He wasn’t foolish enough to think that his men had no needs. He knew of their exploits down south to the inns to see the human whores. After decades of loneliness, who could blame them? But why steal Sisters? And girls, at that?
“It had to have been bloodsuckers,” said Blain. “Our patrols of the forest are the only things standing between the vampires and the humans. We’ve been doing this for hundreds of years, they were bound to break through at some point. Without the Sisters, our numbers continue to dwindle, even with our exceptionally long lifespans.”
“No.” Adrian shook his head. “Someone has to be helping them. She said that three wolves came into the village. We have to find the culprits and cull them.”
“Easy.” Blain walked over and set his hands on Adrian’s shoulders. “Let’s take a second to think about this. If we try to shake down everyone in the pack, the girls will most likely end up dead to cover the trail. We need to feel this out. Do this smart.”
Blain’s words were wise, but the fact that someone would take females was almost more than he could bear. Adrian looked up at his friend. “You should be king.”
Blain’s brows furrowed, and then he laughed. “Me? No thank you.” He held up his hands and crossed to the small nightstand and poured himself a drink.
“You’ve always been better at diplomacy than I. I’m a react-first-and-think-later person.” Adrian swallowed and dropped his gaze to the stone floor. “Too much like my mother that way.”
“Don’t.”
Adrian met Blain’s stern gaze.
“Don’t you do that. You make your own way in life. When are you going to learn that?” Blain downed his drink. "You are not your father or your mother."
Adrian shook his head. “Who’d do this, and why?”
“We’ll figure it out. But I don’t think doing it in the middle of the night is going to help. Together we will stop this from happening again. We’ll make sure they are safe.”
Adrian blew out a long sigh and sat down on the bed. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am.” Blain smiled, then set down his glass. “You have a lot on your mind. You need sleep. Go to your room–”
“She’s in there.”
“Is that a problem?”
Adrian lifted his gaze to Blain's wicked grin. He watched Adrian’s reaction, and then laughed heartily. “Well, well, well. Has someone finally tamed your Alpha heart?”
No! “I can’t get her out of my thoughts. Her scent is...”
“Is what?”
“Well, you smelled her.”
Blain shrugged and moved back to the nightstand. “She smelled like any other woman to me.”
Her golden eyes flashed into his mind. The defiant way she’d looked at him when he tried to help her. The distrust he saw when he touched her. “I can’t put my finger on it.”
Blain smiled. “Pack members tell me that that’s how it is with their mates. Her scent is irresistible to them. Sends them into a frenzy, making them want to bed her night and day.”
“I know the feeling.”
“Then maybe she is the one.” Blain had his serious face on again for the second time in a day. That wasn’t like him. “Maybe she’s the one who will fulfill the prophecy and begin the healing of our lands.”
“No.” Adrian shook his head. “I have no interest in her more than her safety, and possibly having her find a home here with one of my men.”
“Then stay here tonight.” Blain downed his drink. “Women don’t appreciate being made to choose a mate when they are injured and tired. Hell, she could end up with Jale or Juda if that was the case. Besides my bed’s big enough.”
Adrian's Alpha grumbled. He'd be damned if he'd let her end up with Jale or Juda. Even if it meant he had to send her away. He looked at Blain, who patted the bed next to him.
“Fine.” Adrian stripped off his shirt. “But don’t hog all the covers.”
Blain put on an expression of mock sadness. “Thou offendeth me to the core, Sire.”
Chapter Five
Redlynn waited for Adrian to return. The pain of her neck and arm overwhelmed her, and no matter what she did, she was unable to get comfortable. After an hour, she merely lay staring at the fire.
She’d never met a man like Adrian. Obviously, he was a man of money, but he neither flaunted, nor bragged about it. He didn’t seem to be doing anything with his life. What kind of man did what he wanted, when he wanted? Yet, he had a healer, which meant that there had to be more than just him in the house. Her news of the missing girls had upset him greatly. What she didn’t know was why. They weren’t from his area. The fact that he didn’t seem to fear the beasts perplexed her. There were so many questions. That she’d never heard there were even people living in the forest was just the beginning.
