Evelyn nodded. She would go with him but she would not be a part of the harem that he had already so clearly established. She thought of her own Band and how they were so much older than she. There was no male close in age to her. However, she would rather be without a male than have one that she had to share. Maddoc was a good male of the Band but she would not be less because of his bevy of females.
They walked in an easy silence and she broke it with, “Where is...Lee?”
“Off in some corner of the wood, licking his considerable wounds,” he said with a smile as they neared the Gathering Hall. She turned to him and the faint light which streamed out of the summer tent caught his face and she saw where Lee had bashed his jaw.
Her hand rose to the spot, her arm fully extended and she placed her hand upon it, feeling a well of remorse boil to the surface of her body. She had been foolish. Wishing to make him jealous at such cost to he and his bandmate.
Maddoc looked at Evelyn and felt a piece of his soul reach out to hers. She was utterly unlike the females of his clan. She looked different, acted differently. She was beautiful as she covered his wound with her hand. He could see her emotions as they washed across her face and he covered her small hand with his, pressing her palm tighter against his face. “Do not fret. Lee did not understand that you would be .unwilling to his advances.” He shrugged. “He is used to every female being most cooperative.”
Evelyn snatched her hand away, silently thanking him for reminding her of the obvious females that were plentiful here. He had been only acting out of sense of duty to protect her.
She was not special.
Maddoc saw her face shut down and did not understand what the cause of it was.
“Thank you for reminding me of what the Band is here.”
“What say you? Lee was not about rape. He misunderstood I admit, nothing more.”
“Then why beat him? If it was a simple misunderstanding, why did it necessitate a beating?”
Maddoc was uncomfortable. Did he tell her that he would have behaved similarly with any female? That he had been with females in the presence of Lee? That he knew Lee to be a buffoon, that he had not interpreted Evelyn as he did? He rejected all of it. He would be about the truth.
“I knew that you were...different. I would have protected any female I understood to be in distress. Lee is a dolt, he knew nothing of you.” He shrugged, hoping it was enough.
Evelyn crossed her arms underneath her breasts. “And you know so much!” she huffed.
He smiled. “Your face is a plethora of emotion, everything you feel is plain upon it.”
Evelyn's brow came low atop her eyes and Maddoc frowned. He had inadvertently said the wrong thing. He sighed.
“I am so happy you were able to do you duty! And that I am an obvious female for you to read with ease!” she said, stomping off.
Maddoc watched her storm away and shook his head. Should she not have been more grateful for his timely intervention? She drove him mad! And only a day acquainted! His hand rose to the spot she had touched but a moment ago.
The fire still burned where her flesh had been.
CHAPTER 18
Clara saw Evelyn storm in and had but a moment to wonder what the Guardian was going on when a flushed and somewhat beaten Maddoc stormed after her.
Clara began to go after them and Charles stayed her. “Do not interfere with the clan's affairs.”
Clara looked up at Charles. “I thought we had moved past this prejudice you feel for them. For my kin.”
Charles winced at her words, her forcible reminding of her relationship to them.
The savages.
“He is my brother and she is a girl I have sworn to protect.”
“Half-brother. And it is not your place to protect anyone, Clara. You are but a small female and royal beside. Let the guard or some such as myself or Clarence be about your welfare. Your safety.”
“Do not take the change in my relationships with the Band as invitation to command which things I do. I will not abide that.”
Charles' eyes narrowed upon her and he grasped her other elbow, holding her still.
Clara did not like anything which resembled a physical restraint, her heart speeding, her fear and anxiety a live thing which began to choke her.
Charles needed to make her see reason. She would see reason.
“What say you?” Matthew of the Band asked, his eyes on the hands which held Clara in place.
Clara should not have looked into Matthew's face as the discomfort mayhap showed in the tightness about her eyes.
“Let her go, you fool,” he said to Charles with soft menace.
Charles did and noticed Clara rubbing the spot where his hands had been as she stepped away.
As if he were filthy.
He looked at her, then shifted his gaze to Matthew. “You are no longer of any importance. She has chosen neither you or Bracus. What makes you believe you can command me?” he scoffed.
Instead of answering he turned to Clara. “Were his hands welcome on your body?”
Clara looked up at his eyes and was drawn to him immediately. She had to physically restrain herself not to move into his arms. She had been avoiding he and Bracus as much as possible of late. The memory of those lips on the most tender spot of her breast burned behind her eyelids. She knew she should lie to allow Charles to save face but when held by Matthew's gaze she could not. His presence had forced Charles to back away from her and she was grateful.
And his nearness was most welcome.
She shook her head in answer to his question.
“Clara, tell him,” he said.
Clara did not need to wonder what he asked of her.
She turned to Charles. “You know that I love you?” Her eyes pleading that he understand her intent.
Charles nodded, alarmed and thrilled. Of course she loved him!
“Please do not touch me again. I do not like the feeling of being restrained.”
Charles looked at her in soft horror. She lumped him in with the serpents who had tried to ravage her? Prince Frederic? That cad! How dare she think of him in that category?
He took a step toward her in anger and Matthew came in front of her. “Do not, you arrogant fool. It is not you that she holds in low esteem, it is the things she has experienced that make her uncomfortable with contact that is ambiguous.”
