by Nicole René
“She’s not dead!” Xavier hissed out, his eyes on her pale face. “I refuse to believe she’s dead!”
Tyronian and Tristan were silent, each of their faces drawn up tightly with their pain.
“Wake up!” Xavier yelled down at Leawyn, scooping her still form into his arms. Leawyn’s head rolled to the side limply, her arms sprawled over Xavier’s bent arms. He stared down at her as he continued to desperately will her to breathe.
She didn’t.
He threw his head back. The anguished scream ripped out of his throat and echoed throughout the mountain as he clutched her limp body tighter to his chest. Tyronian and Tristan bowed their heads, sitting back on their heels as Xavier continued to shout his pain to the heavens.
Then Xavier grew silent, staring down at the once lively face of his wife. He traced a calloused finger down her cheek, brushing a wet strand of hair away from her face. He tightened his grip around her, cradling her as he stood up and made his way to the bank where all his men were standing, silent. He tried to ignore the fact that Leawyn’s head lay over his elbow limply, and instead forced himself to think she was sleeping.
He said nothing as he passed his men, who made a path for Xavier to walk through, each staring sadly at their lady chief in his arms. He made his way towards his horse, who was leaning over Deydrey’s form on the ground. When Xavier stopped in front of him, Killix lifted his head and put his muzzle on Leawyn’s cheek, blowing air on it as he nudged her gently a few times. Xavier was just about to pull her away from Killix, when a soft moan escaped her blue lips.
Xavier looked down, holding his breath, hope making him immobile. Her blue eyes fluttered open, and she squinted up at him. “X-Xa-Xavier?” she stuttered in a hoarse whisper.
He nodded quickly, pulling her up closer to him. “Yes, Leawyn.” He breathed in relief. “You’re safe.”
Leawyn moaned again, shivering. “Deydrey?” Leawyn asked weakly.
Xavier over at Deydrey, who was still on the ground. He completely forgot about her horse.
Xavier shook his head, his lips thinning. “I don’t know.”
Leawyn’s eyes closed tightly, her face scrunching up in pain. “S-save her. Pl-ease,” she whispered through chattering teeth before her eyes closed again. Xavier had a moment of panic, thinking she was once again lost to him, but then he saw her shallow breathing.
“She’s alive!” Xavier called out to his men in joy. Tyronian and Tristan pushed their way through and stopped beside him.
“I can’t believe it,” Tyronian cried in awe.
“Tristan, build a tent and a fire. We need to get her as warm as possible before we attempt to travel home again,” Xavier ordered. Tristan wasted no time and quickly rushed away from him, shouting out orders to the men as they all rushed to do as Xavier said.
“Tyronian—”
“Don’t worry, I know,” Tyronian interrupted. He looked down at Leawyn one last time before he hurried over to Deydrey.
It felt like forever to Xavier as he waited for Tristan to set up the tent. Each moment that passed, his anxiety grew. Finally, Tristan called him over and Xavier rearranged his grip on Leawyn as he walked to the tent his brother and men hastily set up. He set her down gently on the animal fur on the ground by the fire. After unraveling the damp blankets from around her, he noticed she was only in a slip. Realizing she must have taken it off underwater to get rid of the extra weight, Xavier couldn’t help but quirk his lips.
“Smart girl,” he murmured as he reached out with his small dagger and cut the slip in half. He pulled it from her body so she was completely naked. Not giving her nudity much attention, he stood up and quickly shrugged out of his own clothes until he too was bare. Lying down behind his wife, he pulled her tightly into his arms so she was flush against him and piled the stack of blankets the men left over them both.
He needed to get her warm, and he needed to take her home where she belonged.
The first thing Leawyn realized as she slowly gained consciousness was the warmth surrounding her. The second thing was she felt very ill. Thirdly, there was someone rubbing something cool over her forehead.
Blue eyes met green as she stared at the young face of a girl she had never seen before.
“Who are you?” Leawyn winced at how scratchy her voice sounded.