She’d never been outside of Volkzene or the forest. It had been indoctrinated to all of them growing up that Volkzene was home. Outside was nothing but death. Redlynn had never questioned that before now.
Near dawn, Redlynn’s eyelids drooped. The sun filtered in through a stained glass window in the corner. For as comfortable as the bed was, the unfamiliarity made her unable to fully relax. Finally, she drifted off to a restless sleep.
She awoke sometime later to the door opening, but she couldn’t see it.
She reached under her pillow and grabbed the knife. “Adrian?” she called. She’d been lying in the same position so long that her body was stiff.
The curtain parted at the end of the bed, and a tall, well-built male with blond hair and a handsome, angular face stood before her. His dark blue silk tunic mimicked the color of his all-searching eyes. Redlynn clutched the covers around herself.
“Hello.” He smiled. “Can I help you sit up?”
“Where’s Adrian?” She thrust the knife in front of her and pulled her covers up.
“Whoa, easy.” He raised his hand in surrender. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Get out!”
“Hey. I just came to see if you were all right. Adrian will be up in a minute. He stared at her, transfixed. "Your eyes..."
Redlynn clutched the covers. She could call for help, but who knew what would happen. Had she been brought here just to become the mockery of those in this house, too? Her hand shook from holding out the knife.
“Who are you?” she asked forcefully.
“Blain. Sorry,” he apologized. “It’s just your eyes are so–”
“Cursed?”
“Beautiful.”
Redlynn stopped breathing. People were scared of her eyes. Leery of her eyes. Curious of her eyes. But never, accepting of them.
She and Blain watched each other for a long while, neither speaking. His face was genuine, but she didn’t know him. If he tried to attack her, with how she felt, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to fend him off. She glanced behind him, looking for her things.
“Is it true that you’ve had girls go missing from your village?”
Redlynn’s eyes snapped back to his face. “What do you want?”
“Forgive me.” He smiled. It was a jovial smile that instantly put her at ease. “I was with Adrian when we found you. We weren’t sure you were going to survive the night.”
“That tends to happen when you get attacked by Weres.” Redlynn lowered the knife and tried to sit up again while retaining her modesty.
“The wolves attacked you?”
“Why do you sound amused?” she shot back. “They’re wild, cave-dwelling beasts that prey on the blood of the innocent. They have no conscience or remorse, having been cursed by the gods for their blood-thirsty ways.”
“You sound like an old mage book,” he laughed.
Redlynn’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t like feeling the fool. “Did you need something?” Her side ached from lying on it too long, and Blain's smugness was not something she wanted to be dealing with.
“Let me help you.”
Before she protested, he wrapped his arm around her waist an
d helped her into a sitting position. Redlynn’s breath caught in her throat at the feel of his hard, hot body. His sapphire blue gaze bore into her. Redlynn held very still at his closeness, making sure her cloak remained closed. The knife still protruded toward him. He glanced down at it, and a slight smile played on his face.
“What the hell are you doing?” came a voice from behind Blain.
Blain released her. Adrian burst over to where she sat, propped against the pillows, and pushed him away.
“Easy.” Blain stepped back. “I was helping her sit up. She was in pain, brother.”
Adrian held Blain’s gaze for a moment before his body relaxed, and he apologized.
“Think nothing of it.” Blain leaned back against the stone-wall. "Hell knows you owe me a few licks for behavior on nights when I've had too much to drink."
Redlynn looked from one man to the other; their familiarity and affection for each other was more than apparent. She wondered if they were brothers by blood.
Adrian turned and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. He lifted his hand as if to touch her, and then ran it through his hair. “Are you feeling better?”
Something about having him near soothed her. She a cocoon of safety settled over her, a sensation she was not used to. She concealed the knife again.
Adrian sighed. “I told you that you don't need that here.”
