by Shea Malloy
“Ugh, I should have known you’d have your servants spy on me,” she said angrily. Then she bowed her head and peered at the foreign object in her hand, her voice dejected. “Déjame en paz! Leave me alone. Go away.”
Kozan sent Rin and Zatana away and knelt in front of his mate. On closer inspection, he noticed she was shivering and that her hands looked stiffer and paler than usual. Clearly she had dug through the snow to find the thing she held cupped in her hands.
He bent and lifted her into his arms. Though she was wrapped in furs, she still shook from the cold.
She squirmed in his arms and glared up at him. “Put me down!”
“No,” he said in matter of fact tones. “You will freeze to death if you stay out here any longer.”
“I’d much rather that than be stuck here with you forever.”
He didn’t respond to that. He glanced down at her with a raised eyebrow and she glared back at him, a petulant pout on her lips. Despite her less than pleasant behaviour, he still wanted nothing more than to lay her down and take her in the snow. Her gaze dropped and fell to his lips before she quickly looked away.
He carried her along the pathway that led to his den. When he entered his den, he set her down and started a fire so she could get warm.
In the amber glow of the fire, she played with the object she’d retrieved from the wedding altar. He eyed it curiously. It had two bands made of some shimmering material like the ice crystals found on the Freizean mountains. Holding these two bands together was a smooth circle which she kept running her thumb over.
“What is that thing, Ana?” he asked.
She looked up at him briefly before casting her gaze back to the thing in her hands.
“There isn’t a word for it in your language,” she said quietly. “In mine, it’s called a watch. It tells the time to my kind—humans.”
Kozan thought it primitive her people needed a device to tell time. The concept of time was as intuitive to his kind as their ability to shift into their animal.
“Is this why you wish to leave?” he asked. “To return this device to your people?”
She met his gaze, a calculating look in her eyes. “Yes. That’s why I have to leave. Now will you help me?”
Kozan smirked at her. “I can smell your lies. What is the purpose of this… watch?”
“You can smell if I’m lying?” She quirked an eyebrow at him before letting out a sigh. “Can’t fault a girl for trying.” She shook the object. “This was the thing that brought me here when I touched it. So I thought if I touched it again, it’d take me back home.” She gave him a defiant look as his smirk dropped to a frown. “But it’s not working. I guess it was a one-way trip.”
“It is further proof that you cannot go against the gods’ wishes,” Kozan said in matter of fact tones. “You are my wife and my mate. We cannot leave each other until death comes for us.”
“You keep saying that, but even if I am your wife, it wasn’t a willing agreement,” she spat. She got to her feet, the amber glow of the fire reflecting in her eyes. “You’re not my husband, you’re my captor.”
“You fail to realize it wasn’t a willing agreement for me as well.” He pinned her with his steely gaze. “I was standing at the wedding altar about to marry another until you arrived and changed everything.” He approached her, his steps slow as his gaze ran over her body cloaked by all the furs. “And if you believe I am your captor, why are you attracted to me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, her voice higher than usual. “I’m not attracted to you.”
He could smell her lie as strongly as he could smell her arousal. She licked her lips nervously as her gaze swept over his body.
“I mean, sure, you’re… easy on the eyes, but that doesn’t mean…” She gasped and her eyes widened as her gaze honed in on his cock. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re hard.”
“Unlike you, I tell no lies,” he said. He pushed her up against a nearby wall and leaned down so their faces were close, their lips almost touching. “I freely admit I want nothing more than to fuck you, my sweet little mate.”
Her mouth fell open, ostensibly in surprise from his bluntness. It was Kozan’s undoing, seeing her juicy lips on offer. He bent and swiftly claimed her mouth in a harsh kiss. She made a sound of protest and thumped one of her tiny fists against his chest, but when he attempted to pull away, her protest transformed into a whimper and she pushed her head up to accept more of his kiss.
Her simple acquiescence broke Kozan’s control. His hands immediately went to the makeshift belt that held the furs closed and tugged it free. The furs opened, unveiling her smooth, soft flesh to his hungry eyes and greedy hands. He cupped one of her full breasts, the dark, hardened tip calling to him.
“Kozan,” she breathed out, and his cock twitched in response. His mate wanted him as much as he wanted her. He bent his head, about to taste her for the first time, when the scent of his comrades reached him before their voices.
“Var Sor Kozan,” they called as they approached the entrance to his den, and he would have ignored them or chased them away if he’d not heard the urgency in their voices. It seemed almost impossible with her obvious need for him in her beautiful eyes, but he pulled away from her.
“Kozan, what is it?” she asked, her voice soft as her grip tightened on his arms.
“They require my attention,” he said. “Something is not right.”
She bit her lower lip, her disappointment evident in the quiet nod of her head as she dropped her hands to her sides. She glanced at the entrance of the den and covered herself hastily as his comrades entered.
“Apologies, Var Sor Kozan, Var Sora,” said Ikor as he nodded at Ana. Usually unflappable and cheery, there was now a strained, saddened look on his face.
