It was a short walk to the inn, but halfway up the stairs Rhiannon sagged against him, her face ashen and beaded with sweat. He picked her up and carried her the rest of the way to the room. Once there, he shut and bolted the door, laid her upon the bed and fed.
Chapter 9
* * *
Hours later, Jaeger was jolted awake by a frantic pounding on the door. He stumbled from the bed and staggered across the room to answer. The barkeep was in the hallway, his face pale, his eyes distraught. Jaeger’s first thought was of the boy.
"What’s happened?" he asked. "Your son—"
"No!" the man interrupted hastily. "Not my boy. It’s you. You and the girl. You have to leave. At once!"
"What? Why?"
"Jaeger?" Rhiannon’s sleepy voice drifted across the room.
"There’s no time for a long explanation," the barkeep said, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "She’s a witch. There’s some folks here that don’t take kindly to her ways. Now, please, get your things together. I have horses waiting for you."
Jaeger was stunned by the man’s words. A low rumble came from outside the inn. He saw Rhiannon dart from the bed to the window. She looked back at him, her blue eyes wide.
"They’re coming, Jaeger," she whispered.
"God almighty!" the barkeep cried. "I can’t let them see me. The horses are out back. I have to go!" He turned and bolted down the hallway.
Jaeger turned to Rhiannon, who was stuffing their personal items into the pack as fast she could.
"Why?" he asked. "Why would they want to hurt you? You saved the boy’s life."
"Yes, and used magic to do it," she replied tightly. "Hurry, Jaeger, help me."
He quickly complied, and in moments they were packed and ready to go.
Rhiannon took another look through the window. "They’ve stopped out front. I think they’re trying to decide which room we’re in."
Jaeger took a deep breath. "Then, come on. I know the back way out. Let’s hope the barkeep was true to his word, and there are horses waiting."
He took her hand and led her into the dimly lit hallway. From there it was a short walk to the servant’s staircase and down to the alley. As promised, two sturdy horses stood waiting. Jaeger lifted up Rhiannon, but before he could mount, a small band of men appeared at the alley’s end. They carried torches. Though the light didn’t quite reach Jaeger and Rhiannon, it was enough to identify them to the group. And enough for Jaeger to see that the men held a variety of weapons picked up on their way to the inn.
"There she is!" someone shouted. "The witch!"
Something flew past Jaeger’s head. He heard Rhiannon cry out in pain and whirled. Her hand was to her cheek, and blood trickled like black ink between her fingers. Rage tore through Jaeger, and before he thought out his actions, he shapeshifted to the most powerful form he could in the confines of the alley—a sleek, steel-muscled black mountain cat.
None of the men had enough light to see the change, and more hard projectiles were thrown. One struck Jaeger on the shoulder, and he let out a roar that echoed between the stone walls of the alley.
The horses immediately shied and bolted. The men scattered as the animals thundered into their midst and past, and then one shouted that he had seen Rhiannon clinging to the back of one of them. Jaeger let out another throaty growl, drawing the group’s attention.
"It’s her familiar!" a man shouted. "Kill it and you kill her!"
Jaeger wasted no time. He sprang, rage driving his actions. The first man he encountered, the one who had injured Rhiannon, went down with a solid thud. He made only a soft gurgling sound as Jaeger tore open his throat. The other men screamed in terror and backed away, though they all held their weapons ready.
Jaeger spun, blood dripping from his mouth. Blood that was giving him strength, fueling his rage. His gaze shifted from one man to the other, daring any one of them to attack.
"C-come on!" one stammered. "We can take it. There’s more of us."
"No!" another cried. "It’s driven by the demon. It’ll kill us all!"
"We have to kill it first! It killed Claus."
The men approached warily, then abruptly surged forward. Jaeger twisted, striking out with claw and tooth. More than once something sharp penetrated his skin. Pain drove him, and he attacked with a ferocity he had never before experienced. Man after man fell to his anger, to his strength. Blood stained his face, his claws, his fur, coursed through his body, tainted his mind with animal lust. Even when the men drew back, conceding their defeat, Jaeger stalked them. His thoughts tumbled wildly. He wanted them dead, all of them. All who had the audacity to attack him, to injure Rhiannon—
Rhiannon!
