Chapter 4

Drakolt

The female on my lap began to struggle as we passed through the standing stones. I heard Varkaan tell the Tarbert soldiers to report their leader's betrayal to their lord, and I appreciated his foresight. Mayhap Laird Tarbert would think better of us for ridding him of a traitor.

I needed him to agree to this alliance, and I knew there was no other way.

Sorcha's kicking was coming perilously close to my ballocks, so I clamped my palm against her arse to hold her still. My Kteer had jumped into high alert the moment I'd felt her in that doorway, and now my cock throbbed against the inside of my kilt, desperate for her .

For my Mate.

Aye, Gelma had been right; this was my Mate, although I would not have expected it. My Kteer's response to Sorcha Tarbert had confirmed it.

Now I just had to convince her.

Behind me, my men thundered across the landscape, putting miles between the humans and ourselves. While I doubted the Tarbert guards could recover soon enough to follow us through the stones, I didn't want to leave it to chance.

Gods willing, ‘twould be another month before the next full moon allowed them to travel through the veil, and by then our trail would be long cold.

Still, ‘twould be foolish to lead them directly to Bladesedge land until we were ready to make an alliance with Tarbert. I had planned to take a circuitous route for the three-day journey home…now I would need another plan, because of the extra women.

Damn John! Why had he chosen greed? He was already betraying his laird for gold, and now he thrust two more females into our clutches. Would Tarbert forgive this audacity, or were—as John had claimed—these females less important?

After miles, I realized Sorcha's spitting curses had faded to whimpers, and hated the feeling of defeat coming from my Mate. I held up a fist, signaling my men to halt.

The horses circled, crowding us together to hear my words, and I realized Moltar held the waifish female John had used as a shield. Damnation . How had he taken her?

The third female, the one that looked like my Mate, slid from the back of the horse where one of my warriors had held her, and stomped across the circle to reach for the waifish one.

"Effie," she called, pulling the other woman out of Moltar's arms and off the horse, catching her. "'Twill be alright. I have ye." The one she called Effie sobbed in her arms, while the bold one glared at each of us in turn.

Across my lap, Sorcha began to struggle once again, and I helped her sit upright.

I did not, however, release her.

"We need to split up," I announced, my arm wrapping around my Mate's waist, holding her against my chest. "As many paths as possible. Split into pairs and take the long way home, a fortnight at least."

"That will return us in time for the new moon, Chief," Varkaan smirked, nodded at the female in my arms. At the reminder of the ceremony to happen on that auspicious day, my cock jumped again, and Sorcha sucked in a breath.

My Kteer exalted, knowing she could feel how much I wanted her.

Not here. Not now . I had a fortnight until I could make my Mate mine.

But having her in my arms like this, being able to scent her, her moods, the way the elders claimed…gods, ‘twould be difficult to withstand her allure. Were there other ways to claim her that wouldn't be the breeding ceremony Gelma insisted was necessary?

Korvak was already dividing our warriors into pairs, giving them instructions on routes and allies to hide with on their journey to Bladesedge land.

When my Mate began to struggle again, I instinctively tightened my hold, causing her to suck in a breath.

"And us, my lord?" she bit out, surprising me.

"I am nae lord, little one." I realized now her struggles were just an attempt to turn in my lap to face me, so I loosened my arm around her waist, admiring her bravery.

While the other females clung to one another, my Mate turned to glare at me. "Then what should I call you?"

Mate. Protector. Yours forever .

Instead, I shrugged. "I am Drakolt, son of Klaar, Chief of Clan Bladesedge."

I could smell her fear, but she didn't back down. Instead, her chin rose and she managed a haughty sniff. "And what do you want with us, Chief of Clan Bladesedge?"

I couldn't help my smile, but from the way her lovely blue eyes widened when they dropped to my tusks, I likely should have reined in the impulse.

"You are our spoils, lass," I murmured, and if I hadn't been staring at her, I would've missed the way her nostrils flared and the pulse jumped in her throat.

"Speaking of spoils," snarled Korvak, who'd swung down from his horse, disgustingly graceful even without the need for stirrups, "I believe I have a wager to collect on."

