“Ughn,” she moaned, clutching her head. “Now, they’re going to desert our mission.”
He sank to the ground. “Do you think so?”
She strode toward the encampment. “Of course. What Amazon would follow me now?”
Arctus shot to his feet and shifted into his bear form. “Hop aboard, Alala. Only one way to find out.”
She eyed his silver brown fur and couldn’t deny the shiver of longing to ride him. So she leapt atop him, legs astride, and they bolted through the woods together. With his swift speed, they approached the encampment soon after. Kleo hopped from his back and he performed the morphos into his centaur form.
Where was everyone? She trekked through the empty camp. Finally, she stumbled across a warrior sharpening her blades by the lake.
“If you don’t hurry, you’re going to miss them,” Okyale droned.
“Miss them?”
The female set aside her sword. “Yes. A band of at least a hundred set off for Krete this morning. Gargareans, too. Their leader and Hippolyta are accompanying them to the borders. Kyme arranged a ship. Make haste, or you’ll miss the sailing.”
“Thank you.” She bobbed her head at Okyale, then gaped at Arctus.
“Well, you heard the lass. Hop aboard?” He offered his arm, and the chance to ride him as a centaur.
She laughed and accepted his arm, leaping astride his back. Riding a centaur wasn’t all that different from a normal horse, save she wrapped her arms around his deliciously chiseled waist and let him worry about the steering. Kleo sighed and curled against him.
Arctus departed at a full gallop, leaving her to adjust her position in order not to fall off. They tore through the woods, possibly even faster than in his bear form.
Together, they tracked the fleet of Amazon warriors and, in difficult places, she pointed the way. The Amazons covered their trail, but even so, she was one of them. Many of the tricks for concealment, she’d taught them herself.
An hour later, the haze of an army blurred across the horizon, the sparkling ocean stretching in the background. Sure enough, there were the white billows of a brigantine Kyme had supposedly sent.
Arctus slowed to a trot as they approached. He inhaled sharply and the awe of the warriors left her a little breathless, too.
“Ready to claim your army, centaur?”
He scratched the back of his neck. “In truth, this is greater than what I dreamed. I had hoped to recruit mayhap five or six. Not a hundred.”
“Which is more like five hundred men,” she teased.
“Nay, a thousand.” He twisted and winked at her. “Plus the Gargareans.”
A figure on a horse broke from the crowd and advanced toward them. Kleo leapt from Arctus’s back and bade him copy her in bowing.
“My Queen.” She knelt with a regal flourish, lowering her head. Arctus did the same, only it was so much more magnificent in his centaur form, with one front hoof braced beneath him and his other extended gracefully.
“Kleoptoleme, Lord Arctus.” Hippolyta waved for them to stand, and they obeyed. “I am entrusting you both with a legion of my army, and with the future of our people. Also, with the task of determining my sister’s fate. You will join forces with Lord Tanais, the leader the Gargareans have sent, along with three dozen of their finest warriors. Do not fail me. Do not fail us…Strategos.” Army leader. Their highest rank, beneath Queen.
Words faltered on Kleo’s lips, so she dipped her head in gratification. “Thank you, my Queen. I vow I will not fail you.”
“I’m certain you won’t. You’re more than deserving, Kleoptoleme. Use the goddess’s blessing wisely. May our blades swing in union once more upon the battlefield.” A common farewell among her people.
The words were cool and crisp, but tenderness rested in the Queen’s grey gaze. This mission meant much to her. Kleo almost asked the Queen to accompany them, but if Hippolyta had wished to, she didn’t require Kleo’s invitation.
Besides, there was much to concern themselves with in Thessaly. Those centaurs required Amazon aid, too.
“And may your blades stay sharp until that day.” Kleo finished the farewell and inclined her head once more. The Queen rode past them, into the woods, her accompanying guard at her rear.
Now, the legion of Amazons looked to Kleo, awaiting her command. Strategos. Incredible. Around her, the Amazons had heard the Queen’s decree, and accordingly, they knelt before her, thumping their right fist to their left shoulder in a symbol of deference.
“Go on, Strategos.” Arctus gave her a nudge. “Your army is waiting for your command.”
Pride spiraled through her as she marched forward, assuming a cool mask of governance. “We are off to a new land. A world where the truths we’ve been told have been proven to be falsehoods. One where our enemy can deceive us and manipulate our minds. We have been given the enormous task of freeing a people enslaved. If there’s one thing an Amazon doesn’t back down from, it’s a fight. Prepare yourselves, my warriors, for the greatest battle of your lives.” She raised her spear and cried, “Alala!”
The fleet of Amazon warriors leapt to their feet, bearing their weapons, and repeated her battle cry. A thunderous roar, across the horizon. Straight into the heart of their enemies.
Beside her, Arctus sent her a grin and bellowed, “Alala!”
A fortnight passed during their sea voyage. Two weeks where Arctus barely breathed for the anticipation of returning to his homeland. The tight quarters on the ship granted him neither privacy nor intimacy with Kleo. Which made his bonding mark burn all the more.
