Ivar is preparing to go, he uncovers an amulet which shows him a vision of an arresting woman with red-gold hair. Clearly in distress, she is pleading for help. Convinced of the power of the charm and its message, Ivar’s journey takes on a new purpose. He steps back in time determined to follow his destiny – and find the woman who has called to his heart.

 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Promises-Runes-enthralling-timeslip-beloved-ebook/dp/B0B63MPC24/

https://www.amazon.com/Promises-Runes-enthralling-timeslip-beloved-ebook/dp/B0B63MPC24/

Author Bio –

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes.  Promises of the Runes (time travel romance published by Headline Review 13th April 2023) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

Social Media Links –

http://www.christinacourtenay.com

https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay

https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaCourtenayAuthor/

 

PROMISES OF THE RUNES – book extract

 

 (This scene takes place the morning after Ivar offers Ellisif protection in his tent for the night)

 

Ivar knew he should move. Go and find Álrik to try and persuade him to lend Ellisif some of his clothes. But he was very comfortable, with a warm, pliant woman snuggled up against him. He was happy to do nothing more than hold her for now. Last night she’d seemed frightened when he’d told her he wanted her to stay. He didn’t want her to be scared of him; he wanted to win her over.

 

That thought brought him up short. Win her over? As in courting her, as the Vikings would say? That was ridiculous. He hardly knew anything about her. Besides, this was the ninth century. You couldn’t just have a casual relationship with a woman without marriage being involved. Not unless she was a whore, and he was quite sure Ellisif was far from that. It was obvious that she was high-born, if she was an heiress. Did he really want to start something with a woman like that? It would be madness, and yet . . .

 

No, he absolutely shouldn’t.

 

She stirred, breaking into his thoughts. As she became aware of her surroundings and exactly where she was – no doubt registering every inch of him pressed up against her – her whole body went rigid. As his hand was near her ribcage, the sudden fluttering of her heart was very noticeable, and her chest rose and fell with an indrawn breath.

 

‘Shh, it’s only me, Ivar,’ he whispered, keeping very still so as not to frighten her. ‘You’re safe for now. Remember?’

 

She turned within his arms and glanced up at him, her eyes large and luminous in the half-gloom, squinting slightly. ‘I remember.’

 

They studied each other wordlessly. It was her! There was no mistaking it. Ivar’s gaze travelled over the heart-shaped face he’d seen in his visions. It was still pale and drawn, but starkly beautiful to him in that fey way he’d glimpsed before. In the morning light, her eyes were the green of a mossy forest pool, surrounded by long dark-brown lashes and topped with bird’s-wing eyebrows. Her nose and mouth weren’t perfect, but they were eminently attractive nonetheless; the nose dotted with a few freckles and the mouth luscious with a pronounced Cupid’s bow. The freckles continued across her cheeks and he found them enticing. But this was not the time to think about that.

 

‘I should go.’ She made a move as if to rise, but she was still trapped by his arm and didn’t get anywhere.

 

‘Please don’t. I want to help you.’ He waited for her reaction and watched her eyebrows lowering.

 

‘You’ve already done enough. I must fend for myself now.’

 

‘Ellisif.’ He whispered her name and liked the feel of it on his tongue. It was a beautiful name and suited its owner. ‘I’m offering you assistance. Refusing would be churlish, don’t you think?’

 

‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked quietly, her eyes not leaving his, as if she was trying to discern what manner of man he was. She looked to be having trouble focusing, but he figured she was probably exhausted from everything that had happened.

 

He nodded. ‘I am. Do you trust me to get you away from here?’

 

She didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes. I do.’

 

For some reason, he felt as though her words held a deeper meaning. There was a definite connection between them – chemistry unlike anything he’d ever experienced before – but it could wait. There would be time enough later to pursue that thought; for now, he needed to ensure her safety.

 

‘Good. Then please stay here while I go in search of a disguise for you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ With that, he reluctantly disentangled himself from her and ducked out of the tent. He was very much hoping he’d be allowed to wake up next to Ellisif again in the near future.