by Ramona Gray
“Why did you lie to Neil about it?”
Sienna gave her a dry look. “Do you think the man who loves me would want to hear of how I ached for another man? Neil’s wife killed herself after being bitten by a vampire. She couldn’t bear the obsession.”
Adina gave her a horrified look. “That’s terrible.”
“Aye, it is. Neil considers Val a friend but he does not trust other vampires. I do not blame him for that,” Sienna said. “I suffered through my need for Faren without Neil knowing and I’m trusting you to not reveal my secret.”
“I will keep it to myself. Do you still want Faren?”
“No,” Sienna said firmly. “The obsession has passed and it is only Neil I want and love.”
She paused and touched Adina’s hand lightly. “I tell you this because I want to help you understand that what you feel for Faren is because he feeds from you. Your feelings for him are false and – “
“He hasn’t fed from me,” Adina interrupted.
“What?” Sienna said in surprise.
“He will not feed from me. I have asked him to and he refuses. He joins me every night in my bed but only after he has hunted and fed from the animals in the forest.”
“I do not know what to say.” Sienna sat back in her chair. “I do not know Faren well but it is strange to me that he will not feed from a human who is willing.”
“Perhaps there is something wrong with me,” Adina whispered. “Perhaps he does not find me desirable enough to feed from.”
Sienna frowned at her. “If he’s fucking you every night, he finds you desirable enough.”
Adina sighed and stared at the table. “Do you not wonder why I want him to feed from me, Sienna?”
Sienna shrugged. “That is your business, Adina. Who am I to judge the actions of others?”
She stared thoughtfully at the closed bedroom door. “Perhaps Faren will not feed from you because he cares for you.”
“He does not,” Adina said flatly. “He uses me for sex and nothing else.”
“I would not be so certain of that, Adina. He spends his daysleep in your bed.”
“So?”
“Vampires are most vulnerable during their daysleep. They can be woken from it but they are weak and disoriented. Vampires do not usually daysleep in a human’s bed. It would be easy enough for you to stab him in the heart or take his head while he slept.”
Adina gave her a horrified look and Sienna shrugged. “It is true. For him to sleep in your cabin means he trusts you.”
They sat in silence for a moment before Sienna stood. “Thank you for the salve, Adina. I will return it to you in a week.”
“You’re welcome,” Adina replied.
Sienna left and she stared at her bedroom door before rubbing at her burning eyes. She was tired and her thighs and pelvis ached. Faren had kept her up all night, fucking her repeatedly. She was still ashamed at the way she had begged and pleaded for him to bite her.
He had refused like always, and she wondered for a moment if Sienna was right. Perhaps Faren did care for her.
He doesn’t. He wants sex and you give it to him. There is nothing more.
Wasn’t there? A few hours before dawn when her body was worn out from the numerous orgasms Faren had coaxed out of her, he had asked about her life. He refused to share details of his own but he had listened quietly as she had spoken of her mother and her brother, and how she had learned to be a healer. Anger had flashed across his face when she had shared the way her brother had sold her to the slavers, and he had pulled her into his arms and held her tightly until he had gone to his daysleep.
She rubbed again at her eyes before putting water to boil over the fire. Her obsession to be bitten by him had turned into something more in the last month. She cared for Faren more than she should and it would break her heart when he finally tired of her and moved on to another.
* * *
“You’re seriously not building a fire.”
“No, human. It is too dangerous,” Hanif said.
“We’re going to freeze to death.” Abby scowled.
Darkness had fallen and Kane had agreed to stop for the night. Abby glanced at Sara. Her lips were blue and she was shivering violently despite Radek’s embrace.
Hanif laughed. “She sounds like your mate, Kane.”
“You will not freeze to death,” Kane said. “Radek will keep young Sara warm, I will keep you warm, and Hanif will keep Michael warm.”
“No,” Michael said. “I’m not sleeping with Hanif.”
Hanif grinned at him. “I will be in my wolf form, human.”
“It’s still too awkward,” Michael replied.
“You really will freeze to death if you don’t,” Hanif said cheerfully.
“I’ll take my chances.”
“You can sleep with Meeka,” Sara said. She called softly for the koran and it appeared out of the darkness with a soft rumbling purr.
“Meeka, you need to help keep Michael warm tonight. Do you understand?” She cupped the koran’s giant face and stared into its golden eyes. “Lie down and let Michael sleep against you.”
The koran hissed and glanced at Michael before returning his gaze to Sara. Sara scratched his throat and kissed his nose. “Please, Meeka. Be a good baby and help keep Michael warm.”
The koran made a grumbling noise of displeasure but lay down obediently before staring at Michael.
“Go on, Michael. Meeka won’t hurt you,” Sara said encouragingly.
Michael glanced at Abby. She shrugged and he sighed before lying down gingerly against the koran. The koran curled around him and Michael stiffened when the beast sniffed at his hair before licking his forehead.
“He’s just saying goodnight, Michael,” Sara said.
“Or doing a taste test.” Abby grinned.
Michael scowled at her as Kane stripped out of his clothing and shifted. He growled softly at Abby and she lay on the ground as Kane curled around her.
