Heku : Book 1 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  Chevalier appeared at her side in an instant. His fierce eyes flashed to Kyle pulling on her arm, “What’s going on here?”

  “We’re going to the barn,” Kyle said, pulling her another step forward as her nails dug into his hand.

  Emily ignored Chevalier. Her panicked eyes were fixed on the barn, “No.”

  “Let her go,” Chevalier said.

  “With all due respect, Sir… No.” Kyle forced her another step.

  “She’s not ready,” Chevalier said, placing his hand on Kyle’s shoulder.

  “Yes she is,” he said, pulling her another step. Blood appeared on his hand where Emily dug with her nails to make him let go.

  Chevalier hesitated and then walked to the barn door. He knew deep down that Kyle was right. The longer it took Emily to return to her animals, the harder it would be.

  “I’m in here, Em, come to me,” he said as Kyle pulled her even closer.

  “No!” she screamed, and Travis appeared at her side. He looked oddly at Kyle and Chevalier, and then fell back to stand by the door.

  “Come on, it’s ok, we’re both here,” Kyle said, pulling her another step.

  Chevalier appeared in the door with Patra, who stomped angrily at him. He grinned, for some reason, the mare hated him.

  “Stop,” Emily begged as she got within a few feet of the barn.

  Kyle let up the pressure on her arm and let her calm down for a few minutes, “Just a few more steps.”

  He let go of her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist before she could run, then flexed his injured hand. The blood flow had already stopped, and the skin was healing, “Come on, Chevalier is in there and Patra’s wanting to get away from him.”

  Emily took a timid step as her eyes fixed on her mare. Patra pulled at her reins trying to get closer to her, but Chevalier took her a few steps further into the barn.

  Emily could feel her heart pounding hard in her chest as she neared the barn. A sweat broke out on her forehead and she could feel that her breathing was out of control. Emily thought about fighting Kyle. She figured she could break away from him, but was sure he’d catch her easily. She took another step forward, but the smell of the barn, once a smell she actually loved, filled her body with panic and the wound on her neck began to throb.

  Kyle was relentless and she was soon in the barn. When she was a few steps in the door, her eyes fell on the straw where she had been attacked the previous week. The straw was clean and fresh, and she realized Kyle had changed it out. She pulled forward, away from Kyle, and walked up to Patra, burying her face in the horse’s neck.

  Kyle and Chevalier stepped back to the walls of the barn and watched.

  Emily wrapped her hands around the mare’s neck, “Good morning, Girl,” she whispered. Patra bit at Emily’s long red hair and she laughed.

  After a few minutes, Kyle and Chevalier left the barn and met Travis at the door.

  “Stay by the door, don’t go into the barn unless there’s trouble,” Chevalier told Travis.

  Travis nodded and turned back to watch the barn.

  It wasn’t long before Emily felt the old exhilaration that working with the animals brought her. She let the horses out into the corral and watched the colt play for a while before going in to grab some hay for the cows. She felt her neck wound pull painfully as she lifted the bale of hay and cursed when she felt the bandages, blood was soaking through them. She decided to deal with that later and loaded a new salt lick by the hay. The ATV ride was always fun and she enjoyed it today, as well. She inhaled deeply and smiled.

  Chapter 16 - Training

  Chevalier came out of his office and looked around the castle. Things were going smoothly. Nothing had happened to cause concern in over two months. He headed up to Emily’s room to see if she was there. He had trained his senses enough not to feel the common emotions she experienced, which lately, was constantly. He was also able to hear voices from her dreams, and found it fascinating.

  She wasn’t in her room, but the heavy curtains were tied to the side and bright sunlight filtered in from the balcony door. He stepped onto the balcony and looked out over the grass, then froze as his eyes fell onto the three figures on the lawn.

  Emily was lying down on her back on the thick green grass. Travis was on top of her, his teeth at her neck as Kyle stood aside and watched. Fury raged through him as he jumped from the second story balcony and landed on the ground, denting the soft grass as he landed. He blurred to them and ripped Travis off of her, throwing him far enough he landed against the side of the castle and the rocks crumbled beneath him.

