Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

I scan the outskirts of the village. It is unheard of for anything or anyone other than magical beings or the many natural creatures of the forest to be able to enter this part of the woods.

As I go deeper toward the ravine, I hear a female voice swearing loudly and complaining that there isn't any signal on her cell phone. Well, duh, she's within the magical boundaries of our village. Of course she has no signal. How she managed to get past our wards and spells is another matter. No human should be able to enter here. In fact, no technology would function here, either, just in case. We don't want pictures taken and used against us in the modern outside world.

I hear the voice again. Something in it seems familiar and strange to me simultaneously.This feeling confuses me, but then I catch movement through the trees and begin to watch from a distance what appears to be a human female fumble and trip through our forest. She seems unconcerned that I am following her, which is of course a mistake. Naturally, I am under strict orders to kill any and all intruders.

As I track her, though, I can't help but notice how shapely she is. I dare to move closer. She seems unaware.

Voluptuous breasts strain to be free from her purple athletic shirt. Her waist is attractively formed, with curvy hips that move sensuously as she walks. I can't help but imagine running my large hands over those curves. I feel my pants grow tight as my cock grows hard. The thought of grabbing her, pushing her against a tree, and burying myself between those thighs hits me like a brick.

Gods. Get a grip, Red.

How can I have thoughts like this about an interloper? And a human female, no less. Still, this is of the shapely, well-built variety I had come to admire at the Renfaire. She's no dainty wisp that will be blown over with the wind.

Suddenly, the realization stuns me. This is what the witch was talking about. This feeling is what my friends spoke about so many moons ago.

"You are first!" she said. I am feeling love towards this woman. Could that be?

Surely not. But the feeling is growing as surely as my cock… What if this is not just some random interloper? What if this is my fated mate?

She isn't here to take pictures of us for profit or other nefarious reasons; she's lost. I must reach her and bring her home! I need time to assess. But I must act fast before another protector spots her. If Kaldor or even Thorne see her, they might smite her in an instant.

As I am duty bound to do!

But I cannot. I will not.

I hide behind one of the older, more giant oaks as I watch her emerge from the tree cover. She carries a heavy-looking camping pack and holds up her cell phone.

"Shit!" she yells as she walks towards the large rock protruding from the ground.

I know what will happen next as she drops her pack and climbs on top of that gray ridge. I can see through her pants that her legs are stunningly muscular, but that rock is not stable; she will fall if she puts too much pressure on it.

But more alarmingly, she seems unsteady on her feet. I gaze up at the sun. It is hot out today.

But she won't be denied in her mission, it seems. With her magnificent ass facing me, I can hear her muttering more obscenities as she waves that thing over her head. It might as well be a log for as much use as it will be to her now.

I draw closer. I must know this lost woman. Could she really be my woman? I almost don't want to give Tabitha the credit for not being crazy. But still, this woman is incredible, like no human I have ever seen. She is gorgeous. And I can feel my cock grow even harder as I look at her.

My heart skips a beat as I see her stagger. I must get her off that rock before she falls.

I step forward again, but an unfortunate twig snaps under my foot. I freeze; maybe she didn't hear it. But she turns my way. Her long, curly, brown hair swings in the breeze as her hazel-green eyes look directly into my soul.A jolt of electricity shoots through my body, and everything sings with confirmation. I am nearly knocked off my feet as the certainly hits me.

This woman is to be my bride! My need for her takes over. I cannot help myself. I drop my ax and move swiftly towards her.

She sees me. Her glorious eyes widen as I approach. I must keep my mate from falling off that rock. But even as she lays her beautiful eyes upon me and I see a range of looks play across her features, I fear she will fall.

Astonishment, surprise, fear… and is that pleasure and appreciation dancing across her face? Her eyes roll up into her head, and she is falling. Her cell phone drops from her hand; I hear it shatter as it hits the ground.She will not need it anymore. Her full, kissable lips begin to open to scream, but nothing but a squeak comes out.

Damn my slow feet! I cannot move fast enough. I almost reach her, but not before she crumples to the ground. I am instantly on her, and I scoop her up, praying she is not too hurt.

She is so tiny and so perfect. I revel in the feel of her luscious ass as I cradle her. Gods, she is burning up. The sun has all but cooked her. No wonder she lays completely unconscious in my arms.

Quickly, I dash to the closest soft patch of grass and lay her down. My fingers have a dash of blood as I search for any cut at the back of her head. Suddenly, the image of the scarf Tabitha handed me the other night rushes into my mind. I hold the woman's head gently in my hand as I pull the long green silk out of my pocket to stop any bleeding.

I look around again to be sure we are alone.

I must get her to my place before we are spotted. But first, I must get her out of immediate danger.

I quickly lay her down once more, on a soft area of moss and grass, and then rub my palms together, readying them for the healing magic to mend her wound. They glow brightly as I guide my hands over her limp body, bathing her in their radiant light.

The few bright whisps of the healing energy fill the tiny, perfect nostrils of her delicate, slightly upturned nose. She breathes deeply in and out. Then, they weave their way around her perfectly shaped ears and through her hair. The electricity of my magic pulses and grows brighter as it reaches the wound in her head. She moans, the bleeding ceases, and the cut closes. Still, she will be weak for some time. My magic is weak with misuse, and the heat exhaustion is severe, it seems. But it will do for now.

For the second time in the last few minutes, I remember.

"Clean out your bath!"

Yes that's it! I know what I must do. I gently wrap the scarf around her head. I can't help but take a moment to gaze down upon my maiden.

Gods be good.

This is no time for gawking, Red. I will have plenty of time for that later once I have her safe.

With that, I hang my club on its strap at my back and scoop her up once again.

Trolls can be quite stealthy when they wish to be, as all magical creatures can, of course, and I make my way toward my home on the outskirts of town. I take care to take a secret way home under the old phoenix tree. I don't even want to think of what might happen if anyone learns that I have let her live, let alone that I am smuggling her into the village. As I carry her, though, I realize she is still burning up, in spite of my attempts to heal her with my troll magic.

"Hang on, my mate." I hear my beloved moaning again. If only that were a moan of pleasure and not pain. "Soon, I will have you safely home."