Both Tavish and Laken moved so fast Honor was wondering where they went. She looked up at Caine, filled with shocked surprise. His look was grim.
“Don’t be afraid, Honor, Tavish isn’t angry with you. In his coven, it’s treason to kill a child—male or female.”
“What if a woman doesn’t want a child?” Honor challenged. She had heard the rumors of vampires needing humans to breed because they couldn’t have their own children. They needed human males almost as much as human females. That meant even if Laken did the sex thing with her she would have to do it with a human man.
“A woman is not bred until she does.”
Honor was skeptical. She knew a man put his cock inside a woman to have sex. She hadn’t seen the act herself—except glimpses of men and women in the furs. Until sleeping together arrangements were nullified. Men and women then slept alone in grooves on the ice filled with furs. Their cold life had grown colder. Did sex hurt? Honor wanted a baby; she had since the first time she had set eyes on that precious baby girl. She wondered how long the poor little thing had lasted and how her mother could have allowed it—how her own father could have done it. Honor would have killed Talek if he had touched a child of hers.
“Are you hungry?” Caine asked.
Honor was starving, but she wouldn’t ask for anything. “Will I really not be beaten if I go outside?”
With the two men gone, she was feeling less intimidated and studied her surroundings with interest. She lay with her head elevated on a long bed-like structure up off the ground. Honor could see strange flat walls in the room she was in. The ceiling overhead wasn’t high and domed or made of ice. Strange shiny things were on wooden tables; some looked like torture devises the old men in her cave spoke about. Wood was a luxury and yet there the item stood. In an ice dwelling, tables were made of ice.
The floors in this room were smooth, not lumpy; they also looked to be made of shiny wood. How could wood be so shiny and so abundant? It was such a confusing place. The air was warm and yet no fire blazed. Honor was tempted to go over to a stuffed piece of furniture and touch it. There was no fur covering it, and yet, it looked so comfortable. Honor had never before seen such bizarre material. What manner of animals would one kill to get such weird fixtures?
“I’m certain Laken will take you out soon enough, but not today. Your bruising is extensive. Nothing is broken, but I’m certain you must be feeling very tender. You’re dehydrated. I’m going to keep a close eye on you for the next forty-eight hours just to be safe.”
Honor frowned. Caine said that like he really cared how she felt. No one ever cared about her—except maybe her parents at one time. This man was a stranger. What had Tavish called him? A healer? It must be the term used for someone who helped people. In their ice dwelling people suffered in silence. If you were injured, you were useless and it was dangerous to complain of injury or ailment.
“I need clothes to go outside.” Honor cast a fast glance under the blanket to look at her high rounded boobs. She never realized they were so interesting. Looking at Caine’s chest she realized he didn’t have breasts like hers, his chest was contoured muscles. It suited him, like it did Laken and the leader, Tavish.
“If you eat and drink something, I’ll bring you clothes.”
“Blackmail.”
“Compromise.”
“Oh fine!” She was too tired for a war of words. Caine wasn’t commanding her; he was just trying to act concerned. Well, he could play his games as long as she could go outside—but not naked. Her boobs were beautiful, but Honor didn’t want anyone gawking at them like Dylan and the other men had.
At a strange knocking sound, Caine approached a piece of rectangular wood attached to the wall. He pulled on a handle and the strange wood opened but didn’t fall—it merely swung inward. Honor caught sight of an odd-looking tunnel that led from the room. A beautiful young dark-haired girl peeked past Caine. Honor would have gasped if her mouth hadn’t hung open so wide. The girl was so young—perhaps fifteen. A child. A female child permitted to live; she was even younger than Peter.
Her skin looked darker than Honor’s pale white color and she looked healthy. The girl wore very little and Honor was surprised. Normally the ice dwellers were always covered from head to toe—it was law. Besides, it was so cold it was more common sense than anything. A small shirt of the strangest pink covered the girl’s budding breasts, leaving her midriff bare. The same color garment hung low on her hips and hung half way down her thighs leaving her long shapely legs bare. Open flat things were perched on her feet with a single band between her toes holding them on.