The girl gave her a kind smile, though she noted it was a bit hesitant. She instantly felt bad for the way she addressed the obviously young girl.
“I’m sorry,” Leawyn said softly. “That was very rude of me.”
The girl’s green eyes widened before she quickly shook her head. “’Tis not r-r-rude, Lady Chief. It was m-m-y fault. I shouldn’t have—”
She raised a brow at the girl and smiled kindly when she instantly stopped talking.
“I don’t see how taking care of an unconscious sick person, who suddenly wakes up and demands answers in the rudest way, is your fault,” Leawyn said, giving the girl a look of amusement. “Now, I will ask again—though much kindlier.” She smiled when the girl giggled. “Who are you?”
“Namoriee,” the girl said quietly, looking away from Leawyn’s eyes shyly. She was a skittish little thing.
“Namoriee, what a pretty name!” Leawyn praised. “How old are you, Namoriee?” Her grin grew when Namoriee ducked her head again, blushing. “S-sixteen s-s-summers,” Namoriee mumbled quietly.
“Why haven’t I seen you around the village?”
“I was at the Asori tribe with the healer I serve.”
Leawyn nodded in understanding. It was not unheard of for healers from other tribes to go to the Asori. They were the best, after all.
“Have you been taking care of me this whole time?”
Namoriee shook her head once. “No, I only recently—”
The door opened, cutting her off mid-sentence. Both girls looked over to see Xavier’s massive form entering the hut, his eyes instantly landing on Leawyn.
Namoriee immediately shot to her feet. “Chief X-Xavier. I was j-just going to g-g-get you,” she stuttered fearfully, avoiding Xavier’s eyes by staring down at her feet.
“I just woke up,” Leawyn agreed, taking pity on Namoriee, who was obviously fearful of her husband. Not that she could blame the girl.
“Leave us.” Xavier’s eyes never left Leawyn’s.
Leawyn’s brows drew together, giving Namoriee one last kind smile as she quickly made her way out of the hut. She eased her way past Xavier and practically ran out of the door once she did.
“You could have said that a bit kindlier. She’s obviously skittish.” Leawyn glared disapprovingly.
Xavier said nothing, and Leawyn’s apprehension grew when he made his way over to her, his massive form giving off an aura she couldn’t distinguish.
“Xavier?” She questioned wearily, eyeing him.
Without warning, he hauled her into his arms and crushed her to his chest. Leawyn gasped. He grabbed a fistful of her golden locks and angled her head before he gave her a hungry kiss that knocked her breath away. She stiffened, eyes wide in surprise. He pulled back and stared into her eyes intently. She felt her heart skip when they flashed with an emotion she’d never seen before.
He stared at her a moment longer before he dipped his head and captured her lips with his own again. This time, his kiss was gentle, even though his grip was fierce. His lips were soft against her own as his tongue swept into her mouth and caressed hers. He lowered Leawyn down until her back was pressed against the soft bed pallets, and hovered over her.
They stayed like that for a while, lips meshed together. Xavier’s kiss was bold and strong and consuming. He pulled away so his head rested against hers, their faces so close Leawyn could feel his lips and his warm breath.
Keeping her gaze captive, his hand traveled down the side of her body until he gripped the edges of the slip she was wearing and slowly inched it up over her hips. Leawyn’s breath shuddered as she felt his calloused hands travel over her right hipbone, the touch butter
fly-soft, and move down to the inside of her thigh. He stopped his hand when it rested over the place that had been touched only by him.
He pulled back a bit to watch her face as he gently petted her. Leawyn bit her bottom lip, her breath hitching at the slow build of pleasure from the tiny, swollen bundle of nerves he was touching. His thumb flicked against the sensitive spot, while his fingers dipped into the wetness gathering there. She moaned softly when he eased his thick finger inside her, her hips bucking involuntarily at the sensation.
“Xavier…” Leawyn whimpered, the sound both scared and confused.
“Shh,” he soothed, stopping to add another finger inside her before he continued pumping them slowly in and out of her. “Just let it come.”
