Chapter 2

Korvak

Gods below, her tears soaked my kilt, and I had no idea what to do.

For one thing, the sensation was unpleasant, making me want to squirm atop the horse, to release the sticky wool from my skin. But more importantly, the little human was miserable, and I wasn't sure if ‘twas her fear or pain which made her cry.

Had Moltar not been my cousin, I would've challenged him for that blow.

‘Twas not honorable to hit a female, even a human. Especially one so weak and delicate as the one which now clung to me.

Clung to me as if her life depended on me .

It does .

Scowling, I urged the horse faster.

The gelding needed no accoutrements to understand my requirement; he was well trained. Just as a lead was unnecessary for the mare galloping behind us—she would follow my direction, trusting I would only ask what she could give.

My one talent was training these horses, and the Bladesedge clan appreciated it. I knew my brothers and others envied my skill when it came to riding, but I envied them the ease with which they moved among our clan.

Not me.

I preferred to be alone.

‘Twas easier that way.

The little human's fingers moved, clutching at my belt, mayhap finding a more comfortable position, and I was reminded again of her discomfort. My discomfort.

Thanks to my brother's command and my stupid impulsivity, I was now stuck with her for the next fortnight.

Even worse, she was stuck with me.

"What's yer name?" I growled, surprising myself.

She startled, and I pressed my free palm against her hand, ensuring she wouldn't fall. I also slowed the horses slightly, so I could hear her over the pounding of their hooves.

A few moments went by, and I imagined her gaining control of her tears.

Finally: "Effie," she sniffed.

Ah, that's what the other females had called after her.

"Effie," I murmured. "Ye are…a servant?"

I felt her stiffen for a moment, before she said, "Sorcha and Roxanna are my cousins."

Fitting. "And Moltar, the bastard who hit you, is mine. He wagered me his spoils of this raid that he would spill more human blood."

But at the last minute, Drakolt had announced we would not kill the humans if it could be helped. He—who was so much wiser than me—knew the Tarberts would never align with the Bladesedge Clan if we massacred their men.

None of that mattered when I saw the fear on this wee human's face as the human traitor used her as a shield. I defied my brother to kill John, and I'd do it again.

"I…" Her voice was so soft, so afraid , I could barely hear it. "I am the spoil? "

"Aye," I grunted. "I spilled more blood, so I won. I collected." To protect ye from his fist . "Ye're mine now."

When she shuddered, I realized how that must sound, and I cursed myself.

Fool. Ye sound nae better than Moltar, who thought naught of assaulting and hurting her .

I wanted to say more…to assure her she was safe. Safer with me than she'd been with Moltar or John, for certes. But I couldn't make that promise, so I kept my mouth shut.

She had a fortnight with me, and I was unused to female company of more than a few hours. Who knew how safe she'd be?

We rode for hours, and I wasn't sure at what point she fell asleep.

Her wee hands slipped under my belt—to hold herself in place, I imagined—and her cheek was plastered against my back. Likely literally, with how wet the wool was from her tears. I could feel her steady exhales on my skin, and I was careful to keep as still as possible, and the horse's gait as steady as possible, so as not to disturb her.

The last hours had been traumatic for her, and if she could escape her fear through sleep, I would not ruin that .

Dawn came and went.

She woke mid-morning, and I could tell from the way she squirmed that she was uncomfortable.

Eventually I pulled the horse to a stop and the mare followed.

"What is it?" I barked.

I felt her flinch. "I…I am sorry. I need to…"

When she trailed off, I twisted in my seat. I couldn't quite see her expression, but there was embarrassment in her words.

Ah .

Without a word, I gripped her around her upper arm to swing her down, but her lips parted on a muffled cry of pain, and I remembered how the human traitor had held her there. Fook .

I should apologize for hurting her even more, but I didn't know how. So, I merely moved my hold on her and helped her from the horse's back. I swung down after her and moved to the animal's head to check on him.

As I pressed my forehead to his, I heard the wee human limping toward the shelter of a bramble bush to relieve herself, and I winced.

"The puir thing's in bad shape, aye?" I whispered to the gelding.

He whickered, which I took as agreement .

"Go, eat a bit," I urged him and the mare. "We have hours to go at a moderate pace."

Sometimes I swear the beasties could understand everything I said to them.

I turned back in time to see the human— Effie , I reminded myself—hobble from behind the bushes.

"Are yer legs hurt?" I asked.

From the way she flinched, mayhap I was too loud. I tried to gentle my tone when I elaborated.

"Ye're limping."

She immediately straightened, her gaze locked on my chest. "I…am unused to riding."

Och, well, no surprise there. I nodded gruffly and waved about the small clearing. "Walk in circles. ‘Twill help the stiffness."

To my surprise, she began to do just that, as if my words had been a command rather than a suggestion. But she kept a wary gaze locked on me…or rather, on my chest, as if she couldn't quite bear to meet my eyes.

"Where…where are you taking me?"

Had she not heard Drakolt's orders? I frowned slightly, considering the timing—had that been before or after Moltar had hit her for vomiting—her body's natural response to fear? Just remembering the way he'd struck her so boldly made my chest ache with anger, made my claws emerge.

Seeing the way her eyes had widened and her breathing stuttered, I scowled at my own inability to rein in my emotions…and folded my arms across my chest to hide my claws.

"My brother is chief. He organized the raid and the deal with John, to take yer cousin."

"Sorcha?" she whispered as she hobbled.

I nodded. "'Tis been foretold their union will bring peace to the Bladesedge clan and make the Tarberts prosperous as well. Once they are officially Mated, their son will be powerful."

The wee human's brows drew in. "Son? Married ?"