What sort of law here permitted a girl to walk around free of obstruction? Wouldn’t she freeze? It seemed very cruel to Honor that these vampires allowed a child to freeze. But when the girl smiled at her, she didn’t look like she was under duress. The grin wasn’t forced; it radiated from bright happy eyes. Honor had little time to ponder. Caine smiled brightly at the child then took a flat tray from the girl, thanked her—he thanked her—then strolled over to Honor. What manner of man thanked a female? The men she was used to felt entitled.
“Some of this smells very hot. So you’ll have to blow on it,” Caine said.
He set the tray on a small table and pulled it in front of her. Honor looked at the food. It was strange fare, but she was so hungry she would be willing to try anything. It smelled delicious and she couldn’t wait for it to be her turn to eat. Honor waited. Caine looked at her with a kind expression.
“I know it’s weird and new to you, but it’s good. Try something.”
Honor felt her heart begin to pound. She had always eaten last. Was this a test? Would he beat her if she touched the food first? He was so big. Dylan couldn’t hit worth shit, but if this man punched her she would be lucky to ever wake up. She caught his gaze for just a second, and for that moment, she honestly thought his stunning blue eyes were filled with concern.
“What’s wrong, Honor? Why are you afraid of me?”
How did he know?
“I can hear your heart pounding,” Caine explained.
“If I touch the food, will you hit me?” Honor whispered.
Caine sighed. “No one is ever allowed to hit you.”
“Not even you?”
“Not me or anyone. Eat. I have work to do. There is nothing there that needs peeling or explaining. It’s pretty straight forward finger food; just remember to blow on it. I’ll be right in the next room. When you’ve finished, try to sleep.”
Caine left. He exited through another piece of inward swinging wood. It was so odd. It was as though a new room swallowed him or he magically disappeared. Honor looked at the fare before her and her mouth watered. There was no knife to use; she was used to stews and soups or dried meats. They ate with their fingers or sipped the soups and stews and speared the chunks with small ivory daggers.
Everything on her plate was cut into bite-sized pieces, the brown meat was steaming. Strange dark green stuff was in a small pile to the side of her plate. It didn’t exactly look like seaweed. Honor sniffed it then with care, mindful of her aching jaw, she tasted it. It was heavenly. It was seasoned with a slippery delicious taste Honor assumed was butter and a small amount of salt. The butter wasn’t like the rich seal butter sometimes made by Peter’s mother.
Round red things sat off to the side in a bowl. Honor had never seen any food the color of blood, she had seen blood but it dripped; the color stayed on these strange things. They didn’t look like raw uncooked cubed meat. How odd. She sniffed at one, it smelled nice and whatever it was it definitely wasn’t animal based. Her tongue flicked out to lick it. Honor chewed the red colored things with wide-eyed wonder. They were sweet and reminded her nothing of the disgusting taste of blood.
The meat on her plate was cut into smallish square pieces and covered in a thick brown substance, like a heavy stew liquid. Honor took a small bite, chewed with wonder and sucked her fingers, and decided she would fight a polar bear t
o the death if it tried to make off with this. Never had she tasted anything so tender.
There was a round lump of something on a separate dainty plate, Honor had never seen such fine thin plates—no doubt they would smash to pieces if dropped on ice. The lump looked like an odd, brownish-white snowball. When Honor lifted it, the ball fell into halves, each side was warm. More of the butter substance was smeared on this as well. Honor took a taste. It was soft, not sweet or bitter. The somewhat squishy food sopped up the brown stuff over the meat and tasted even better. After Honor had literally licked her plate clean, she yawned. She was tired and she was so thirsty. In a cup was a liquid substance. It was yellow and Honor wrinkled her nose. It looked like urine. Did vampires think people drank their own piss?
“Hmm,” she muttered with dismay. She knew what dehydration was; she did need to drink.
Honor gasped when Caine was suddenly standing before her, he could move as fast as Laken, Honor wondered if every man in this coven was a vampire. She was frightened by the thought, but Caine looked concerned.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I…I’m thirsty. I can’t drink pee.” Honor held up the cup.