She moaned, a tremble starting within her. Her body felt hot and tense. The pleasure shooting from her core at Xavier’s ministrations made her breathless. Soon the sensation became too much, and she gripped his shoulders in fear at the overwhelming feeling.
“Xavier!”
“It’s okay,” Xavier whispered, nuzzling her cheek. “You’re okay. Don’t fight it.”
He moved faster, and she gasped at the feeling.
“That’s it. You’re such a good girl,” he said as he watched her with heated eyes
With those whispered words, Leawyn’s body grew rigid, her back arching off the bed as her world shattered apart.
She barely noticed when Xavier’s hand left her hair or heard his belt unbuckling. She was too lost in the moment. He dipped his head and sealed his mouth to hers to muffle her cry as he pushed into her warm depth without warning.
Leawyn didn’t know what was happening, nor what to think. She knew better than to fight him when he wanted something—not that he would care anyway—but in this case, something was different. She didn’t feel the usual pain when he entered her against her will, and she didn’t feel the sharp burn his rough treatment caused her insides.
He did enter her without asking, yes, but he was almost being...gentle.
Instead of pain, she felt a different burning sensation than she had never experienced before now. Leawyn couldn’t hold in her gasp when Xavier’s slow, gentle rocking started to gain more momentum. She tilted her neck to the side when his mouth latched onto her pulse point, giving it a sharp nip with his teeth. She cried out at the pain of the action, but it quickly turned into a whimper of need as his tongue soothed the hurt away.
“Look at me,” Xavier ordered huskily. He exhaled roughly when her eyes flew open and did what he asked. He cupped her throat, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. “Don’t take your eyes off me.”
He continued to thrust into her for a long while, the sound of their bodies joining loud in the otherwise quiet room. Her responding whimpers of pleasure urged him on until he stilled, shuddering as he spilled his seed inside her.
It was silent as they each took a moment to catch their breaths. Xavier gently rolled off her and the bed. He avoided looking at her as he gathered his clothes up, pulled them on, and exited the hut as quickly as he came in.
Leawyn stared at the closed door with a mixture of confusion, anger and…hurt.
Closing her eyes in embarrassment, she pulled the furs over herself and righted her slip. Leawyn pointedly ignored the tear that slipped behind her closed eyes and made its way silently down her cheek.
Xavier stared out into the rolling hills that surrounded his village, deep in thought. He stayed passive even as Tristan settled himself beside him. They sat together in silence for a long while and watched the hustle and bustle of their village.
“She’s awake?”
Xavier nodded silently. He could see Tristan nod from the corner of his eye.
“Are you going to tell her?” Tristan asked morosely. Xavier avoided his brother’s questioning gaze and kept his eyes glued to the village below.
Xavier stayed silent, a muscle ticking in his jaw. He thought about the day he brought Leawyn back to the village after she fell into the ice…only for the healer to tell him the baby he never knew she was carrying was lost.
“No.”
The silence between them was tense. He knew Tristan wanted to bring him solace, but he just wanted to be alone. Finally, Tristan stood and turned to make his way back home. He paused, hesitated, then put his hand on Xavier’s shoulder in comfort and sympathy before he continued his way and left Xavier alone with his thoughts.
Xavier waited until he was certain he was once again alone. Only then did he let his emotions show. He covered his head with his hands and wept for the first time since he was seven years old, when he watched his mother get raped and killed in front of his eyes.
Leawyn was forced to stay in bed, her body still weak and recovering. She hardly saw Xavier since the night she woke up. Her treacherous thoughts would travel to that night often. She thought of the way his hands felt on her body as he touched her, and of the new pleasure it 7uuyhbrought her when he was moving inside of her. It shamed her to long for that connection again. It was why she welcomed the distraction Namoriee presented when she stopped by her hut.
Their friendship came easily, and Leawyn was ecstatic when Namoriee informed her she was to be her new handmaiden. She refused to consider her the slave Namoriee claimed herself to be.