The rumors of him being Kleo’s mate didn’t help. Often, he would catch her gazing at him, her brows drawn, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. He longed to assure her, but of what?
It was for the best that he not bond with her. He had weeks, mayhap months left, before the lyssa would claim him and he’d become a maddened, mindless beast.
That was time enough to fight and free his people, or so he prayed.
Arctus stood on the bridge, observing the horizon. A stretch of green arose in the distance. He nearly leapt into the ocean to swim toward it, before he caught himself and reasoned it would be faster to sail there.
Kleo raced onto the bridge. “Land!” Bright hope lit her expression.
“Home.” Fisting his hands, he stopped himself from sweeping her into his embrace. Too many watched them.
Her smile faded. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He cocked one brow. “Tell you what, lass?”
“The bonding. I spoke with the warriors Kyme sent, who train with the centaurs. You know, while most don’t fathom your centaur secrets, it doesn’t mean they’re not shared. You should have told me.”
He winced and regarded the vast ocean rather than face the disgust in her features. “It matters not. I won’t force you to bond with me, don’t fret.”
“Don’t fret?” She scoffed. “You mean, don’t fret when you become a raging monster? When you’ll sacrifice not only yourself, but endanger everyone around you?”
He slanted his focus to hers. “There’s no other choice.”
She crossed her arms and stomped her foot. “Of course there is, you brute. I’ll bond with you and stop this madness. Besides, I wouldn’t be the first Amazon with a bonded male trailing her everywhere.”
“Oh, and I should thank you for your benevolent mercy?” He grimaced at the presumption. The last thing any male wanted was a mate who didn’t wish to be his.
“Well, I am trying, which is more than you are. Don’t you care for me at all?”
He froze. Care for her? “Since when do Amazons concern themselves with emotions?”
She didn’t answer, so he seized her about the shoulders and peered into her eyes. “Care for you, Kleo? Nay. What I feel for you is so much more. What I feel for you is forbidden.”
“Forbidden?”
“Aye, if you must know. Alala, you are more than a great huntress, Strategos, or warrior. You are
compassionate and brave. Selfless and strong-willed. All of these things have made me far more than your slave. For you have claimed what cannot be taken. You have stolen what cannot be thieved.” He softened his words, the weight of them heavy inside his chest. “You have my hearts, Kleoptoleme, for whatever they’re worth to you.”
“I have?” The pitch of hope lingered in the air.
He frowned. “Of course you have. I cherish you as a centaur does his clan. I am devoted to you as the Earth is to the sun. Kleoptoleme of the Amazons, I love you.”
“But… Why have you never told me this?”
“Because of what you are. My emotions matter not in your world. You must be free, so I have loved you and kept you thus.”
Her features drew together. “Arctus, I love you, too. Why can’t our love be free together?”
He gaped at her, but the serious puzzlement on her face bespoke no trick or jest. “You love me?”
“Yes. Or I can’t determine any other way to describe how much I need you.” She rested a hand on his arm. “You were right. I might hunt alone and fight alone, but I’m just as strong when I’m not alone. When there’s someone strong and brave and fierce beside me. I want that person to be you.”
His pulse raced through his veins and thundered in his ears, rendering him speechless.
“Arctus, I will bond with you, to secure our union. Whatever battle may come, I will fight by your side. Forever.”
Finally, a quirk tugged at his lips and his breath rushed from his lungs. “I’ve never heard sweeter words in all my life, love.”
“Good, because I’d have to kill anyone else who spoke them to you.”
Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her, closing her into a tight embrace and pressing his lips to the top of her head. “My home will be yours as well. Are you ready to behold it?”
At her nod, he released her, clasping her hand instead, and together they stood on the ship, gazing out at the ocean and the mass of land quickly approaching.
His land. Her new home.
Their future together.
Epilogue
From the moment they landed on the Isle of Krete, they employed every tact of cloaking. Their ship nestled in the bay, invisible. Arctus led the Amazons on a dangerous trek through Minotaur lands, through devastated villages and scorched ruins of homes. Thanks to Hippolyta, the banners they carried at the front and back of their army provided them enchanted stealth.
He had no notion of Kleo’s reaction to viewing his home for the first time. For her observing the squalor in which they now lived. And barely survived. He directed them through a secret network of tunnels, deep into the hollows of Mount Ida. Had any of his brothers returned from their missions? What of Cyane?
The voluminous cavern echoed their entry, the stomp of hooves and shuffle of footsteps. Vast and deserted.
Until a cheery feminine voice called, “Ho, there!”
Cyane. Joy rushed in a flurry of warmth through him and he raced forward to embrace his sister, squeezing her off her feet. The spritely nymph squirmed in his arms, tossing her short black and blue locks.
“Easy, Arctus!” she wheezed, and he set her down.
Around the cave, torches illuminated, revealing hundreds of men, women, and children. A formidable male stomped to Cyane’s side.
“Who are all these people?” Arctus frowned. He didn’t recognize anyone, save his sister and a few dozen centaurs.