She frowned when Caine laughed at her. “Honor it’s called apple juice. It’s made from a fruit.” Caine took the cup from her hand and sipped it. He handed it back to her.
Honor was skeptical but doubted even a vampire would down piss. She sniffed the contents. It didn’t smell like pee. The tip of her tongue hazarded a taste. Honor guzzled the entire contents. Her mouth exploded with flavor, it was wonderful. All she had ever drunk was water; it was so boring. This was a melody dance in her mouth. Oh how she longed to ask for more, but she wouldn’t. The vampires would think she depended on them.
Caine took the cup and tray away, set it on the table then returned to her side. His now snowy-white, glowing eyes gazed into hers. “Sleep, Honor.”
This man was no less mesmerizing with his strange stare. He wasn’t commanding her, his tone was cajoling, his lips were a gentle smile. Honor was so tired. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to close her eyes for just a few seconds. She felt herself placed back against the soft fluffy pillows. The blanket was settled under her chin. A soft hand trailed down her cheek in the first caress of her life, it felt—lovely.
Sleep.
Honor slept.
* * * *
It didn’t take Laken long to show Tavish and the other vampires where he had felled the human males he had killed. From there, it was just a matter of backtracking. The iceberg was massive, it was apparent on sight this behemoth had seen many years of humans and their offspring. Once inside the intricate labyrinth of tunnels, the vampires stood back and waited for Ursus to scent the humans. With the bear’s natural ability and instinct to uncover seal breathing holes, she used her heightened sense to smell for ice dwellers.
Ursus stood on her huge hind legs and scooped air into her paws that she sniffed. She grunted and waddled in a direction. The others followed her until they were able to pick up numerous heartbeats. Laken’s excitement built. There were ten vampires. The small clan of humans numbered fifteen. The last man Laken had killed had given him the information; in exchange, Laken had offered him a more merciful death than the others. Of those fifteen, four were strong hunters, four were old men. There were three females who could still be bred, three women who were past childbearing and a teenage boy. He was big, but from his baby face and fuzz-covered chin it was easy to see he wasn’t yet a man.
“Pick the human you wish,” Tavish said. “I’ll take the boy. He’s young, but if he poses a threat I’ll bleed him here and leave him with the other bodies. I won’t bring back anyone who would do harm in my coven.”
It was a recently new law of Tavish’s. Males of any age were bled and searched for memories before being brought into the fold. After the scare they had with Mercy and her cousin, Jarrod, Tavish took no more chances. Tavish would allow no one to harm his breeder females or children. Jarrod had aided with the death of two pregnant women in an ice dwelling. Treason was punishable by death.
Tavish was able to impose new thought to humans, but if they had killed or had been mind-poisoned beyond repair, the hypnotism and suggestions could be useless. When some took to an idea, not even the threat of their own death would sway them. Martyrs could be the most dangerous murderers. Humans were their own worst enemy.
“I want that one,” Laken said and pointed. He had heard a man call him Talek, the clan leader—Laken wanted him to pay for not protecting Honor. Since he already had a new female he didn’t need another.
“I want the female by the leather cooking caldron.”
Tavish cast his glance to the vampire beside Laken who had spoken. “Are you sure? She can’t be bred. You haven’t been interested in a female of your own since Tanya betrayed us. That was a while ago, Rhett.”
Laken knew Tavish was worried over his, what seemed to be, most volatile vampire. Since being betrayed by the human Tanya, Rhett, who was prone to be rough on occasion, had gotten rougher. Because of Tanya, Mercy and Tavish’s son were almost lost to Tavish. Tanya had aided rogue vampires because of her jealousy towards Mercy over Tavish. Rhett still felt guilt at not seeing the deception. Thankfully, Mercy was turned and the baby was born half-vampire but Rhett had yet to forgive himself. He also bore anger towards women. He never hurt a woman in the coven—though he had frightened a few. When they went hunting, Rhett always chose older females who couldn’t breed. These women he did frighten and killed. For the most part, Tavish looked the other way. They were vampires after all—deadly predators. A little sport outside the coven was entertaining.
