by Nicole René
His ownership.
Leawyn felt sore and stiff, as if she had been used. Well, she had, hadn’t she?
Her face contorted in anger, and with a shout, she knocked the basin of water over. She watched as it crashed to the floor, the water soaked up by the animal skins littering the surface.
Her anger faded away, and all she was left with was the feeling of disgust for herself and the man she was forced to marry. Her shoulders shook, and, no longer able to hold herself up, she collapsed onto her knees and crumbled to the floor.
Her forehead met her hands as she wept.
“Our scouts have been reporting strange movements from these locations,” Tristan said as he pointed to the areas on the map. “We don’t know who they are or their reason for being on our land, but it’s only a matter of time before they reach our borders.”
Xavier sat silently as he processed the information Tristan provided. They were back in the Izayges village inside the war-hut, which housed maps of the land. It was where Xavier spent most of his time. The hut had three tables inside, two of which were pushed far against the wall that overflowed with various maps and rolled parchment. A long oak table was placed in the center of the room with several chairs neatly tucked in. The far wall held a flat timber Tristan had used to pin the map of their southern borders. Xavier leaned back in his chair, gripping the table corner. His face was impassive as he looked at the map in front of him, as if staring at it would give him the answers he sought. “Any chance of them being friendly travelers?”
Tristan shook his head. “I’ve never seen travelers equipped with that amount of armor and moving in such a large group.”
“Send a message to all the patrols,” Xavier finally said as he pushed himself away from the table. “Do not raise the alarm yet, but tell them to heed caution.”
“What else will you have me do?” Tristan asked. He knew Xavier well enough to know he had more planned than just sending a warning.
He allowed a small smirk to tilt his lips up when he glanced at Tristan. “We’ll ride out ourselves. I need to know for myself and make judgment,” he told him, looking to the map again. “I won’t risk war on the assumption they’re a threat.”
“And if they are?” Tristan asked, raising a brow.
“Then we give them something to really fear before they die.”
With a quick flick of his wrist, the knife Xavier held flew across the table and landed directly in the middle of the map they were both looking at.
“I’ll ready the men, then.” Tristan bowed his head in acknowledgment, quickly leaving to carry out his chief’s orders.
Xavier stared at the dagger lodged into the wood. Knowing Tristan, the men would be ready to leave by nightfall. With no certainty of how long Xavier and his company would be gone, it meant he would be away from Leawyn for an indeterminate amount of time. For a reason unknown to him, that particular thought did not bode well. Xavier didn’t want to be without her, and the thought of another man looking after her well-being while he was gone made his fists clench in anger and the bitter taste of jealousy fill his mouth.
His eyes narrowed. No doubt she would welcome the company and take advantage of his absence. Xavier growled as he marched to the map and ripped the knife from the wood savagely.
No, he thought as he left the tent and stalked past the many people in his village. They gave him a wide berth as he headed straight for the hut which contained his young wife. She would not be alone.
She’d never have the option to be with another man or take advantage of the chance to escape him. If he were to ever catch another man gazing at his wife with the same lust that ran through his veins whenever his eyes met hers, it would be that man’s death.
Leawyn would go with him and his men.
The possessiveness of his thoughts startled him. Never had he felt this strongly about a woman.
What is she doing to me?
Even more aggravated than before, Xavier practically wrenched the door off his hut.
Leawyn jumped from the bed when the door banged open, watching as her husband ducked in. Xavier’s presence seemed to fill the room. It was as if the air sensed the danger he possessed and crackled accordingly. He was dangerous, and powerful; she could only imagine what he was like on the battlefield. The thought made her shiver. She would never want to witness that, to see the true darkness in his eyes come to life.
They stood staring at one another across the room; the quiet intensity of his stare made her feel ill at ease. When Xavier took a step towards her, Leawyn couldn’t help but take a step back.
“Don’t,” Xavier warned, his voice low. Leawyn stilled instantly, eyeing him warily as he slowly made his way to her. He took a couple more steps and stopped.
“Come here,” he demanded.
Leawyn took a few timid steps forward. When she was within arm’s reach, he caught her wrist and pulled her the rest of the way to him. With one hand, he pushed a lock of hair away from her face and hooked his thumb under her chin, tilting it to the side so that a freshly made bruise caught the light. He studied it, his dark eyes filled with intensity. Finally, Xavier did something Leawyn never would have expected.
His touch turned gentle as he tilted her chin up more and laid a gentle kiss on it. His kisses created a path down to her neck and collarbone, brushing the other bruises, both new and old, that marred her skin there.
“Pack a bag. You’re accompanying me and my men,” Xavier said against her skin. He kissed her neck one last time before turning and walking out the way he came.
Leawyn stared after him in bewilderment.
“Are you out of your mind?” Tristan demanded as soon as he reached Xavier.
Xavier said nothing in response, barely sparing Tristan a glance as he continued to load up his horse.
“I just saw Leawyn packing a bag. She said you demanded she go with us?” Tristan asked, pointing behind him in his wife’s general direction. “Tell me my ears have mistaken me!”