Charles looked around Matthew's solid form, meeting Clara's eyes. “I do not mean harm to you, Clara. You of all people should understand that.”
“Your tongue says that you do not but your body tells a different tale. You are controlling her. Trying to control her. She cannot be a true queen when you disallow her will.”
Charles looked up at Matthew. “I have stated already where you lie with her. Nowhere.”
Clara felt Matthew tense and moved to his side. She had to stop his assumptions now. “You do not speak for me, Charles. I love Matthew...I love Bracus. Do not speak to him in this manner. Or I will, I swear it, find another adviser.”
Matthew tried to contain his shock. Clara had just said she loved him! Him!
The next moment he remembered she had also said she loved Bracus. That had been the entire reason for the discontinuing of the courtship. She must still choose one or the other. She was predestined to mate with someone of the Band.
It would be him. If it was the last breath in his body, it would be him.
Rowenna sidled up to the group. Immediately sensing the tension she asked, “What say you? It appears to be a very intense interchange.”
Charles glared at her. Clara's mother or no, she was interfering in something private. Rowenna held his gaze with one of her own. He finally dropped his eyes from the penetrating stare she gave him.
“Daughter, I have something I wish to discuss with you.”
Clara looked at her gratefully. “Excellent, I could stand a moments repose.”
They walked away as the two men stared after them. “What is that abou
t?” Rowenna asked, giving Clara a sidelong glance.
Clara wondered how much she should say. Finally she decided a measure of truth was in order. “The Clan of Ohio had a Rite of the Select and there were two that I was most drawn to.”
“Let me guess?” Rowenna smiled. “Bracus and Matthew?”
Clara nodded.
“It is the savage blood that runs in your veins, Dear-Heart. If it were not so, it would not call to the men of the Band. Even now it causes problems with your brother and that wisp of a girl, Evelyn.”
Clara raised her brow in question.
Rowenna nodded. “My son entered into a ruckus with his bandmate, Lee, over the girl. How many years is she?”
Clara told her.
“She appears older...” Rowenna allowed that to trail off.
“That has been a most recent development. It was but one or two months past that she had the figure of a boy.”
Rowenna looked at Evelyn, surrounded by all the younger Band and shook her head, trying to reconcile the curved female that she saw with the one that Clara said looked like a boy but recently.
Clara laughed. “It is most difficult to believe, is it not?”
“It is.” Rowenna joined her in the laughter.
“Does Maddoc fancy her?”
“He does,” Rowenna said.
“How do you know? For I do not wish for Evelyn to be trifled with. She has had a most difficult time.”
Rowenna looked at her sharply. “What do you say?”
“She was taken by the fragment, one year past. She was also part of the kidnap of myself and the other females of our group most recently.”
Rowenna frowned. “She is a formidable female.”
Clara nodded. “She witnessed the execution of her father as well.”
Rowenna turned to her. “Fragment?”
Clara shrugged. “Of course.”
“I loathe them. And I loathe the Travelers for allowing their presence.”
“What did this Lee do?”
Rowenna answered, “I do not understand exactly the conflict but he bore the worst of it.”
Clara looked at Rowenna for a moment and determined she would seek out Evelyn.
This moment.
Clara looked around for her, spying her with a hand on her arm.
Maddoc's huge palm encircled her upper arm, the fingers wrapping around themselves and Clara was struck by how delicate she looked beside her brother.
How they complimented each other.
Clara rushed to their side and Evelyn looked at her like a wounded animal and she was instantly furious.
“What have you done, Brother?” Clara asked, taking in Evelyn's disheveled appearance, her flushed face. She saw the other young male of the Band approach, his face looking like it was battered by a ram.
Clara knew that look and her eyes swept to her brother's knuckles, the skin hanging in shreds. The incredible healing of all the Band overtaking the flesh, turning it pink and new as she watched.
Their eyes met and Clara understood two things: he had not hurt Evelyn. And the one of the Band who approached, had.
Rowenna turned as Lee approached and Clara watched Evelyn's reaction carefully, her face open and telling.
Evelyn saw Lee walk toward her and fought her need to run, it was simply too soon since her taking by the fragment. The instance when the men had come and taken her as her father lay bleeding, his sorrow at his inability to protect her in his eyes as he lay dying. She had listened to what Maddoc had said, that Lee had misunderstood her reactions. But all she could recall was his mouth forcing itself on her, his hand groping her breast without invitation and she began to hyperventilate.
Clara's mouth fell open as Evelyn's breathing became erratic, a high keening noise escaping her mouth.
Maddoc's expression darkened. “He will not hurt you Evelyn, I promise.”
She was whipping her head back and forth and Clara heard her say. “No, no, no.”
“What has he done that this girl would behave this way?” A look of thunder crossed Rowenna's face as she beheld Lee.
His beaten face looked contrite as his eyes met Rowenna's then shifted to Evelyn.
“Do not look upon her. She is in terror of you,” Maddoc said, drawing Evelyn into his body.
