“How’s your shoulder?” Hanna asked.
“Sore.” Redlynn continued to stare until the men finally went back to their food. All except for three. Two dark-haired males that looked similar, and an older rugged male with red hair and a red beard.
“To be expected. I’m going to eat with Fendrick, and then I’ll come to see you.”
“You don’t need to do that.” Redlynn met Hanna’s eye. “I’m feeling much better, and I’ll be leaving soon.”
“I want to. I’ll be up in a little bit,” Hanna smiled and squeezed Redlynn’s arm lightly.
Hanna’s smile untied the knots in Redlynn’s stomach.
“Come on, golden sister.” Blain patted her arm.
Hanna moved away, and Blain showed Redlynn to the other end of the feasting hall. An enormous fireplace took up half a wall. As they neared it, she broke into a light sweat. Above hung a colossal ornate mirror. The frame swirled with flowers and birds. At the very top sat a red rose made from a large ruby stone. It was indeed a work of art.
“That’s beautiful,” Redlynn mused.
“It’s been in Adrian’s family for generations.” He pointed to the corner of the room where the women had entered from. “Down there is the kitchen.”
“Do the women do all the cooking?”
“They do most of it. But we’ve all learned to cook over the years, as well.”
That was definitely different than in Volkzene.
“Over there.” He pointed to another door. “Leads to where the rest of the men and women stay.”
“They don’t have their own homes?”
“We tend to be a close-knit group here in Wolvenglen. But we have more than enough rooms. As a matter of fact, many rooms are empty at the moment.”
“Where do you go for privacy?”
“The forest.” Blain pushed open the outer door, and they walked into a foyer. “This is the entrance hall.” He let go of her and gestured to the long line of enormous portraits hanging on the right and left of the hall. “These paintings have been done of all of our rulers since we settled here.”
Redlynn stood in awe. There were dozens of paintings. Studying them in turn, she noticed each bore a similar likeness. The men were broad-shouldered and muscular, the women stately and beautiful.
For several minutes, Blain pointed to a few, telling her about the rich history of the people in the paintings. The women reminded Redlynn of what she imagined her ancestors, the Heads of the Order, would’ve looked like.
She noticed a light spot on the wall with a missing painting. Next, to it, the last painting was that of a lone man.
“That’s Adrian.” Redlynn stopped in front of it.
“Actually, it’s his father.”
“Where is he?” She studied the face that was so similar to Adrian’s. Even the sadness that seemed to radiate off of the image reminded her of him.
“Adrian’s father betrayed his mother, and she fled. He died of a broken heart.”
“What did he do?”
“He was tricked into lying with another.”
Redlynn snorted. “Tricked? How can a man be tricked into sleeping with someone else?”
Blain sighed. “He was seduced by magick. But the queen didn’t see it that way. All she saw was that he’d broken their vow. She refused to forgive and instead departed these lands never to return.” Blain studied the painting. “Her leaving has caused a rift in our kingdom that we all still feel.”
What kind of woman could cause that much pain?
A howl sounded outside, and Redlynn’s attention snapped to the entrance. She sprinted toward the sound without thinking.
“Red! Wait!” Blain yelled.
Throwing the door open, she burst outside. At the gate of the drawbridge stood an enormous black Were. His golden eyes glowed into the night. They were there now. Threatening the castle. Everything else forgotten, Redlynn’s instincts kicked in. She scanned the courtyard for a weapon. A wagon full of hay sat at the bottom of the steps to the right. Rushing down, she grabbed a pitchfork and made for the drawbridge.
Ten feet from the Were, she stopped suddenly. A jolt shot through her. Like the Weres in the woods, he seemed to be waiting for something. He stared at her, all too familiar. Pitch-black fur fell long from his head and shoulders. Her body quaked at the nearness of him, and something inside screamed for her to drop the pitchfork. The Were's ears flattened against his skull and the hairs on his neck raised.