  Kyle was at Chevalier before he could get to Emily, “Chevalier! It’s not what you think,” he said, but was pushed aside.

  Emily was on her feet quickly and had her hands on Chevalier’s face, “Stop, Chev, stop... it’s ok.”

  She locked gaze with him and her green eyes calmed him. He was able to repress the rage long enough to see that she wasn’t injured. He quickly scanned her body. Her neck was fine, so he ran his eyes past her sports bra and down to the muscles in her tight abdomen along the curve of her delicate waist, no injuries. Her cut off shorts were sitting low on her hips as his eyes traveled down and noticed no injuries along her legs.

  He stepped back and frowned at her, confused.

  She touched his face softly, “It’s ok, Chev, honest.”

  Travis returned as he tweaked his back into place and kept well away from Chevalier.

  “Chevalier, it’s not what you think. We’re teaching Emily some self-defense is all,” Kyle said, stepping over next to Travis.

  Chevalier shook his head, “You’re doing what?”

  “Self-defense, that’s all,” Emily said, stepping back from him, smiling.

  “But… he was biting you…” His mind swam.

  “I was not!” Travis said, offended. “We were trying out a different position… it’s no good teaching her to fight a heku if it’s not as close to real as possible.”

  “Watch, Chev!” Emily said proudly. “Come on Travis. Let’s show him what we just went over.”

  Travis hesitated and gave Chevalier a wide berth as he approached Emily. His eyes were weary as he grabbed her from behind, one arm around her stomach and the other high on her chest. He kept a close watch on Chevalier as he brought his teeth to rest against Emily’s neck. He noticed Chevalier tensed and crouched slightly, but didn’t attack.

  Rapidly, Emily kicked back and her foot connected with Travis’ knee, knocking it out of place as she dropped her body weight and rolled away from him while he fell to the grass. Travis groaned and grasped his dislocated kneecap as he pushed it back into position with a grinding pop. He winced and slowly got to his feet. Emily stood up and smiled at Chevalier.

  “See!” she said proudly.

  Chevalier was shocked, “Why didn’t I think of this?”

  “We aren’t guaranteeing it’ll work against a real attacker, but Travis said it’s quite painful and would make him think twice,” Kyle said.

  “Yeah… it hurts pretty badly for a few seconds. We figure if she can just buy a little time until help arrives.” He was now standing straight, his knee entirely healed.

  Kyle said, “Ok, back how you were.”

  Travis hesitated and then climbed on top of Emily as she laid on the ground. He watched Chevalier cautiously before again bringing his teeth to her neck.

  Kyle studied them and sighed, “I’m thinking… there has to be a way. Emily, can you even get your foot up to his knee?”

  She brought her knee up but wasn’t able to position her foot by his kneecap, “Don’t think so.”

  Chevalier growled, “Let me do it, Travis.”

  Travis scrambled quickly to his feet and Chevalier took his place, his jealousy finally subsiding. As he placed his teeth at her neck, he grinned and kissed her neck instead.

  Emily slapped his arm, “Behave.”

  Travis knelt down by them, studying the location of arms and knees. />
  “I can knee him,” Emily said, bringing her knee up slightly.

  “That won’t stop a hungry heku,” Kyle said, bending down.

  Travis moved closer, “Can you get your hands on his head?”

  Emily reached up and put a hand on each side of his head.

  “That’s it, Travis, good idea!” Kyle said. “It’s the element of surprise that’ll make this work. If he knew it was coming, he’d be able to stop it, but I doubt anyone will think of this.”

  “What?” Emily asked, thwapping Chevalier’s head as he kissed her neck again.

  Emily focused on Kyle, who was demonstrating the move behind Chevalier’s back and she winced, “Seriously?”

  “This whole training will only work if we know it’s possible for you to do,” Travis said, standing up.

  Chevalier felt Emily’s body tense moments before his head was wrenched to the side, and the crack of his vertebrae echoed through the lawn. He growled and rolled off of her, readjusting his head and cracking his neck back into place.

  “Are you ok?” She was crouched by his side.