“What is it, Ikor,” Kozan demanded. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like the way his other two comrades, Viash and Senin, had somber expressions on their faces.
“Kozan,” said Ikor, stepping forward and meeting Kozan’s gaze with a grave look in his eyes. “Sor Vikon… your father… is dead.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Kozan
Standing stiffly, Kozan watched with detachment as the Great Mother held her palm to his father’s forehead and sang the old hymns of his people. Ana stood beside him, her features solemn. It was her gentle yet constant clasp of his hand in hers that kept him in place. Otherwise, he was certain he would have stormed off and left this ugly truth behind.
The truth that his father, a man once far more mighty and powerful than he, was dead.
Two days had passed since he’d learned the truth from his comrades, since he’d run for his father’s den and found him lying in his furs, his once sharp stare gazing heavenward and unseeing. It was the third day since his father’s spirit left his body and as was customary in the Freizean tradition, he was to be buried in the sacred burying grounds.
Many Freizeans from all factions had come to bear solemn witness to their Sor’s burial. As a sign of respect, they’d all attended in their wolf form. Even though he appreciated their presence, Kozan still wished he could chase them all away so he could be alone with his father in his final moments above ground.
The Great Mother’s final words from her hymn died away. The silence stretched on as all eyes turned to him, waiting for him to bid farewell to his father.
Kozan knelt in the snow beside his father’s prone form. He bent and pressed a kiss to his father’s cold, leathery forehead. He remembered doing the same thing to his mother when he was a mere pup. At the time, at least his father was there with his supportive presence. But no longer. His father was gone too and he was alone.
Well, not quite. He had Ana now. His mate. He glanced up at her and she gave him a tentative, solemn smile. She didn’t have to come. He’d told her she could stay in their den with Rin and Zatana, but she’d denied. Even though she’d yet to accept him as her mate and her husband, she’d been there for him these past few
days, comforting and supporting him in his moment of grief.
Despite the sadness in his heart, the sight of her made his wolf yearn for her. But now was not the time. He turned away to focus on his father’s burial.
When it was over, he led her to the feast hosted in his father’s den. There, the solemnity was washed away with food and drink as various Freizeans told tales—both heartwarming and humorous—of Sor Vikon and the way he touched their lives.
“This reminds me of my Aunt Paola’s funeral,” said Ana, a fond smile on her face. “She was like a mother to me and losing her was the worst thing that ever happened in my life.” Her voice grew thick, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. “But after she was buried, my family and I did something like this. We played her favourite songs, made her favourite foods, and shared our memories of her. It helped lessen the pain of losing her. I still miss her.”
“The dead are never truly gone. They live among us in spirit,” Kozan said quietly.
Ana smiled. “My family believes that too.” Then she took a deep breath and shook her head as though she were shaking away the memories of sadder times. She took a sip of her drink, then smacked her lips as she eyed the mug appreciatively. “This isn’t as horrible as I first thought. It’s grown on me.”
“Fermented milk of the shenai boar,” he said, nodding in agreement.
“Ugh! It’s expired milk?” Her face creased in disgust as she set her mug down. “Expired pig’s milk?”
“What does it matter? You enjoy it, do you not?” Kozan regarded her with amusement. For the first time in days, a smile curved his lips. “It is best when paired with the cakes.”
She eyed the cakes he indicated with suspicion. “Are those made from pigs too?”
“No,” he said. He watched her closely as she sighed with relief and reached for one of the cakes. She bit into one, chewing and nodding. His smile deepened into a grin. “But they are made of crushed tohi lizard eyes.”
He laughed as she spat out what she chewed on. She said something in her language like ‘ass hole’ as she flung the half eaten cake at him. Then she snorted and covered her own laugh when the cake smacked him in the forehead.
He didn’t care that many of the Freizeans regarded their silly behaviour with inquisitive looks. He liked the way her eyes lit up with amusement, the light from the fire playing along her black hair and dusky skin.
He longed to take her back to his den and soothe himself in her soft, warm body. But Rin approached her with a basket of fruits and guided her away to meet other Freizean females. Rin and Ana seemed to have formed a friendship, and it pleased him that perhaps Ana was becoming accustomed to Freize and her wish to leave would slowly ebb in time.
The Great Mother approached him. She reached for his hand and cupped it between hers.
“I have news to share, Sor Kozan,” she said. It was strange hearing the new title appended to his name. He had yet to get accustomed to it and all the weight it carried. He nodded at her to continue and her features became solemn as she spoke quietly. “One of my daughters told me there is another here like your mate.”
“In Freize?” Kozan frowned.
“In Ekalon,” said the Great Mother. “She is wife and mate to the Ekalon tribe leader, nii Aizak.”
Kozan nodded. “I heard he had married a foreign being not of his tribe.” Then his gaze sharpened on the Great Mother. “But why have you shared this with me?”
The Great Mother gave him a wry smile. “Because the gods are cruel and seek to test the strength of your union, my Sor.”
His body stiffened as understanding and dread befell him. There was another in Fisoar like his mate. Another who could help his mate achieve her heart’s wish—to return home.
