A Fate Inked in Blood: Book One of the Saga of the Unfated

Freya is bound in an unwanted marriage where she spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. When her husband betrays her to the region's jarl, she is forced into a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya reveals her deepest secret: she possesses a drop of a goddess's blood, making her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. According to prophecy, such magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden's fate. Believing he is destined to rule Skaland as king, the jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic while facing perilous tests set by the gods. Her greatest challenge, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If she succumbs to her desire for the warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect. This is the first book in a Norse-inspired fantasy romance series.