"Nay. Mating is…" I frowned, fingers scratching at my chest as I tried to explain. "For my people, ‘tis more than just a marriage. ‘Tis a certainty, part of our very nature."

I realized my claws were digging into my skin, the old insecurities rising to gnaw at my chest. "Drakolt and yer sister will feel this, and ken beyond all doubt they will spend a lifetime together."

I could hear the longing in my voice, and hated it. I scowled, trying to make my tone harsher.

"Drakolt knew his Mate's father would not accept his suit, so he took her. We did no' expect two more females to be along. John said naught until last night."

At the mention of his name, Effie shuddered and turned her attention to the ground ahead of her as she hobbled, her arms going around her waist as if she wanted to curl in on herself.

I cursed myself. Of course, she wouldn't want to remember the bastard who had threatened to kill her.

Or the way I'd split his head in half for such an afront.

Palton's Spear, just remembering the way she'd looked at me after I'd killed him…I shook my head in disgust at myself and my reaction to her fear. The way I'd wanted to gather her to me, but had refrained, because I knew I would only terrify her more.

Instead, I allowed my cousin to scoop her up. And traumatize her more.

"My brother commanded us to split up, to take the long routes back to our village so he could be certain there was nae pursuit." ‘Twas easier to explain than to focus on the way the pleading in her blue eyes had made me feel. "I am going to my croft. We are going."

There. That was easy enough.

She still didn't look convinced…but she nodded and hunched her shoulders.

Afraid of me? Well, who could blame her?

While the horses drank from the small spring, I passed some dried meat to Effie, and had some myself. Pretending interest in the animals, I watched her from the corner of my eye. Even the task of eating seemed to exhaust her.

It wasn't until she tucked the half-eaten strip of tough meat into the pouch at her waist that I realized her jaw must still be sore, and chewing might be painful. Fook . I couldn't even provide for her, could I? Once we reached my home, I vowed to feed her well.

When I deemed us all rested enough, I readied myself to swing up onto the mare's back, but hesitated. "Do ye want to ride on yer own?"

She startled, gaze darting to my face, then away in a flash. Slowly, she lifted her eyes to mine once more, and I read the confusion there. "You would…allow that?"

I shrugged. "Ye look too tired to ride alone, and ye said ye had nae experience, but I thought I'd offer."

She hesitated, glancing at the horse, then over her shoulder the way we came. Then she slumped and shook her head. "Nay…I cannot ride. I was never allowed to learn. "

Och, well, she had a fortnight to learn now. Nodding once, I swung up and offered her my hand.

There was only a moment's hesitation before she put hers in it and allowed me to lift her and settle her behind, and I decided to take that as a good sign. She hadn't screamed or fought her kidnapping, but had been met with violence at my cousin's hand, nonetheless.

Fook . I sighed as she settled herself behind me. Against me.

Her small body pressed into mine so trustingly, when she had no reason to trust me, and something deep inside me slid into place.

I hadn't expected that.

Hadn't expected the way her scent suddenly seemed stronger—the sour scent of her vomit, the sharp scent of her fear-tainted sweat, the almost-hidden softness of her hair and skin…

And hadn't expected my reaction to it.

Just as well she was sitting behind me so she couldn't feel my completely inappropriate erection.

Torvor's Hammer! She's traumatized—she doesnae need yer arousal making things more difficult!

The reminder didn't stop my Kteer' s sudden interest.

I scowled at myself. The damn thing would react this way to any female pressed against me, warm and needy. But this one was off-limits. She'd been through enough.

But the next fortnight was going to be hell if I couldn't get my Kteer under control.

I spent the rest of the day struggling with the feelings, the urges, coursing through my body, and did my best to ignore Effie's presence at my back.

The sun was low in the western sky as we approached my hidden croft, the special retreat I'd made on this side of the loch. There were a few other such places where I could go to be alone, but this one was particularly peaceful.

I prayed ‘twould remain so.

As we rode down the scree-covered slope into the valley, I heard Effie suck in a gasp at my back, and I couldn't stop myself from straightening in pride.

"'Tis… lovely ."

"'Tis enough for me." I'd always been alone, after all. "During the cold months, I have a home in our village, and I travel back and forth to bring horses back here to train. But this is…enough."

Her voice sounded almost reverent when she whispered, "'Tis perfect."

I tried to see the place through new eyes .

The small cottage nestled between two large oaks, which provided shade from the summer sun. The animal shelter in the rear, with no chickens or cows, but a fine place for the gelding and mare. The overgrown vegetable garden—untended, but still thriving. The thatch roof needed to be replaced in another season, but I knew I could make repairs in the next fortnight.

The mountain stream—wider than two of my heights—was one of my favorite aspects of this particular hideaway. I loved to fall asleep to the sound of the water burbling over the rocks, and of course ‘twas handy to have an easy source of water so close by.

And on the other side of the stream…

Effie gasped again when I lifted her down, but this time ‘twas not in pain. I knew, because my hands were on her waist, lingering there for a moment to satisfy my Kteer's demands to touch touch touch .

Her gaze wasn't on me, and for once, wasn't guarded.

She was looking across the stream, to the mountainside which rose at a steep angle, thickly forested with tall pines and fast-growing birch, all keeping me in good supply of firewood.

With the sun setting, the shadows among the trees were long, and the glowworms were emerging .

I watched her expression light as her gaze darted across the mountainside, eyes widening in wonder as she watched the bright little bugs play.

"'Tis magical," she breathed. "I have never seen…"

I had to force my hands away from her, lest I crush the wee human to me and hurt her again. "Aye, lass," I managed gruffly. "Magical."