  “I’m ok, just give me a minute.” The pain was lessening quickly and he could feel the bones reforming correctly in his neck, “Damn, Em.”

  “I’m so sorry.” She stood up and glared at Kyle and Travis who were laughing.

  “No, no, it’s ok.” Chevalier stood up and chuckled, “Just wasn’t expecting that.”

  “Let’s consider that exercise a pass then… the trick is that the heku won’t know it’s coming,” Kyle said finally. “Maybe we should try a wrist attack?”

  “No one’s going to go for her wrist… male at least,” Travis said, and then his body tensed as he turned to watch Chevalier.

  Emily blushed when she remembered Chevalier saying he’d always go for the neck if he found his donor attractive.

  “I guess you’re right,” Kyle said, thinking. “Plus you can’t control her body if you only have focus on her wrist. By taking her neck, you have your entire body against hers.”

  Chevalier growled low in his chest, but Kyle ignored it.

  “Femoral?” Travis asked.

  “Usually only works consensually. I can’t imagine going for the thigh while trying to control a hostile victim.” Kyle was deep in thought.

  Chevalier tried to remember they weren’t talking directly about his wife, but he found it hard and he was getting antsy. He was also overtly aware of the visible skin Emily was currently showing.

  “Let’s try a non-feeding attack,” Kyle finally said.

  “True... good idea,” Travis said.

  “What? Why?” Emily asked.

  “Just a precaution, Em,” Kyle said, and turned to nod at Chevalier.

  “She’d be running more than likely right?” Travis said, focused on Emily.

  “Yeah probably… run, Em, and Chevalier, you restrain her and let us have a look,” Kyle said, moving into position.

  Emily gasped at the look in Chevalier’s eyes and turned to run. She wasn’t more than 2 feet away when he grabbed her from behind and pulled her off her feet with his hands around her waist.

  “Perfect now freeze,” Kyle said, and walked up to them and studied their position.

  Emily took the opportunity to kick at his knee, but she couldn’t reach it and her hands were pinned at her side by his arms. She struggled and could feel him chuckle.

  Travis came up from behind and considered options.

  “Easy enough, I held you similar to this once…” Kyle said, nodding at Emily.

  On cue, she brought her head forward and slammed it back into Chevalier’s nose. Travis winced when he heard the loud crack. Chevalier let go of Emily suddenly, and she fell to the ground, landing hard on her butt as she looked up at him.

  “Argh!” Chevalier yelled, and readjusted his nose. Emily wasn’t sure, but it sounded like he might have been cursing in another language.

  “Sorry, Hun,” she said, getting to her feet.

  “It’s ok… that one stung a bit,” he said, smiling at her, and his nose was completely healed.

  “Would it make you drop her, though, if you really wanted to hold on?” Kyle asked. “When she did that to me, the only reason I kept a hold of her is that I think she was more shocked than I was and she froze.”

  Travis tried to suppress a grin.

  “No doubt if it’s mortal, she’ll win… immortal, though, if I had to keep a hold on her, I think I would have.” Chevalier looked over at her.

  “Why even worry about fighting off a mortal?” Emily asked.

  She noticed that the three heku glanced at each other quickly.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” She put her hands on her hips.

  “Paul mentioned that there are donors out working for the Valle. We have to be prepared for anything,” Chevalier explained, moving closer to her.

  “Paul?”

  “One of the Valle we have down in our cell,” Kyle answered her.

  “Still? He’s still down there?” Emily frowned.

  “What are we supposed to do with him? We can’t let him go,” Travis piped in.

  “Next,” Kyle said, changing the subject.

  Chevalier grabbed Emily without warning and threw her over his shoulder, nipping at her side playfully.

  “I hate this one!” she said, feeling like a child.

  She looked up at Kyle and glared when he laughed.

  “This one’s harder to get out of, there’re no vital parts left exposed,” Kyle said, studying the newest restraint.

  “Ok… put me down,” Emily said, but Chevalier didn’t let go. She bent into him and bit his back.

  “Ouch! Damnit, Em, stop it,” he said, grinning.