“My people, the Karkinos.” The male extended his hand.
“Arctus, meet my mate, Theron.” Cyane beamed and bounced on her heels.
His jaw dropped and he gaped at Theron’s hand. My little sister has a mate?
“A pleasure.” Kleo stepped to his side and gave Theron’s hand a hearty shake. “I’m Kleoptoleme of the Amazons, and I’m Arctus’s mate.”
Now, Cyane mirrored his gawking, except her lips quickly curved into a wide grin.
“I, ah.” Rather than spew nonsense, he seized the male’s firm grasp and gave a squeeze. “Cyane, this is incredible.” He scanned the masses. “How did you manage it?”
Their sister wasn’t supposed to have assembled an army. Because of her nymph nature, he and his brothers had kept the harsher aspects of their plans from her.
“Your sister has a heart that anyone would follow.” Theron wrapped an arm about Cyane’s shoulders, and her cheeks flushed.
“Indeed, that she has.” He nodded. His centaur senses approved of the male’s intentions. They were honorable and pure.
“You’ve brought Amazons.” Awe filled Cyane’s voice as she studied the warriors filing into the chamber. “The Karkinos will arrange accommodations for everyone. They’re crab shifters and excellent at digging tunnels, so you’ll find quite a few additions to our home.”
“Incredible.” He tossed his head in wonderment. His sister had proven herself to be infinitely resourceful.
“Well, I’ll leave you to rest while I help get everyone sorted.” Cyane wrapped her arms about him once more. “It’s so wonderful to have you home.”
He pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head. “You as well.”
Sighing, she released him and skipped off with her mate.
Kleo slipped her hand through his. “You seem impressed. And happy.”
“I am.” Arctus cast her a wide grin. “How could I not be, with the promise of the future so bright?” He spread his hand across her cheek and brought her lips to his for a brief kiss. “Come, let me show you my cave.”
Hands linked together, he led them through a series of tunnels to his chamber. He ducked inside the modest cavern and faced Kleo. She set down her sack and unwrapped her ceremonial dagger. “Will this do?”
“For what?”
Smirking, she inched closer and gripped the dagger between them. “To make you my mate, and…”
His heart flopped inside his chest. “And…?”
Kleo snared his hand and clasped it to her belly. “The father of my child, whether the babe be male or female.”
Joy seized his muscles and flooded life through them. “You’re…”
She nodded and laughed, wrapping her arms about his neck. “We are.”
“Oh, Kleoptoleme.” A thousand emotions tumbled through him, and hope the greatest of them all. Tears misted in his eyes. “I love you, Alala. I will love you until the last beatings of my hearts. I will fight by your side, for our love and for the future we will bestow upon our children. Alone nevermore shall you be.”
She sniffled and he brushed aside her tears. Lifting onto her toes, she pressed one long and tender kiss to his lips. “And I will love you, my sweet and brave centaur, through times of war and times of peace. Until our blades will rest in eternal slumber. Side by side. Forever.”
Glossary
Olympian – the lingua franca (common tongue) of the gods and their descendants.
potamoi – a river demon
raptio – sexual slaves
Adrasteia – Arsenius’s brigantine. Named after his half-sister, the goddess of revenge and balance.
morphos – a shift in form, whether permanent or temporary. E.g. when a centaur changes form from a centaur to a human, he undergoes the morphos.
chalkos, argyros, and chrysos – three passwords to the symposium, meaning “copper, silver, and gold”
asphodelus, eros, aionios – three passwords to Halcyon, meaning “daffodil, love, and eternal”
lyssa – a madness affecting centaurs, especially related to an incomplete bonding
melita – term of endearment meaning “honey-sweet”
quarter – pyrate term for “mercy”
Old Centaurion – an ancient centaur language
Meliae – honey nymphs
hubris – excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods
Pythia – Oracle sacred to Apollo
Acknowledgments
It’s so exciting to bring the second book in this 5-novella series to life. The pieces are starting to come to
gether and hopefully those centaurs of Krete will cooperate :)
Thank you to my awesome beta readers, Ashley, Gina, Lyn, Robin, and Nicola, for always being ready with great commentary.
A huge thanks to my review team and street team.
To Kelley, my keen-eyed copy editor, thank you for your continued efforts.
Karie Deegan, my sassy and badass PA, thanks for all the late night consults.
Hugs and kisses to my family. Love always.
For my readers, things are about to get really epic, so brace yourselves!
Meet Rachael
USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Rachael Slate resides on the West Coast of Canada with her husband, two children, cat, and dog. Plus hummingbirds, songbirds, mason bees, and the occasional butterfly in her garden. When not writing, she's probably thinking about food (cooking, baking, or watching cooking shows). She also adores the outdoors--running, hiking, canoeing, camping, swimming, etc--so that helps to offset her culinary obsession!
Rachael writes sizzling stories that blend the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you'll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the fierce, capable heroines who challenge them. And always, scorching hot romance.
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Earth's Mark (Lords of Krete Book 2) Page 9