“I will lose her,” said Kozan, his voice low and rough. He looked at Ana, who was smiling as Rin spoke with her.
“There is no gain without sacrifice, my Sor,” said the Great Mother. She squeezed his hand, then left him to his thoughts.
He was still watching Ana when she looked up and met his gaze with a little smile. He turned away from her. He couldn’t think properly with her nearby, with so many others close too. He needed to be alone. Preferably hunting. That was when his mind was clearest.
Turning his back on the gathering, Kozan shifted into his wolf and bounded out of his late father’s den out into the night.
CHAPTER NINE
Ana
Ana awoke, her eyes immediately falling on the empty spot beside her on the furs. Disappointment and worry accosted her.
Where was Kozan?
She’d grown accustomed to his presence beside her when she slept. But last night, he wasn’t there. Something had changed just after their little moment at the feast. The angry, conflicted look on his face before he’d left without a word had bothered her.
She let out a soft sigh. She hoped he wasn’t hurt, wherever he was. She couldn’t admit it out loud, but he’d grown on her in the short space of time she’d been here. Well, if she was being totally honest: she liked him, more than a little, too.
She bit her lips together as her thoughts immediately cycled to that heated moment of passion between them before they’d learned of his father’s death. She remembered the heat of his touch and his mouth on hers. Being with him felt so… right. Intuitive. Beyond anything she’d ever experienced with any of the guys she’d been with. She and Kozan had yet to pick up where they’d left off since that day, but if—or when—they ever did… it would be explosive and amazing.
Her face warm, between her legs tingling, she flopped onto her back with a huff. Movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention. When she turned her head, she was confronted by a large white wolf standing way too close. She let out a startled little cry and scrambled across the furs before she recognized the familiar pale blue markings on the wolf’s fur.
“Kozan?” she asked, pressing a hand to her chest to quiet her racing heartbeat.
Kozan-the-wolf dipped his head, then the rest of his body. With a point of his snout to his back, he indicated she climb onto him.
“Where are we going?” Ana asked, as she got to her feet and approached him. Of course, he couldn’t answer her. Even though she knew Freizean now, she didn’t know the language of the wolf. She stared into his shimmering silver eyes, hoping to discover a clue, but his gaze was inscrutable. “Fine, I guess I’ll see it when we get there.”
She climbed onto his back and, not for the first time, marvelled at his smooth, almost glossy pelt. When she leaned forward to get a better grip on him, she felt like she was lying on the softest, warmest, moving pillow.
They left the den at a trot until Kozan increased into a run. Ana held onto him with fierce determination, despite the cold biting at her face and fingers. Even though they’d left at the height of stark daylight, the sky rapidly turned darker as angry slate gray clouds warned of an impending storm.
She didn’t know how long they’d been travelling for, but it was getting colder and her legs and arms grew tired from the tenseness of holding herself steady atop Kozan. She sensed he was tiring too, because his pace had slowed to a walk. Snow began to drizzle and the wind strengthened. The dark skies held sinister promise of a blizzard.
“Kozan, we need to find shelter,” Ana said. Then she saw the cave opening ahead of them. “Or I guess you knew that already.”
Ana released a sigh of relief once they were inside the cave. She climbed down off of Kozan’s back once he came to a stop and, shivering, watched as he shifted into a man again.
His gaze held hers captive, half of his face obscured by the gloom surrounding them. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but restrained herself. Even though his features remained stoic, she had this unwavering sense he was upset about something. Was this why he’d taken her to this new cave?
She glanced around, but save for the weak bit of light from the entrance, the rest of the cave was covered in shadows.
“Where are we?” she asked him.
“A den,” he said. He turned away from her abruptly and she frowned as he disappeared into the darkness.
“I realize that,” she said, inching forward carefully. “But why?” When he didn’t respond, she grew worried. “Kozan?”
Her answer came when a fire pit sprang to life, chasing the darkness away with its amber glow. She went to it immediately, holding her palms out so the stinging in her fingers would dissipate.
She watched as he rose from his squat near the fire pit. Her gaze climbed a slow path from his feet up to his cock, where it lingered for a moment before continuing higher. The light from the fire highlighted every single groove and mark on his skin. She was reminded of her first time seeing him, and her appreciation for his visible strength and masculinity remained unchanged. As a matter of fact, it had deepened. Her lower belly quivered as lust arced through her, straight to her core.
Her face was as hot as the fire in the pit by the time her gaze finally met his. He could probably smell that she wanted him.
“Remove your furs, Ana,” he said, his voice rough.
Ana opened her mouth to protest about the cold but shut it immediately. She got to her feet, anticipation in the form of a million butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she undid the makeshift belt. The fur robe parted and she let it slide from her shoulders to the ground. She stood naked beneath Kozan’s hungry gaze, her nipples tightening into buds from the chill and the fiery arousal coursing through her.
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said.
“You will learn in time,” he said, stepping closer, towering over her. “For now I want to show you.”
“Show me what?”
He wrapped his hands around her and pulled her close.
“I want to show you that even though you will never accept me as your mate and your husband, I am yours forever.”