Roots of Darkness — Demi Winters

Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla's troubles.The Bloodaxe Crew have arrived at the village of Istré-beleaguered and missing three of their members. They might be down in numbers, but Hekla 'Rib Smasher' is determined they'll complete their job all the same: defeat the evil mist with a heartbeat and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn't expect is for Istré's bull-headed chieftain to block her every move.Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious, red-cloaked warrior to whom she'd spilled her deepest secrets, is the Bloodaxe Crew's new temporary leader and ally-Eyvind Hakonsson.Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind's rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain's, Hekla takes matters into her own hands.Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe-not even the man who haunts her thoughts.Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré-and perhaps all of Íseldur. This Ashen Series novella should be read after Kingdom of Claw.