Jaeger let out another yowl, then spun and bolted into the darkness. His acute sense of smell led him on the trail of the horse and Rhiannon. He ran through the darkness, legs pumping, heart pounding, until at last he found her.
She had drawn the horse to a stop beside a rocky slope. She sat quietly on the dark rocks but leapt up as he staggered to her and collapsed almost at her feet. He barely had the strength to shapeshift. When he did, he could not suppress a cry of agony. He bled from numerous wounds inflicted by daggers and thrown rocks. There was at least one sword slash down his thigh. It stung like fire.
Rhiannon dropped down on the ground beside him. "Oh, Jaeger," she whispered.
"I’m all right," he managed, looking up at her. "Are you? Your face—"
"My face is fine. It’s nothing compared to you!"
"I’m fine," he said again, though pain coursed through him.
She glanced at the sky. "Come on, we have to get you inside before the sun rises."
"Inside?"
"The caves. Look."
Jaeger turned to where she pointed. Several dark openings loomed in the rocks on the slope. He drew a deep breath and got slowly, painfully to his feet. With Rhiannon’s help, he staggered into the chilly darkness. She lowered him gently onto the ground, then turned back toward the opening. He grabbed at her skirt, stopping her.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to find something to burn. It’s too cold in here. There’s a bit of brush on the hillside."
"Let me fetch it then," he said.
She smiled at him and left. He watched her go with a mixture of love and trepidation, then lay back with a groan. Though his wounds had all ceased bleeding, he was still in pain. He knew he would recover quickly enough, given time to rest, but he didn’t know if he had that time. If Celd was looking for a Bleeder, he was sure to scent the carnage in the village. As sensitive as Jaeger’s Vector senses were, Celd’s were more so. Naturally, he would investigate.
Jaeger grimaced, remembering how he had torn into the men’s flesh. One of them was dead. How many others had succumbed to his fury? The question sent waves of guilt racing through him, mixing with his fear. There was no question he had to leave Rhiannon. He was a danger to her, that much was clear Though the barkeep had said the mob was looking for her, Jaeger wasn’t convinced. How could they hunt down someone who had just saved a child’s life? It didn’t make sense to him. Rhiannon should have been revered, honored, for what she had done. No, those villagers weren’t after her—they were after him. He was sure of it. But he couldn’t abandon her now, not with the villagers in such anger. They might take out their vengeance for him on her. He had to make sure she was safe, cared for, protected.
He looked up at her as she re-entered the cave, arms laden with kindling. "Rhiannon, you mentioned you had a clan. Would you like to find them again?"
She shrugged, laying some of the wood into a pile. "If I do, I do. But I am not actively seeking them. Why?"
Jaeger was quiet while she put a spark to the kindling. He watched the flames eat away at the leaves and moss she had stuffed beneath the wood, thinking how alike he and the fire were. Both needed something to feed on to survive, and both destroyed that which provided them life.
Rhiannon looked at him over the sm
all fire. "You want to leave me, don’t you?"
The question startled Jaeger, though he knew it shouldn’t have. He ought to be getting used to her reading his thoughts, sensing his innermost turmoil. Still, it was a bit disconcerting.
"It’s not that I want to leave you. But if you stay with me, you’ll be in constant danger."
"From?"
He sighed. "From people that despise my kind, from Celd, from me."
She gave him a small smile and moved to sit beside him. Her warm body was welcome and inviting. Jaeger took her into his arms, his heart aching.
"I just don’t want you to get hurt," he whispered.
"I won’t."
"You already have been." He gently touched the small wound on her face.
"But that wasn’t because of you, Jaeger. That was because of me. And you have suffered greatly because of me. If anyone is in danger, it is you."
Jaeger studied her for a moment, then kissed her gently. "If this is danger," he murmured, "then I revel in it."