  “Biting an immortal won’t work,” Travis said seriously, and then looked up when Chevalier chuckled.

  “I don’t think that was for training purposes,” Chevalier explained, smiling.

  “Oh!” Travis grinned and looked away quickly.

  “Emily, how far back can you throw yourself?” Kyle asked, ignoring the other two.

  Emily’s body tensed and Chevalier could feel the strength in her abdomen as she brought her upper body up off of his shoulder and flung herself backwards. Chevalier wasn’t prepared for the sudden shift in weight and almost dropped her when she fell back and slammed into his thighs.

  “Ouch!” Emily cried, and Chevalier lowered her gently to the ground. She grabbed her knee, “That hurt.”

  “Sorry, Em.” Chevalier knelt to massage her knee, “The sudden weight difference threw me forward but I wouldn’t have let go and it didn’t hurt me at all.”

  “Hmm, was just a thought,” Kyle said, watching them, his mind deep in thought.

  “Let me see, Travis grab Kyle,” Chevalier said. Both Travis and Kyle looked to see if he was serious and followed his order when they saw that he was.

  Travis easily swung Kyle over his shoulder, though they were the same height.

  “Let’s just get this over with,” Kyle said, irritated.

  Emily lost control and giggled from the ground.

  “Don’t worry, your butt isn’t nearly as attractive in the air as hers, I’ll hurry,” Chevalier said.

  Emily blushed but laughed again at the odd expression on Travis’s face, he was humiliated.

  “Kyle, do what Emily did but hook your arm around his head on your way,” Chevalier said, standing back.

  “What if I take his head off?” Kyle asked.

  “Oh true… Emily, trade places with Kyle,” Chevalier said.

  “What if I take his head off?” Emily asked sarcastically.

  Chevalier laughed, “Just do it.”

  She sighed and stood up as Kyle fell nimbly to his feet. Travis gently lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder, his eyes looking straight forward as he felt the soft skin from her waist on his neck.

  “Ok, Em, hook his head on the way,” Chevalier said, no longer jealous as he was focused on how her movement affected
Travis.

  Emily groaned as she came up straight, hooked her elbow around Travis’s head, and flung herself backwards. Travis lost his balance and fell forward, landing hard on top of her and knocking the wind out of her. He quickly scrambled to his knees by her side.

  “Breathe, Emily,” he said, helping her sit up. Kyle and Chevalier knelt at her side also.

  She waved them off as she gasped for breath, “I’m ok,” she was able to say at long last.

  “Well… that won’t work,” Chevalier said, and sighed, then helped Emily to her feet.

  “Let’s take a break before Em gets hurt,” Kyle suggested. “Let me see if I can find a way out of that hold.”

  “Yeah... sounds good,” Emily said, stiffly walking inside. Every muscle in her body ached from that last fall.

  Chevalier turned to Travis and Kyle, “Thank you.”

  They both bowed and headed out as he ran to catch Emily. He picked her up gently and carried her up the stairs, “You ok?” he whispered.

  She nodded.

  As he walked into the bedroom, he heard the doors lock behind him and shifted her around so his hands were around her waist, her feet off the floor, “How good are you?”

  She smiled and wrapped her legs around him and her arms around his neck. Emily pressed her lips against his.

  Chevalier spun and pressed her back against the wall, returning her kiss.

  ***

  Emily stepped into the jetted tub and winced as the hot water burned her skin, but continued to sink into the bubbly water. She sighed and leaned back against the tub, relaxed.

  “Well that’s a first, you broke my house,” Chevalier said, sitting beside her as he started to massage her neck.

  Emily grinned, “Who needed that lamp on the wall anyway?”

  “Are you ok? Really? Travis hit you pretty hard.”

  “Yeah I’m ok, but I think you owe me an explanation,” she said, her eyes still shut.

  “Oh?”

  “Are you expecting more trouble?”

  “Nothing we know about, but we didn’t know about Ian’s attack until it was too late either,” he said softly.

  Emily just nodded. When she got hot, the scars on her neck seemed to stand out more against her skin. They faded a lot over the last couple of months, and were almost invisible most of the time.