Oh, fook . In the distraction of holding my Mate for the first time, I'd forgotten the foolish wager Moltar had made with my brother. From the way our cousin bristled, I knew to expect a fight.

"Ye bastard," Moltar cried, his hand dropping to his blade. "Our Chieftain told us no' to spill human blood. ‘Tis the only reason—"

"Moltar," I bit out, interrupting his whining. "Did ye kill any humans today? "

Mulishly, our cousin pressed his lips shut and shook his head.

I nodded once, my glare encompassing all my warriors. "Ye did well, following my orders, and we emerged with three prizes." And I had no idea what to do with two of them. Still, I raised my fist. "Bladesedge!"

"Bladesedge!" The cry was echoed back to me by the circle of my men.

"My brother Korvak did what any of us would have done, protecting the female from that traitor, John. His aim was blessed by the gods, and he spilled more human blood than ye, Moltar. Korvak has won the wager, and thus the prize—the little human."

I could tell my cousin wanted to argue. His hard gaze landed on the thin little female—pretty in her own way, although she lacked the fire of my Mate—and his mouth pulled into a snarl.

But then Korvak stepped up to the pair of women and pulled Moltar's prize—the one called Effie—away. I knew he had no interest in her and was only doing this to annoy our cousin. Still, Effie's sobs made me wince.

Korvak swung up onto his horse, swinging the small female behind him. "We'll take the mountain pass," he called, wheeling away. "See you in a fortnight, brother!"

And in my arms, Sorcha began to thrash. "Effie! Effie!" she screamed, even as the other female darted after Korvak's horse. Luckily, Varkaan intercepted her, pulled her against him and locked down on her thrashing.

My Mate's fear was a sour taste on my tongue, and even as my men began to break away on their journeys, I leaned my mouth close to her ear.

"Peace, Sorcha. Yer Effie is in far better hands now."

She stilled, stiffening, and I could see the tracks of her tears on her cheeks as she peered in the direction Korvak had ridden. I knew she was thinking of her home, thinking of how safe she'd felt mere hours ago, and my heart ached for her.

"Korvak might look terrifying, but he is my brother, and I trust him more than the male who held yer Effie afore."

Slowly, she twisted in my hold until she could stare, wide-eyed up at me. I could see so much in those lovely blue orbs. Fear, exhaustion, dread, and a strange sort of desperate hope.

I wanted to feed that, to ease her thundering heartbeat I could feel under my own skin.

"I would no' lie, lass," I murmured, for her ears only. "Yer friend will be safe with Korvak, and ye will see her again in a fortnight. "

She studied me, as if uncertain if she could believe me, and I allowed it. Normally I would feel affront that my word was doubted like this, a strange experience. But this was my Mate, who had no reason to believe me.

After a long moment, her gaze dropped to my mouth.

And I had to growl silently at my Kteer that this meant naught. She didn't want me.

Not yet.

I had a fortnight to make her want me.

"Truly?" she finally whispered. "Effie—my cousin…She will be safe with your brother, Drakolt?"

And just like that, every response, reaction I'd just spent so long tamping down, sprung to life again. Including my cock, twitching desperately beneath my kilt. She'd said my name. She'd said my name, and ‘twas as sweet a sound as I'd ever heard.

From the way she leaned forward, away from me, I could tell she'd felt my body's response to her and didn't like it. In a fortnight, my clan would gather around to see me plow her, plant my seed in her. I couldn't do that if she was afraid of my touch.

But for now, all I said was, "Aye, Sorcha, I swear it. Effie will be safe with Korvak." I glanced around, allowing her the time to realize the rest of my men had melted away, leaving us alone in the little clearing. "And yer friend will be safe with my other brother, Varkaan."

For the first time, my Mate's lips twitched. Not a smile, not even close to a smile. A mere acknowledgement of something she knew. "Roxanna is my sister. And I never doubted she would be safe. ‘Tis your brother I would worry about."

My heart thudded almost painfully in my chest.

A fortnight until I would hold this female down and breed her in front of my clan, making her my Mate in their eyes. A fortnight of riding with a cockstand, her in my arms. A fortnight of admiring her scent, her bravery, her strength.

A fortnight to make her mine .

Gods help me.