“And yet, a man came into this room just moments ago and put his hands on me.”
Adrian’s brows furrowed and his eyes darkened. He turned his gaze on Blain.
Blain shrugged. “I was just helping her.”
Adrian turned his attention back to her. His face was a hard mask. “Hanna’s here to check your wound and to help you bathe. I have a tub in the other room. When she’s done examining you, I’ll carry you in.”
Hanna walked into view with Redlynn's bag, bow, and sword. Her mind snapped into action. She had a job to do. “And then I can leave?”
“Let’s see how you’re doing first.”
Redlynn’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t keep me here.”
Adrian smiled slightly. “I’m sure that is true. But I’m trying to keep you alive. Try to remember that.”
The sight of his upturned lips made Redlynn’s heart flutter. Wake up, girl! Something about his presence made her unable to think rationally. She couldn’t allow that. She needed to heal and to get back out there. She’d made a promise to her mother and to Anya and she intended on fulfilling it.
Adrian stood and crossed to where Blain stood against the wall, watching her. He punched Blain in the shoulder and Blain broke eye contact with her, grinning at Adrian while backing away.
“I just wanted to meet her,” he said under his breath. “I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Get out,” Adrian growled, pushing Blain toward the door.
Blain laughed heartily and whispered something to Adrian that Redlynn couldn’t hear. A growl escaped Adrian, and Blain’s smile widened.
“My Lady, I doth apologize. Both for intrudeth-ing upon thee, and for putteth-ing my hands upon thy person.” Blain gave a flourishing bow.
Adrian grabbed Blain by the arm, raising him from his bow, and escorted him to the door.
Blain smiled at Redlynn. “Feel better, golden sister. I want to see you wield that big sword.” He waved, and then was gone.
Adrian scowled and motioned to Hanna, who’d been waiting.
The woman had soft features, delicate and subtle. Several small wrinkles creased her brown eyes, but not enough that Redlynn would consider her old. Forty was Redlynn’s guess. Her light brown hair was pulled into a long intricate braid the likes of which Redlynn had never been able to do herself.
“Have we met?” Redlynn studied the woman’s face.
“Perhaps.” Hanna smiled. “I didn’t always live here. Where are you from?”
“Volkzene.”
“Ahhhh... home of the Sisterhood of Red.”
“My name is Redlynn.”
Hanna nodded. “May I check your wound this morning?”
“I checked it a few hours ago. You did well with the salve. However, there isn’t much to see, with the fernblend and all.”
Hanna chuckled and then whispered, “M’lord meant well, dear.”
Redlynn glanced up at Adrian’s face. A look of pure annoyance was planted there. She smiled to herself. He was strikingly handsome when he scowled.
His face softened at her smile, and Redlynn felt her cheeks flame. She looked away.
Hanna leaned in, pulled up the sheet to cover Redlynn’s chest, and removed the bandage on her neck and shoulder. Taking a damp cloth, she wiped at the salve and leaves. Redlynn winced but was surprised that the leaves wiped away easily. Hanna’s brows furrowed. Redlynn glanced at her shoulder. The skin was red and raw and new, but no wound remained. There was no way she should have healed that quickly.
“What was in your salve?”
“Comfrey, calendula, plantain, eucalyptus. But it’s never done that before.”
“Maybe it was the fernblend,” Adrian added.
“I doubt that,” Hanna mused.
“Must be.” He gave a triumphant grin.
Redlynn and Hanna didn’t respond. Hanna checked Redlynn’s shoulder and then her collarbone. It was her shoulder that pained the most.
“It’s dislocated,” Hanna said. “We have to set it. But with your collarbone broken, putting it in is really going to hurt. Unfortunately, we can’t wait, or your shoulder will heal wrong.” Hanna looked at Redlynn quizzically.
“What?”
“You should be in unbearable agony right now.” Hanna shook her head.
Redlynn gave a half shrug. “I’ve always had a high tolerance for pain.”