Up close he was even larger than the others she'd fought. But she was undeterred. She would do whatever it took to keep the people of Wolvenglen safe. She lunged at the beast, and it backed up, biting at the pitchfork.
Instantly, Blain was at her side. He grabbed the pitchfork from her and thrust it at the giant beast. The Were growled and bared his teeth, before shifting its gaze back to Redlynn.
“Go!” Blain shouted to her. “Get inside.”
She froze on the spot. The ache in her belly grew. Not now! Now was not the time to have to deal with female issues. Ignoring the cramping, her gaze narrowed. Something about the Were was so familiar. Had he been in the village? The one who killed Anya?
“Go!” Blain bellowed, grabbing her by her arm and shaking her out of her reverie.
This had to be the Were. It had to be him. The king. She could feel it inside.
Now was her chance at vengeance. She needed her sword.
Turning, she ran toward her room.
Chapter Seven
Seeing her run out of the castle wearing that dress had not been something Adrian was prepared for. He’d been mesmerized by her beauty. Showing her resourcefulness, she’d grabbed the pitchfork. She’d make a magnificent mate. But not for him.
Adrian turned his attention to Blain.
“Sorry about that.” Blain threw the pitchfork aside. “I had to at least let her out of her room, or she was going to end up out there in the woods, searching for you. You need to talk to her soon if you’re going to, Adrian. She’s determined to leave. I fear one of you is going to end up dead if you don't.”
Adrian nodded his shaggy head. Blain was right, yet again. He had to tell her the truth about who he was, and about the rest of them. But he needed to time it right. She’d improved overnight. She’d hefted the pitchfork with both hands, showing little weakness in her dislocated shoulder. Her healing abilities were unheard of. Perhaps it had something to do with the prophecy. He didn't know.
He had been expecting at least a week’s time before she was up and about. From there he’d hoped to introduce her to the men, and see if she fancied any of them. An ache gnawed in his gut at the thought. Memories of her soft lips and the warmth of her body in his arms filled him. He grumbled. He’d spent the entire evening trying to run the memories out of his head; it hadn’t worked. Even if he was able to control the thoughts, his wolf would never let him forget.
“The men are still eating. They’ll be out in a minute.” Blain broke through Adrian’s thoughts. “You should go. I’m sure she’ll return. She used her bow earlier. And even with her shaky arm, her arrow flew pretty straight.”
Adrian didn’t want to hurt her, and he didn’t want her hurting herself. A Sister like her would be a great asset in the fight against the vampires.
Adrian barked.
“I can’t promise to keep her in her room, but I’ll at least try to keep her inside.”
Blain had saved Adrian on several occasions. Even so, the thought of him and all of his charms, spending time with Redlynn, made Adrian’s chest tighten. Stop it. She isn’t meant to be yours. Between her and Blain, they could rule strongly, in Adrian’s stead. The thought both saddened and angered him at the same time. Images flashed through his mind. Redlynn in Blain's arms. Her belly swollen with his child. Blain joking with her, making her smile.
Adrian's wolf grumbled and he shifted from foot to foot.
He wished for the millionth time that the mental connection he had with his men while in wolf form worked wh
en they were in human form. He had several choice words he was dying to say at that moment.
The door to the castle opened, and four men emerged. He backed away until he reached the other end of the drawbridge. Turning, he ran into the forest, threw his head up and howled. Within a minute, four wolves appeared from the wood and shifted into human form. They each found the clothes that they’d dropped several hours earlier and dressed quickly.
“Mmmmm. I smell dinner.”
“Chicken,” one sighed, appearing through the trees.
“We’ll try to save you some, Adrian,” Rue laughed.
Adrian growled at the men, and they took off toward the drawbridge. They passed the four newcomers, shouting tidings to each other. The four new men reached Adrian and bowed in turn. Adrian snapped his jaws, and they stripped and shifted. He didn’t want to be out tonight, he wanted to be spending his evening talking and lying with Redlynn.
“Let’s move.” His patience wore thin.
“Met Redlynn,” said Bo.