Xavier tightened the girth of his saddle and continued to ignore his brother. Tristan gritted his teeth in frustration, stepping in front of Xavier and blocking his path.
“Xavier, she cannot go with us,” Tristan said firmly.
“I don’t believe I asked for your opinion, nor do you have a choice in the matter,” Xavier said coolly. The fixed glare was the only warning Xavier gave his younger brother of the danger he invoked by questioning him.
“She cannot come with us, Xavier. It’s no place for a woman,” Tristan quietly reasoned with his brother.
When Xavier’s eyes only narrowed in response, Tristan’s anger grew.
“She could get killed!” Tristan yelled in frustration, drawing the attention of some of their tribesmen.
Xavier’s temper got a hold of him, and he suddenly shoved Tristan against the tree behind him, forcing his back hard against the bark.
“Why the sudden concern for my wife, Brother?” Xavier asked as his grip tightened on Tristan’s tunic. “What does it matter to you what I do with my wife?”
“She’s a liability, Xavier,” Tristan gritted out. “She’ll get you killed. She’ll get us all killed!”
“What I do with my wife is none of your concern!” Xavier hissed. “She’s mine,” he snarled possessively in Tristan’s face.
They glared at each other, tense silence stretched between them. After several heated moments, Xavier released Tristan’s tunic roughly as he backed away.
“Do not question me again, Brother,” Xavier warned, his eyes telling of the promised danger if Tristan disobeyed.
Turning his back on Tristan, Xavier marched up the hill to go get his wife.
“You’re making a mistake, Xavier!” Tristan yelled at his brother’s back.
Xavier’s steps paused, his fist clenching.
“She’s going to be your downfall.”
Xavier cocked his head and met Tristan’s eyes. Moments passed before Xavier turned back around and continued walking away.
&
nbsp; It took four days of hard riding to reach their destination. The only moments of respite Leawyn was granted was when they stopped to feed and water their horses. Leawyn and her horse, Deydrey, were unused to this type of traveling, and she worried the ride would be too much for her beloved mare. But Deydrey seemed to enjoy the run, which eased Leawyn’s worry.
The only blessing of this whole adventure was the fact Leawyn did not have to be around her husband. In fact, she hardly saw him. Their company was about fifty men, and she was instructed to ride in the middle so that she was surrounded. Protected. Since the speed they were traveling hardly left room for conversation, Leawyn kept to herself. Even though she was happy to be away from her husband, she was sick of riding. Which was why when Xavier finally did call a stop, she sighed in relief.
With sore thighs and a numb bottom, she held back her groan as her feet touched solid ground. After taking a few minutes to stretch and try to bring feeling back into her limbs, she turned her attention to her horse and began the process of unsaddling her. She was in the middle of trying to lift the saddle with shaky arms when it was suddenly plucked out of her hands and set down on the ground.
Surprised, Leawyn whirled around, only to stare into the intricate design of breastplate armor. Tilting her head back, she stared into the dark eyes of her husband.
She glanced away from his stare and down to her saddle. Quickly coming out of her shock, she gave him a timid grateful smile.
“Thank you,” she said, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture.
“You’re welcome,” Xavier said gruffly.
He placed his hands on her slim hips, resting them there. Leawyn tensed, glancing over his shoulder to see his men were further up, busy setting up the camp.
Meaning that they were alone.
Xavier tightened his grip on her waist, his thumb brushing against her hip bone before he gently nudged her aside and stepped forward to finish what was left to unsaddle her horse.
She released the breath she didn’t know she was holding and stared at his back for a moment in perplexity.
“I can do it,” she protested, not wanting him to think her helpless. “You don’t need to—”
“I want to,” he interrupted her, staring into her eyes. Taking in her startled expression, he turned away from her and looked down at her horse’s coat instead.
“I had a tent set up for you—us,” he amended. “I know you must be tired. Go in and rest for a while.” He glanced over his shoulder at her once more, meeting her blue eyes with his brown as she regarded him.
“Go.” He turned his back on her again, his attention returned to his task. “I’ll finish here.”
Leawyn hesitated, watching him groom her mare. Not knowing what else to say, and not wanting to offend him because of his rare act of kindness, she turned on her heel in a daze and slowly made her way to the camp, all the while thinking, what just happened?
Once Leawyn made it to the encampment, she came to a stop, realizing she had no idea where she was supposed to go. She was in such a confused daze, she didn’t think to ask Xavier which tent she was supposed to rest in. Since there was no way she was going to go back to her husband and ask, she was left standing there, looking like an idiot. Her shoulders slumped as she released a tired sigh.
“You look lost.”
Leawyn whipped her head up and stared at Tristan as he made his way towards her, his lips tilted up in an amused smirk. She smiled, embarrassed. “Was I that obvious?”
“I’m afraid so.” Tristan chuckled and she grimaced. “Then again, ‘tis not often we see a woman in our camp,” he added.
“I believe it.” She sighed as she surveyed her surroundings. She watched Xavier’s men as they built small fires, unloaded their horses, and settled in to relax after their long ride. She shook her head, turning her attention back to Tristan.
“What am I doing here, Tristan?” she asked him quietly, searching his eyes. “Why did he bring me here?”