“Good God, it’s like having a furry, breathing electric blanket,” Abby said as Kane draped his large tail over her thighs.
Radek shifted and wrapped his large body around Sara’s tiny one before licking her face. She was completely hidden by him and she said a muffled goodnight as Hanif shifted and stretched out in the snow.
* * *
Kane held his hand up and the others stopped behind him. “We are close to the village.”
“Thank God,” Abby said. They had risen early and after walking steadily for the entire day she was ready for a hot meal and warm bed.
Kane turned to Sara. “Your pet cannot come into the village with us. The humans will be alarmed if a koran walks among them.”
Sara nodded and buried her hands in Meeka’s large mane. She scratched him roughly and he purred happily. “You have to stay hidden, Meeka. Stay in the forest and do not let yourself be seen by the humans. We will be back in a day or two. All right?”
He rumbled in reply and licked her hand before turning and disappearing into the dark. The shifters and humans walked for another ten minutes before the trees began to thin. Abby could see the glow of lights flickering in the darkness and it wasn’t long before they were at the edge of the forest.
“This is pretty big,” she said in surprise as she gazed at the wooden buildings. Most of them were stores but there were a few houses scattered among them.
“Aye, it has grown since the last time we were here.” Kane studied the buildings in the glow of the torches that lined the streets. “We will find lodging for the night and purchase our items in the morning. Follow me, humans.”
They followed him for nearly ten minutes down a narrow street until he stopped in front of one of the larger buildings. He opened the door and Abby moaned happily at the blast of warm air. The room was small and the fire crackled loudly in the fireplace. Michael hurried over to it, holding his hands out as Kane approached the man sitting at the small wooden desk.
He was absorbed in a book and did
n’t look up when Kane cleared his throat. Sighing loudly, Kane said, “We require lodging for the evening. Do you have any rooms?”
“Aye, we have quite a few as of late,” the man replied without looking up. “How many do you require?”
“Three should be enough,” Abby tugged on Kane’s sleeve. “Sara and I can share a room, you and Radek can share, and Michael and Hanif can take the third one.”
“Sara stays with me,” Radek said immediately.
Abby rolled her eyes as Kane said, “We require four rooms.”
“Thirty gold coins,” the man said before finally raising his gaze. “You’ll need to pay up front and…”
He trailed off, swallowing thickly at the sight of Kane’s large body.
“We have pelts and furs to trade. I assume this will be agreeable.” Kane leaned down and rested his hands on the desk as the man shrank back.
“Of course,” he said hurriedly. “Four furs, one for each room, should cover it.”
“Excellent. Hanif, show the man the furs we have brought.” Kane smiled and the man made a soft moan of fear.
“Do you have a blacksmith here?” Michael asked as the man stumbled toward the door where Hanif was waiting.
“Aye. Two streets down from here,” the man said before following Hanif into the cold.
“We will find our swords there,” Michael said happily to Abby.
She squeezed his arm as Kane said, “Radek and Sara will share a room, Hanif and I will share the other and Abigail and Michael can have their own rooms. I think it’s best if we retire for the night. We will meet here in the morning.”
* * *
“It is a nice room,” Sara said as Radek locked the door and closed the curtains.
“Aye,” he replied before stripping off his shirt.
She sat down on the bed, bouncing a little, before removing her jacket and boots. “It will be good to find warmer clothing tomorrow.”
Radek sat down beside her and curved his arm around her waist. “I will keep you warm, sweet one.”
She smiled at him. “Am I to cling to your back like a monkey for the entire winter?”
“I would enjoy that,” he winked at her and she leaned against him.
“Are you tired, sweet one?”
“A little. Mostly cold.”
“Perhaps I should warm you up?” Radek nuzzled her throat and she smiled happily.
“I would enjoy another lesson.” She stroked his firm thigh through his pants.
He tensed and she gave him a hesitant look. “Radek? What is wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said tersely.
“Are you certain?”
“Aye.”
She touched his naked chest timidly. “I can go to Abby’s room if you’d like.”
He scowled at her. “No. You sleep in my bed tonight. You are not to leave my sight while we are here. Do you understand, Sara?”
“I can take care of myself.” She glanced at her bow and arrows leaning against the wall.
He didn’t reply and she gave him her own scowl. “I can.”
“I know but I will feel better if you stay close to me. Will you do as I ask?”
She nodded and he stroked her hair before reaching for the hem of her shirt. “Are you ready for your lesson, sweet one?”
She pressed her mouth against his. “Aye, Radek. I am.”
Chapter 19
“For how big this place is, there doesn’t seem to be many people,” Abby said thoughtfully.
It was early the next morning. Kane and Hanif had taken them to what appeared to be a restaurant. After haggling with the owner, they had traded in a few furs for breakfast.
Kane grunted, “Aye, there are fewer people than I remember.”
“Three of the stores we passed this morning were boarded up,” Michael said.
The restaurant was on the larger side but there were only a few people sitting at the tables and Abby studied them curiously. “Do they know you’re shifters, do you think?”
Hanif shrugged. “Most likely. We are bigger than humans and trading for furs is a dead give-away. It’s why they’re so nervous.”