“Good on ya,” said Noth.
“Cut it,” Adrian snapped. “We have work to do. Besides, she isn’t mine.” He tried to keep the possessive edge out of his thoughts.
“Oh, no?” asked Noth. “She sure smelled like you’d marked her. And since she’s been spending the nights with you. I just assumed...”
“If you decide you don’t want her–” Markum didn’t finish his sentence before Adrian leaped at him, and the group took off into the night.
No, he told himself. He wasn’t attached to her at all.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Blain leaned against the doorframe.
Redlynn tried to heave her pack over her shoulder. “I’m going after it.”
“Says who?”
Her shoulders tensed. “I don’t need your permission, Blain.”
“Nope, you don’t. But you do need Hanna’s.”
Just then Hanna arrived. Her motherly gaze flitted from Redlynn to the pack on her shoulder and back again. Her expression hardened.
“Get in bed,” Hanna ordered.
“I thank you for your help, but I need to go. When I’ve finished my task, I’ll return, and you can look at me then if you wish.” Redlynn let the hint linger in the air to see if she’d be allowed to return. Leaving Wolvenglen, even with all the stares from the men, tore at her heart.
“What you need to do is get into bed and heal.” Hanna crossed to the table, set down her bag, and removed Redlynn’s pack from her shoulder.
“I swore vengeance against the Weres who killed my best friend, and have been taking girls from my village.” Redlynn shook her head. “I don’t expect you to understand. I appreciate your kindness and what you have done for me, but I have stayed too long already.” She grabbed her pack with her good hand, from where Hanna had placed it.
“What about Adrian?” Blain chimed in.
“I…” her voice faltered. She wanted to say goodbye to him, but she was afraid. Afraid that if she saw his face…she’d stay. And she couldn’t let any attraction she had for him stand in her way. “You tell him goodbye for me. He’s a Lord, he understands duty.”
Hanna stepped in her way, blocking the exit, and squeezed Redlynn’s bad shoulder. She cried out and dropped her things, clutching her arm.
“If you leave now, you die. You’re injured. You can’t lift that sword for more than a minute, I reckon. How do you intend to kill a Were? Stand and wait for them to impale themselves on it for you? And how shaky were you when you tried your bow earlier?” Hanna jutted her chin toward Redlynn’s bow.
Redlynn gripped her shoulder, holding back anger and tears, refusing to answer. She didn’t like being scolded like a disobedient child.
“You can be as mad at me as you want,” Hanna said, “but believe it or not, I am trying to help you, girl.” She removed the pack from Redlynn’s shoulder once more and set it on the table.
“Why don’t you have a drink of mead and think about it for a minute?” Blain crossed to the table and picked up a goblet and turned his back as he filled it. “We can’t stop you from leaving, but we can help you wait until you are thinking more rationally.”
He held it out to her and Redlynn reluctantly took the goblet, drained it. Blain sat the cup down on the table and smiled as he moved closer to her. He laid his palm on her shoulder, and she noticed it wasn’t as warm as the day before. She pushed away from his touch, but he stepped forward again. Too close. A niggling of anxiety crawled over her skin like spiders on a web.
“Why are you so close to me? Adrian said I could leave whenever I want. Has that changed?”
“You’re going to lie down.” Hanna’s voice gentled.
Redlynn looked between them. The room swayed. And she blinked rapidly. Something wasn’t right.
“What did you do to me?” She stepped toward the door but stumbled.
“Come on, let’s put you in bed.”
Her knees wobbled and Blain grabbed her before she fell.
“What the hell did you put in my drink?” she slurred.
He carried her like a ragdoll to the bed. “A little something to help you relax, that’s all,” Blain admitted with a half-hearted smile. “Adrian really would kill me if I let anything happen to you, golden sister. And between you being mad at me, and him being mad at me, I’ll choose you every time. Sorry.” Then he kissed her lightly on the forehead.
“Jackass,” she yelled. “I should kill you for that. You had no right.”