Evelyn hated the attention from everyone and was keenly embarrassed but she felt safe in Maddoc's arms. Even if he did not care for her and she was but a tired duty, she saw how he had reacted to her fear and she trusted that about him.
“She wished for my attentions then she bit me and ran! She is confused in her responses! I did not know she would be different from our females,” Lee said.
“She is a guest of our clan. And but ten and four years of age, Lee.”
He looked sharply at Rowenna. “What? She looks as a woman...”
“She is. But a young one.”
“She has naught been touched by a male,” Maddoc growled and Evelyn shivered against him. An overwhelming urge to cover her in his protection overtook him, coursing through his body in an adrenaline surge that numbed his extremities. She clutched at him and buried her face in his chest.
Clara watched a decision form on her brother's face and looked at Rowenna for support.
“Her bloodying your lip and running was not enough information for you to leave her alone?” Rowenna asked.
He shrugged his massive shoulders. “Mayhap I did not wish to listen.”
“That is most troubling. You would have to ignore your inbred imperative. Your imperative to protect.”
“I am sorry. There is something special about this female. I was overcome, I admit. I could see nothing but my wish to consume her.”
Rowenna watched as Matthew and Bracus moved through the crowd, Joseph and Philip following closely behind them.
“What has happened?” Philip said on a growl, his eyes raking over the two young of the Band, noting their bruises as they faded before their eyes.
Maddoc said, “This one pressed his attentions upon the girl and I stopped it.”
Evelyn's eyes peeked out from the bunched cloth of Maddoc's tunic and met Bracus' gaze.
Her vulnerability was more than he could bear.
Clara saw Bracus in a blur as he fisted the material of Lee's tunic and drug him until their noses touched, the younger Band shorter by inches.
“You dare to force a female of my Band? A girl, you ruffian!” he spat into Lee's face and Lee stood straighter, pushing Bracus, who stumbled back.
Their was a swollen moment when Clara thought that it would end, then Bracus charged and everything dissolved as Rowenna leaped forward, spinning on the balls of her feet she landed between the two men and Bracus barreled into her. She used his momentum and grasping his huge forearm she swung him to the side over her outstretched foot as he started to fall. He wound his hand around her forearm, mirroring her movement. She fell upon him, a dirk naked in her hand and pinned against his throat.
A sound escaped her and Clara saw his hand circled her arm with crushing force. Bracus' eyes widened in alarm and he immediately let off the pressure, his face would have been comical had the situation not been so serious. She lay atop him, her breasts crushed against his chest, the point of the dagger sinking the tiniest bit into the tender side of his neck, his gills a hair's breadth from the point of entry.
“You bloody me for that scoundrel,” he whispered.
“No. I bloody you because you will not discipline my Band. They are my sole responsibility.”
Philip came behind her and Maddoc put Evelyn into Clara's arms as he moved to intercept him but in a smooth motion, Rowenna kept the blade against Bracus' throat as her opposite hand struck out behind her. Philip skidded to a stop an inch before the remaining blade punctured him.
Her attention split, Rowenna said in a low voice. “Maddoc.”
“I am here, Mother.”
“Guard me as I rise.”
Joseph laughed. “He is barely a man, he cannot
guard anyone against four of the Band.”
“Mayhap not, but he is my brother and should not be pressed into service,” Clara said, her gaze steady on Joseph.
Rowenna rose, a blade in each hand, her gaze wary.
Bracus jumped to his feet, grabbing Rowenna about the nape of her neck, bringing her against him. “Pierce my flesh, Rowenna. Do your worst.”
Clara watched those fingers that would have done harm, curl around Rowenna's slender neck.
Maddoc moved to assist Rowenna and Bracus said, “Do not. I will not harm her. I could never harm her.” Rowenna's eyes widened and she let her blade drop to the floor, their bare flesh pressed together.
Bracus kissed her, his arms crushing her against him and the room stilled, the collective breath leaving it, stealing its oxygen.
Maddoc stood watching his mother melded against Bracus in a storm of conspicuous passion.
Her arms rose to encircle his neck and he clutched her tighter against him.
It looked as though Bracus had made the choice for Clara.
*
They broke apart and Rowenna touched her lips with her fingertips, her blades laying at her feet.
Bracus appeared similarly stunned. He recovered and looked at Clara. “I...I am sorry. I do not know what has just happened. One moment we were warring and the next...”
“You touched my skin and all thought of harming you...” Rowenna began.
“Vanished,” Bracus finished.
She nodded.
Maddoc glanced behind him at Evelyn, seeing she was with Clara, he came to stand beside his mother. “What has happened?'
Rowenna shook her head. “It is as the Travelers said it would be.”
Clara approached, her hand clasped within Evelyn's. “What say you? Is there something I was not told?”
Rowenna tore her gaze away from Bracus and he reached out to touch her and she shivered as his flesh connected with hers.
She did not pull away.
“All females of savage blood are the fabled select that the Travelers prophesied about. I am a pure blood of the Band. It was bound to happen eventually.”
Clara was confused. “Why after Rolland passed did you not mate with another?” Clara was trying not to think on the fact that her mother had been kissing Bracus. The man she had just ended her courtship with.
The Savage Blood (Savage Series, Book 2) Page 14