“Is it?” Radek wondered. “Both you and Kane have been here before - they know we are not here to cause trouble.”
“Perhaps they are – “
Hanif stopped as the door to the restaurant opened. “Kane,” he muttered. “Do you see that?”
Abby stared at the man standing in the doorway. Man was probably a bit too generous, she decided. The creature stood over ten feet tall and his entire body was covered in a layer of hair.
“What is that?” She whispered.
“A tagen,” Hanif replied.
She could hear the fear in his voice and she glanced at Kane as Hanif said, “Why is there a tagen in a human village, Kane?”
“I do not know,” Kane said quietly. “Stay calm, Hanif.”
“Aye, calm,” Hanif muttered.
The tagen inhaled deeply, his gaze landing on Kane and the others. A shiver went down Abby’s back when his black eyes stared at her. A look came over his face, she wouldn’t let herself believe it was lust, before he grinned at her and moved to the far side of the restaurant. He sat down at an empty table and pounded his fist on the wooden surface. It cracked beneath his hand and he chuckled to himself as the waitress approached him timidly.
“Bring me meat. Rare,” he rumbled.
She nodded and cringed when he slapped her ass. The slap sent her to her knees and Hanif growled under his breath as she scrambled to her feet.
“Calm, Hanif,” Kane said again. “Finish your meals quickly.”
The others nodded and they ate rapidly as Kane studied the tagen silently. The tagen ignored him completely. His gaze remained on Abigail and Hanif leaned toward Kane.
“I do not like the way he stares at the human,” he muttered under his breath.
“Nor do I,” Kane replied.
Abby gasped when Kane hauled her from her chair and sat her on his lap. He placed one large hand possessively on her thigh and gripped the back of her neck with his other.
“Hey, Kane?” Abby said as Sara and Michael stared at Kane in surprise. “Whatcha’ doin’, big guy?”
“He is showing the tagen you belong to him,” Hanif said in a low voice. “He studies you too closely.”
“Great,” Abby muttered as Kane stared unblinkingly at the tagen.
The tagen bared his teeth at the shifter as the waitress placed a large chunk of meat in front of him. He tore into it, chewing loudly as he continued to study Abby.
“We leave – now,” Kane said.
He stood and keeping his hand on Abigail’s neck, steered her toward the front door. The tagen made no move to stop them and only when they were standing outside in the cold sunlight, did Kane drop his grip.
“We stick together at all times,” Kane said as the others followed them down the street. “We will purchase the human’s swords first and then find warmer clothing for Sara and the herbs that Adina requested. We’re leaving the human’s village as soon as we have our supplies. Is that understood?”
They nodded and Kane strode faster. “Hurry, it is not safe for us in the – “
“It is strange to see shifters in a human village.” The voice was thick and deep and the hair on the back of Abby’s neck tried to stand up. The tagen had appeared around the corner and Kane stopped immediately.
“No stranger than a tagen in a human village,” he replied.
“Perhaps. Why are you here, dog?”
Hanif growled at the insult and Kane gave him a warning look. “We are not looking for trouble. We require supplies. Once we have purchased them from the humans, we will leave.”
The tagen tapped his chin thoughtfully as he stared down at them. “The thing is, this village now belongs to my brothers and me. And we don’t care for dogs in our home.”
“We are not looking for trouble,” Kane repeated. “Step aside, let us purchase our supplies, and
we will leave.”
“That isn’t how it works here anymore. You must pay a price to even enter our home,” the tagen said.
“You are welcome to take a few of our pelts,” Kane said.
The tagen laughed before belching loudly. “We have more than enough pelts. Humans, however, are becoming increasingly rare. For some reason they do not enjoy our rule and keep stealing away in the night.”
“Perhaps it is because you rape their women,” Hanif snarled.
The tagen shrugged. “Perhaps. My brothers and I do enjoy the softness of human females. Our female kind are terrible to fuck.”
His gaze fell on Abby. “If you wish to stay in the village, I will allow it.”
“Thank you,” Kane said.
“For a price, dog,” the tagen said.
“I have told you – you’re welcome to a few of our pelts,” Kane replied.
“And I have told you – we have no need for pelts. The woman,” the tagen pointed at Abby, “will be more than enough payment.”
Kane put his arm around Abby’s waist and drew her back against him. “The woman is my mate and belongs to me.”
“Do not worry, dog, I will make sure your woman forgets all about your puny cock when she is in my bed,” the tagen replied.
Kane snarled loudly and Abby could feel his body swelling against her back. “Touch her and I will kill you.”
“Do you honestly think you can defeat me, shifter?” The tagen gave him a look of surprise.
“There are three of us and only one of you. Walk away now and we will let you live,” Kane said.
“You are big for your kind, but I will kill you and your dog brothers easily enough. Give me the woman and you can walk away. I give you my word,” the tagen said.
Kane glanced at Hanif and Radek. The two shifters nodded and moved forward as Kane pushed Abby behind him. “You had your chance, tagen.”
“Aye, as did you,” the tagen said. He charged forward, he was surprisingly nimble for his size, as the three shifters changed to their wolf forms. Their clothes shredded around them and they leaped at the tagen in unison.