She giggled and nestled closer to him with a contented sigh. "This is where I want to be, Jaeger. For all time."
"Time," Jaeger repeated. "Time I have too much of. But what about you? I will live on long after you."
"Maybe," she said.
He looked down at her in question. "Do you know something I don’t?"
"Maybe," she said again and closed her eyes.
Chapter 10
* * *
They left the next night, both riding the lone horse. For the next two weeks, Jaeger guided them north into the mountains, moving by night, sleeping in caves by day.
Rhiannon seemed familiar with the locale. Her clan called it the Grotto Mountains. She told Jaeger hundreds of caves existed in the hills, some large, some small. She assured him they would easily find shelter whenever they needed it.
Jaeger continuously looked for signs of Rhiannon’s people. Though he had not mentioned the clan to her again, he suspected she knew his thoughts.
He had not fed on human blood since attacking the men in the village, and his strength was slowly waning. He didn’t think Rhiannon was strong enough to be bled, despite the fact that she had invited him numerous times. In fact, he was worried about her fatigue and pallor. She had become very quiet and spent much of the daylight hours sleeping.
They had not made love in all of that time either, again by Jaeger’s wish. He was terrified his desire for both her blood and her body would prove to be overwhelming, that he would not be able to stop, that he would drain too much of her precious life’s fluid. But the ache to have her in both ways was equally distressing, and the constant press of her warm body to his while they rode was almost more than he could stand.
There had been no sign of Celd, for which Jaeger was extremely thankful. Perhaps he had gotten Rhiannon far enough away that the Chosen Vector could no longer sense her, or perhaps Celd had found another to host his child. Whatever the reason, Jaeger had finally relaxed his guard, moving his thoughts from escape to seeking shelter for Rhiannon.
"Jaeger," she said softly. "I need to stop."
He frowned, glancing down at her. She was slumped against him, her face made more pale by the moonlight. Dark circles ringed her eyes, which were half-lidded. Jaeger scanned the hillside for one of the caves, and pointed.
"There. That looks like a good place to spend the day." He urged the horse forward.
They reached the site in just moments, but Rhiannon had already sagged into sleep. With one arm, Jaeger secured her small form and dismounted the horse, dragging her with him. She woke with a little gasp, whether of pain or fright, he didn’t know. Both concerned him. He touched her forehead.
"You have a fever," he said, his alarm growing.
She looked up at him. "Please, Jaeger, don’t reject me further. Please."
"Reject you?" He stared at her in astonishment. "I would never reject you, Rhiannon. You’re ill. Come inside, lie down."
He snagged the pack, secured the horse and led her into what turned out to be quite a large cave.
"Yes, Jaeger, I am ill, but you can help. I need to be bled. Please."
"But you’re sick! I can’t take your blood when you’re sick. It would only make you worse."
"Damn you, Jaeger!" she cried, with all the venom she could manage. "You are making me worse! It’s the iron. I have to get rid of it. Please, please, help me." Tears sparkled in her blue eyes, and she clung to him in desperation.
Jaeger drew a deep breath but smelled no iron. He frowned, puzzled. A different scent filled the air, this one sweet and light, yet enticing. He had smelled this before, but he could not say where. It evoked strong memories of his mother, but he could not explain why. With a sigh, he laid the blanket on the cold stone and lowered Rhiannon to it. She pulled him down with her.
He ran one hand through her hair, then brought his lips to meet hers. He was startled by her weak response, almost as if she didn’t possess the energy for even a kiss. He drew back to look into her eyes.
"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.
She nodded, and her eyes slid closed. Jaeger hesitated only a moment longer, then brought his mouth to her neck. Her blood tasted different, sweeter, more intoxicating than ever before. He drew on it, savoring the rush it sent through his body, the strength that at once coursed through him.