The girls were still giggling wildly about the newest antics of Killix and his quest to win Deydrey’s affections when Tyronian strolled in. He propped his hip on the door as he took in the laughing girls with a smile.
“And what is so funny?” he asked, causing the laughter to stop abruptly when they finally noticed his presence.
“Tyronian!” Leawyn exclaimed, shooting him a smile. “I did not hear you come in. What a pleasant surprise!”
He chuckled, pushing himself off the doorjamb and making his way over to the girls. “Not surprising, the whole village could hear you laughing.” He grinned, bending his tall form to kiss Leawyn on the cheek before he settled himself on the vacant chair next to her bed. Namoriee ducked her head when his stormy blue eyes pierced hers. “Namoriee, how do you fare?” he asked, keeping his gaze on the dark brown locks hiding the girl’s face.
Namoriee gave a quick, jerky nod in answer before she rose to her feet. She peeked at Leawyn through her brown fringe. “I’ll take my leave now, Lady Chief.”
Leawyn frowned, her brows drawing together. Before she could even utter her protest, Namoriee was out of the hut, the door shutting soundly behind her. She shook her head at Namoriee’s sudden departure. She turned her attention back to Tyronian to see his eyes locked on the closed door. A sly smile quirked her lips.
“It seems you find my door very appealing,” Leawyn commented lightly, causing Tyronian to jerk to attention, blinking out of his daze.
“Yes, well.” He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “It’s a very nice door,” he defended.
Leawyn snorted. When he glowered at her, she laughed.
Tyronian huffed and rolled his eyes. “Right. Well,” he said, standing up to his full six-foot-five height quickly, “I best be off. I only came in here to tell you Deydrey is recovering well.”
“So, I’ve heard.” Leawyn smiled, staring up at Tyronian. “Thank you for telling me.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to distinguish the look she was giving him. He gave up when all she did was continue to stare up at him innocently, and he strode to the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked, amused.
“Away from you!” Tyronian snapped, suddenly grumpy.
Leawyn laughed. “Tell Namoriee she must come visit me again when she has time!” she called out as he opened the door.
He paused, his hand resting on the wooden knob before he huffed and slammed the door closed behind him.
Leawyn was still laughing under her breath as she lay back down onto her bed pallet and snuggled into the soft animal furs. She sighed in comfort.
“Poor Namoriee. She won’t stand a chance,” she mumbled before she closed her
eyes and slept.
Later that night, Xavier, Tyronian, and Tristan stared down at a map of the land on the large oak table in the middle of the war room.
Xavier had called in his counsel almost immediately when they had first arrived back in the village. After a heavy discussion, it was agreed to send out another scouting party to track the whereabouts of the mysterious army and to learn anything they could about them. But when they didn’t report back, they sent a few more men to meet up with the previous party.
That was almost six nights ago.
“Still no word from the Siraces?” Xavier asked. Tyronian’s frown was deep when he shook his head.
“Tristan?”
Xavier gave a low growl of annoyance and frustration when Tristan shook his head as well.
“Who are these bastards?” Tyronian muttered.
“One army does not simply appear and disappear,” Tristan reasoned. “They have to be hiding somewhere.”
“Yes, but the question is where?” Tyronian sighed, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.
Xavier narrowed his eyes at the map in front of him, his annoyance quickly turning into ire. This army was toying with him, goading him to find them and attack. They were biding their time and making a fool out of him all at the same time. Not many men were able to catch him off guard. But they did, and that fact alone enraged Xavier.
They were all brooding down at the map, getting more and more frustrated, when a series of shouts met their ears.
Without another glance at each other, they each made their way outside and watched as two horses came barreling toward them.
The stallion slid to a stop in front of them, rearing a moment before his front legs landed on the ground with a thud. The rider hopped off, throwing a crossbow down at Xavier’s feet.
Xavier glanced down at it before raising his brown eyes to meet Tidas’s grim face, waiting for him to reveal what Xavier already knew.
“Armor piercing.”
Tristan frowned, snatching up the crossbow and raising it to eye-level, scrutinizing it.