Hanna glanced over at Adrian and then back to Redlynn.
“Do you know how to set it?” Redlynn asked.
“I do,” said Adrian. His smile had been wiped away. “Bathe her first. It will help her relax. Then I’ll do it.” He walked to the door. “I’ll check to see if the water is ready.”
After he left, Redlynn asked, “Why do you call him ‘my Lord?’”
“Because this is his castle.”
“Castle?” Redlynn shook her head. The Sisterhood knew so very little about what lay in the woods that they guarded against. She’d never, ever heard of people living in Wolvenglen before now. In a castle no less. “Why do you live out here? Aren’t you scared of the Weres?”
“No. I’m not scared of the wolves. There are a great many other things in this wood, and in this world, that I am more afraid of, Red.”
Redlynn studied Hanna’s face again. “My mother used to call me Red. She always tried to make me feel special, because of my eyes.”
“You are special,” Hanna said.
“Were-eyes. That’s what people whispered.”
Hanna’s presence made Redlynn speak words she’d never told another. The sensation surprised her. She’d been more welcomed and attended to with kindness since coming to Wolvenglen than she had in her twenty-four years of life in Volkzene. Her heart surged. Maybe they’d let her return and stay after she killed the Were King. Redlynn pushed the thought away quickly. Don’t be silly. She shouldn’t presume they wanted anything more than to heal her and send her on her way.
“Your eyes are beautiful. My Lord thinks so.”
Redlynn raised her brows. “He told you that?”
“No. But he spoke to Blain before we came up. And he trusts Blain like no other, so if he told Blain that, then it must be true.”
“No man has ever thought of me as beautiful before.”
“That’s because what most men want is a submissive little wife who will cook and have babies,” Hanna laughed.
“Is that what your husband expects of you?”
“Oh, no. The men of Wolvenglen aren’t like other men. They like their women strong and fiery.”
“My mother used to be a midwife and healer in Volkzene.”
“Did
she?” Hanna smoothed the covers.
“I suppose they’d hoped I’d take her place when she died.” Redlynn opened her mouth to ask something, but Adrian returned. He moved over to the bed and closed the curtains, then ordered several people to enter. Moments later, water splashed into a tub.
When everyone had left, he opened the curtains. “Let me carry you to the bath.”
“I’m just fine.” Redlynn grabbed her cloak and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She swayed slightly, and Hanna grabbed her by the elbow, steadying her.
“Obviously, you’re not.” Adrian rounded the bed.
“I said, I’m fine.” Adrian put his hand out to help her, but she shoved him away. “I can do it.”
He pursed his lips and crossed his arms over his chest. He huffed once, and then said, “After you.” He waved her toward the bathing room.
He was treating her like a child, and she didn’t care for it. “I can bathe myself as well. I’ve been doing it for a few years now.”
Adrian inclined his head.
Each step sapped Redlynn of her strength, but she refused to let it show. Her body felt like a rope twisted too tight. Each movement stiff and painful. Slower than she wanted to, she made her way to the bathing room. Stepping up and through the threshold, steam from the water moistened her face. It’d been a long time since she’d felt a hot bath. And she’d never seen a tub in a room of its own before. Breathing in the perfumed water, she relaxed.
Redlynn turned to find Adrian watching. Hanna slid into the room behind her and closed the heavy door.
“Let me help you out of your clothes, dear.”
Redlynn opened her mouth, but Hanna raised her hand.
“Stop right there. You want to be brave for Adrian, wonderful, but not with me. You’re hurting, and you have nothing to prove to me. I already know how strong you are. Let me help you.”
I like her.
Without waiting for an answer, Hanna undressed Redlynn and eased her into the tub. She couldn’t hold in the sigh that escaped her lips at the warmth of the water.
Hanna reached into her pouch, pulled out a canister, and knelt on the floor. “Let me help cleanse the area of the bite.”
Red the Were Hunter (Fairelle Series Book 1) Page 6