Rhiannon shuddered, a small sigh of relief escaping her pale lips. Slowly, her arms surrounded him, drew him closer, tighter against her. It drove his passion wild, and his hands searched out her breasts, cupping them gently. His manhood strained against his leathers, and when she reached to unlace them, he knew she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
They made wild, passionate love, completely consumed in the fire and heat they created. Even the cold and darkness of the cave did not slow their actions or dampen their enthusiasm. For the first time, he fed on her more than once, spurred on by her scent, her movements, her command over him and his body. Only when they both lay still, exhausted and spent, did alarm surface. He turned onto his side and touched her cheek.
"Rhiannon?" he called softly.
Her reply was a only a sleepy smile. She did not even open her eyes. Jaeger’s heart leapt, and he kissed her on the forehead.
"Are you all right? Please, answer me. Say something."
Her eyes fluttered open, the smile never leaving her face. "I love you," she whispered, and fell back into quiet sleep.
Jaeger lay staring at her for a long time, until the chill of the cave reminded him that he was nude. Carefully, so as to not waken her, he sat up, wrapped the blanket over her and got dressed.
They had adopted the habit of picking up kindling along the trail, and he fetched their store now. It didn’t take long for the dried wood to catch a spark, and soon Jaeger had a respectable fire going. He poured water from the waterskin into a small kettle and set it near the flames to boil, then looked over at Rhiannon.
A smile curved his lips. She loved him. She had spoken the words. He had felt their sincerity. She loved him. It sent his spirits soaring, his mind reeling. At the same time, it plummeted him into despair. They loved each other, but what could ever come of it? A life on the run? As long as she was with him, Celd could find her. He sighed. His father’s life all over again, only this time Jaeger was the one running with his beloved.
And what if I leave her? She will still need to be bled to keep from getting ill. Will Celd be able to track her down? Is he still looking? Would someone in her clan be able to protect her? Jaeger didn’t think so. Vectors were known for their physical strength as well as their ability to temporarily hypnotize humans. It wouldn’t take much to steal her away from her clan.
Jaeger rubbed wearily at his face. It seemed there were no easy answers. Nothing he could do but wait. A noise outside the cave drew his attention, and he rose, peering into the darkness beyond. He saw nothing and was about to reseat himself when a familiar figure appeared in the shadows.
"Hello, Jaeger." Celd�
�s voice snaked through the cold darkness.
Jaeger went rigid, his gut tightening. He could not even manage to utter a greeting as the Vector sauntered his way. Celd’s gaze flicked to Rhiannon, who still slept.
"Ah, the Bleeder. So, that’s where she went." Celd looked back at Jaeger. "I thought you preferred goat’s blood."
"I did," Jaeger managed, then corrected himself, "I do."
Celd chuckled and sniffed the air. "Yet, all I smell here is human blood." He moved closer to the fire and Rhiannon.
Jaeger stepped between them. Celd eyed him with a cold smile. "You did quite a job in that last village you were in. Four men dead, torn apart by some wild, crazed cat. A familiar, some say, to a witch."
Jaeger clenched his jaw to keep from answering. He would not give Celd the satisfaction. The Vector went on, his voice flat, his gaze locked on Rhiannon.
"And this must be the witch. From the barkeep’s description, she fits perfectly. A Bleeder and a witch. A charming combination, eh, Jaeg?" He looked to Jaeger, his face gone cold. "She’s the one I sought. You knew that. So, why do I now find you with her so many miles from Skyther?" He waited but Jaeger refused to answer. Celd drew a long, slow, irritated breath. "Could it be, Jaeger, that you defied my wishes? That you wish to claim this Bleeder for your own?"
Anger drove Jaeger’s response. "She belongs to no one, Celd. Not me or you."
Celd snorted. "There you are wrong, my boy. As one of the Chosen, I say who belongs to me. And I lay claim to her. Now, run along. I have work to do."
Jaeger stiffened in rage, not moving. Celd’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Rhiannon chose that moment to rouse. Her eyes opened slowly, then widened when she saw Celd hovering over her. Clutching the blanket to her, she scooted away. Her gaze darted from Celd to Jaeger and back.
A Gift Of Blood Page 7