“Come,” he said instead of answering, grabbing her arm and leading her away. “I’ll show you your tent.”
Knowing he was not going to answer her, Leawyn sighed dejectedly and let him lead her away.
He stopped just outside a rather large green tent, pulled aside the front flap, and gestured for her to go in. Taking a step forward, Leawyn ducked her head down and looked around in wonder at the lavish tent.
In the middle was a large table filled with maps and knickknacks, no doubt marking out the land around them. Leawyn could see a small basin of water; the steam rising from it indicated it was still warm. There was a bed pallet in the far corner covered in thick animal skins with pillows littered all around it. Thick rugs covered the floor, and torch stands were spaced sporadically around the tent, creating a soft glow. It was a tent meant for the leader, and all in all it looked comfortable.
It made Leawyn feel a bit guilty to know she could sleep comfortably while the other men were left to sleep outside on the ground and in the cold.
She turned to thank Tristan, only to find he wasn’t there.
She frowned. She was a bit put out he stuck around long enough to show her the way but didn’t bother to tell her goodbye.
She didn’t have long to think of that fact. Xavier stepped through the tent opening. He let the fabric used as the entrance of their tent slide from his fingers as he slowly straightened.
Leawyn felt a sudden sense of déjà vu when he took a step toward her, staring at her intently. She unconsciously took a step back and instantly regretted it when his eyes flashed irately. She braced herself when he marched towards her, knowing he was going to punish her for retreating from him.
But instead of grabbing her and forcing himself on her as she expected him to, he simply walked past her to the wash bin. She stared at him as he calmly grabbed the rag and started to run it over his face and down his arms.
“I’m going away for a few days,” Xavier told her. “You are to stay here.”
“Why did you bring me here, only for you to leave me? Why couldn’t I stay behind in the village?”
His expression darkened. “So that you could find comfort in another man’s arms?”
Leawyn recoiled, insulted. “I wouldn’t—”
“I don’t trust you,” Xavier said bluntly, cutting her off. “And the only man I trust to ensure that doesn’t happen is here. Tristan will be your keeper while I’m gone.”
Leawyn bristled at the term “keeper.” It was as if she were an insolent child. She wisely kept her mouth shut, knowing any remark she made would only rouse his anger.
“How long will you be away?” she asked instead. “We only just got here.”
Xavier threw the rag back into the water with a small splash. He crossed his arms as he turned to face her.
“I am to scout ahead,” he told her. He eyed her, watching her expression closely. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. It might be a few days to a week.”
Leawyn tried not to show the small spark of hope that ignited inside her, even knowing he was gauging her reaction. If he were to leave for a few days, it would be the perfect time to try and escape.
She could finally be free of him and this trapped life.
“That is unfortunate,” Leawyn murmured.
Xavier only smirked. “My dear, sweet wife,” he said in a silky voice that instantly put her on alert. “Do you think me stupid?”
He raised his hand to cup her cheek. He stared into her eyes, and she tensed when he moved his hand to grip the nape of her neck.
“I know exactly what this opportunity presents,” Xavier said, his other hand snaking up her throat.
His eyes turned icy, his grip on her neck tightened as he used his thumb to push down on her throat, forcibly titling her head back. “Know that if you try to escape, not only will you not get very far…”
Leawyn whimpered when his grip became unbearably painful. He slowly cut off her air supply by applying more pressure wi
th his thumb. She closed her eyes at the feel of his beard scraping across her cheek, feeling his lips touch her ear.
“But you also won’t like the consequences if I find out you tried to escape me,” he whispered severely.
He pulled away from her, and before Leawyn could comprehend what was happening, he lifted her so she was flush against him. She let out a pained groan when her back met the large wooden beam holding up their tent.
“You’re mine,” Xavier growled. The sound of his belt unbuckling made Leawyn start to struggle against his hold, knowing what was coming. The slick head of his length brush her thigh as he yanked her skirts up. A moment later, he pushed himself inside her with a hard thrust. His grip bruised her thighs as he held them around his waist and thrust himself in and out of her with fast, jerky movements.
“You belong to me.”
She cried out as her back and head painfully hit the beam behind her with each thrust of his hips.
“You’ll never escape me, never!” he snarled manically. He pounded into her at a furious pace, punishing her with his body for a long while until, finally, he stiffened. He buried his face into her neck and Leawyn felt his seed spill into her. His thrusts slowed, and then stopped.
Xavier stepped back, and just as quickly he released his tight grip on her thighs so that she fell to the floor. He stared down at her seemingly without feeling as she crumbled around herself, her hair creating a barrier and hiding her tears as her shoulders shook.
He kneeled so his face was level with her head. She flinched when he calmly brushed her hair away from her cheek, turning her face toward him.
“You’ll never escape me, Leawyn. Wherever you are, I’ll find you,” he promised, brushing a tear away. “You’re mine. I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you away from me,” he said softly, his voice laced with steel and possessiveness.
With those parting words, he quickly rose to a standing position and left the tent, leaving Leawyn on the ground, shaking.
In that moment, any doubts that Xavier wasn’t heartless were wiped away.