Blain looked at her, his eyes holding sadness. “Sometimes we do things for the greater good that could be considered questionable. Given the opportunity, I’d do it again to keep you safe.”
She could barely keep her eyes open. “You’re wrong.”
Blain shook his head. “Rarely unfortunately.”
Her blood pounded in her ears. He was infuriating. But there was nothing she could do about it. For now. She couldn’t concentrate; sleep was close to overtaking her. At least it would help with the cramping.
“I know you don’t believe us, Red, but in time you will,” said Hanna. “We honestly only want to keep you from doing something you’ll regret later on. There are worse things in the woods than the wolves.”
“Not to me.” Redlynn’s mind whirled. She tried to concentrate on Hanna’s face. “Why do you protect the wolves? What is it out there that you’re more afraid of?”
Hanna smoothed Redlynn’s hair and her brow furrowed. She put the back of her hand on Redlynn’s forehead. “Are you feeling well?”
“I’m drugged, how am I supposed to know?” Redlynn snapped. What was going on? Was she now a prisoner? A shiver ran through her. Now more than ever she needed to get out of here. Something wasn’t right about the castle.
“You feel warm.” Hanna touched Redlynn again and then pulled down her dress and examined her neck. “You may have an infection. Maybe the bite healed with something inside.” Hanna opened her medicine bag. Pulling the contents out, she scanned several vials. Then she sat back on the bed. “Drink this. It should help with the onset of the infection.”
Redlynn scrutinized the bottle. After what Blain had just done, it could be anything. “I’ll pass.”
Hanna sighed. “Girl, you are more stubborn and suspicious than any Sister I’ve ever met. Tell me, do you really think we mean you harm?”
“No. But I do think you all want something from me; what it is, I haven’t figured out yet. And there are things about this castle that don’t add up. Why are there so few women? Why are all the men large and handsome and strong? Why do they still mourn the loss of a long-since dead queen?”
Hanna smiled. “Drink this. It’s goldenseal and ecchinate, it should help if there’s an infection. You can question us to death tomorrow, and we will answer all of your questions. I promise.”
Hanna’s eyes appeared sincere. Redlynn sniffed the bottle and recognized the scent of the ingredients that Hanna had named. It reminded her of her mother. She parted her lips, a
nd Hanna poured the tincture down her throat.
“Rest now. Yell tomorrow.” Hanna stood and drew the curtains around Redlynn’s bed as she dozed off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
“What do you mean she has an infection?” Adrian asked in a loud whisper. “She’s healed, hasn’t she?” His gaze moved to the drawn curtains as he fought the urge to go look at her.
“Yes, Lord, she has. But she has a fever I cannot explain. I can only think that something may have been sealed under her skin when the wound closed,” said Hanna.
“But there’s no oozing, no pustule.” He bit his fingernails and paced the floor.
“No, nothing like that. It could be from the traumas she’s suffered. We’ll have to wait and see. I’ve given her something to help; hopefully, it will be enough.” Hanna chewed her lip. “She’s very headstrong.”
Adrian already knew that all too well. He stopped pacing. Hanna’s gaze was heavy upon him. She’d been one of the first Sisters to return. “You have something to say, Hanna?”
“Blain had to drug her.”
“What?” Adrian closed his eyes and shook his head. She’d never trust them now.
“She was determined to get out of the castle. You’re going to need to tell her, sire. The news will come as a shock, yes, but she’s determined to find and kill you, M’lord. It’s dangerous for you both.”
“I know. I know.” Adrian rubbed his hands over his neck. He’d tell her; as soon as the fever passed. “Thank you for caring for her, Hanna.”
“She is asking questions of all of us. Questions we aren’t supposed to answer without you. But I promised her we would answer them. Tomorrow.”
Adrian blinked several times. Tomorrow?
“I know it wasn’t my place. But if we don’t, we’ll lose her. And I don’t need to tell you what’s at stake.”
Red the Were Hunter (Fairelle Series Book 1) Page 9