Once each human had been chosen Tavish gave the signal. Ursus was the first to her prey. A male hunter had been chosen for her as her reward. The attack was fast. The male was standing close to a woman of perhaps mid- to late-thirties. Tavish wanted the three breeder females safe. There were times ice-dweller males killed the females to keep them from the vampires.
Laken could move quicker than lightning, he grabbed Talek by the scruff of his furs around his upper arms and took him into the air before the man knew what was happening. The image of Honor’s bruised body flashed into Laken’s thoughts. Because of this coward, she had been surrounded by four men wanting to kill her. He gave Talek a good shake and heard his bones rattle from the force.
“This is for Honor because you have none.”
Talek’s eyes grew round with terror, he groaned as Laken tightened his crushing grip. Laken growled as fiercely as he could, he yanked Talek’s head to the side by using his hair and sank his teeth viciously into the man’s throat. Talek kicked and beat at him for the first few seconds, then gurgled and shuddered. Laken had gotten the artery. Blood squirted down his throat like an eruption. He thrust horrifying images into the man’s mind as he died. Laken wanted Talek to know what it would be like to be exposed and alone and frightened, left to fend for himself on the ice. Punishment Talek wanted for Honor was now his cross to bear. Seconds could feel like hours in a vampire’s embrace.
Laken felt full with his power. He dropped the limp body of the man to the ground and with satisfaction heard a few bones snap when the body hit the ice. Laken landed lightly on his feet and watched the others around him. The ones who were dead would be left where they had fallen. The three new breeder females were well wrapped against the cold.
Laken walked over to Tavish who was wrapping the boy in a fur. It appeared he was sparing his life. When Tavish was done he stood up and grinned at Laken.
“Man, do you ever have your hands full.”
Laken was confused at Tavish’s amused expression. “What? Why?”
“Your little spitfire kissed this boy. He had a woody so bad he thought he’d die,” Tavish said and roared with laughter. “I’ll give him a year or two and bet he’ll make one of the best breeder males we have. He’s desperate to get laid.”
Laken chuckled, but he was feeling concern. He wondered just what fee
lings Honor had for the boy. Was it possible she had been cast out because she and the young man were in love? From the looks of the small clan, Honor and the boy were closest in age, they must have been companions. The idea stirred a feeling Laken hadn’t had in a long time—jealousy. Just because Honor looked like Nanya, it didn’t mean she was. Honor would have to breed—it was law. Laken felt he had best curb his emotions.
Chapter 5
Honor woke to find Laken sitting quietly beside her on the bed. It was a little disconcerting. Men weren’t supposed to get this close to a woman—unless he meant to beat her. The idea made her cringe, but she wouldn’t cower. She was still nude; the blanket she had was down around her tummy and she felt a slow burn creep over her face. Honor hiked the flannel back up under her chin; the action made Laken smile.
“Your breasts are beautiful,” he said.
Just the words were an act of treason, him staring was an act of treason, yet he looked unconcerned. Honor wondered just what laws this coven went by. Everything was like night and day and men were confusing enough when you did know the laws.
“I need some clothes. You ruined mine,” she reminded him.
“They were soaked and frozen—you were soaked and frozen, I’m guessing an ice dweller has heard of hypothermia. I needed to warm you up.”
“I’m warm now. I want to go outside. Tavish said I could.”
Caine chose that moment to enter the room. “You can go outside in the morning after breakfast. I have an area sectioned off for humans who are healing from ailments. Or mothers who need quiet time after giving birth. No one, human or vampire, is permitted in the area unless I approve.”
“But it’s light out,” Honor said with confusion. The room was bright and warm; Honor had never seen such light. In their ice dwelling, the temperature would drop and it would become that much darker to indicate night. There were no shadows to creep in this room, whereas the ice dwelling had been filled with them.
“It’s light in here,” Caine said. “If I flick that switch over there the room will be dark.”
A Vampire To Watch Over Me [Vampire Coven Book II] Page 6