“Evening, Jelosa.” Blain’s cool voice floated over from the door.
Jelosa yipped and got to her feet. “Master Blain.” She gave a little curtsy.
“I can sit with Redlynn.”
“No,” Redlynn croaked, sipping her water.
Jelosa looked from Blain to Redlynn. “But Hanna–”
“I’ll sit with her.”
Jelosa nodded as Blain’s gaze bore into her, hard. Then she curtsied to Redlynn. “It was nice to meet you, Lady Redlynn. I hope to see you up and well soon.” She quickly left the room.
“You, too,” Redlynn called after her, unsure of what had transpired between Jelosa and Blain. It sounded like Jelosa had been trying to extend her an invitation to stay in Wolvenglen. Did Blain not want her there? “That wasn’t very nice of you. And I told you, I don’t want you here.”
Blain sighed and sat down in the chair by the table. He tapped on the table with his fingers and shifted his position several times before replying. “Adrian will be here soon. He had a piece of urgent business.”
“He gets those a lot I'm noticing. Is he alright?”
“He’s fine. But he wanted me to let you know that if it weren’t so urgent, he’d be here.” He glanced at the door, and then out the window.
Redlynn narrowed her gaze on him. He caught her stare and gave her a tight smile. He glanced at the door again, and then produced a piece of wood and a knife from his pocket, and began to carve at it, shavings falling around him. They didn’t speak more, but Redlynn watched him until her lids got heavy. The respite from her fever felt sublime. Her only concern was Blain being so close. She reached under her pillow and felt the knife still in place. She wrapped her hand around it and closed her eyes. She wasn't about to let Blain molest her again.
Adrian’s wolf roared at him as he raced through the forest. The last thing he wanted was to be out on patrol, but a bloodsucker had been spotted and if his men hadn’t cornered it, he wouldn’t be out.
“Is he still in there?” Adrian asked.
“He hasn’t come out, and there is no other exit,” said Christos.
“I’m on my way.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” replied Angus.
“Let us go in and talk to him,” said Jale.
“We can make him talk,” Juda finished.
“No one goes in but me,” Adrian roared.
Adrian wanted to get in, question the vampire, kill him, and get home to Redlynn’s side. If anything happened to her while he was gone, he would never forgive himself.
When Redlynn awoke sometime later, she was on fire again. Blain had pulled his chair by the bed and slept in it with his feet up on the nightstand. I need to get out. I need air.
When she was a girl and had a fever, her mother used to take her out into the woods and lay her on a soft bed of fuzzy moss, sing to her, and bathe her in the nearby stream until the fever passed. She wanted nothing more than to lie in the cool stream water and moss-covered ground at that moment.
Crawling to the edge of the bed, she pulled herself to her feet and headed for the exit. She’d just gotten the door open when Blain was at her side.
“What are you doing?”
“I need water,” she croaked. Her throat felt like she’s been eating sand for the last week.
Blain touched her arm, and she jerked away from him. He stopped suddenly and sniffed her. A look of confusion crossed his face. He inhaled her again, moving closer, his pupils full and dilated. “Shite. You need to return to bed.”
“You’re not my mother.”
“I’m going to get you some water and Hanna.”
“I need water.”
“I know. And I’ll get it for you.” He lifted her and put her on the bed.
“Let me go.”
“Don’t leave this room, Redlynn. I mean it, don’t leave. I can’t protect you if you leave this room now. So please, listen to me this once. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Her mind whirled, and her heart pounded. Sweat no longer beaded on her skin. “I need air.”
“I’ll open the window.” He moved to the wall, pushed open the glass. “Please, Red. Please stay here.” His eyes pleaded with her and then he rushed from the room.
Redlynn whipped her head from side to side and moaned. A cool breeze rolled over her skin, taunting her with a scent of the woods. Stream water, the moss, even dirt. The woods called to her, tempting and begging her to join them.
The moon, swollen, round and white, shone brighter than she’d ever seen. A million twinkling lights teased her with their brilliance. Pain shot from her belly up to her chest. Redlynn gasped for air as the twinge blasted through her limbs.
I have to get out of here!
She stood once more and headed for the door, stepping barefoot into the hallway. Sluggishly she made her way toward the dining hall. She reached the balcony and peeked over it. Several men drank down below. Some played darts, while others played cards or arm wrestling. One of the men playing cards stopped and sniffed the air.
“You smell that?” he asked.
Another man sniffed the air as well. “What is that?”
“It smells like–”
A groan escaped one of the men. “That’s delicious. It makes me want to just–”
Most of the men stopped what they were doing and lifted their noses into the air to sniff.
It’s me!
Redlynn melted into the frigid wall behind her and slid sideways toward the staircase. Below, the men talked and whispered. When she reached the bottom step, she slunk as far into the shadows as possible and crossed to the entrance hall. Her heart pounded. If they found her, they’d call for Blain, and she wouldn’t be able to get into the woods. She needed to go to the woods. She needed the river. Her mother’s river.
“I think I’ll see where Jelosa is.” A redheaded male rushed from the room.
“Yes.” Fendrick stood and rubbed his hand over his scalp. “I think... Hanna...” Then he, too, rushed from the room.
What was going on? Redlynn reached the door and slid out as Blain rushed in from the kitchen area. He stopped and sniffed the air.
“To your rooms,” he barked.
The men grumbled, but they obeyed the command. Redlynn closed the door and crossed to the entrance. She stumbled and almost fell, but caught herself and kept moving. When the exterior door opened, the wind whipped into her face, and she took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the night air.
“Lady Redlynn!”
The call came from behind her. It was Dax. He was going to stop her. Redlynn dashed down the stone steps. She moved too quickly and almost fell, but Dax was there and caught her. Blast it all!
“Lady Redlynn, what are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be inside.”
“I need water.”
“Let me get you some.”
“I need moss.” She stumbled forward, trying to make her way to the bridge. Her limbs felt like oatmeal.
Dax reluctantly helped her move, glancing over his shoulder to the castle several times. “Lady Redlynn, please. I don’t want trouble with Adrian and Blain.”
“Just let me go to the water and moss.”
“Moss? No, please–”
“Leave me,” she shouted, shaking him off. “I need water!” Redlynn took several steps forward. She was almost to the gate when he rushed up to her again. She spotted the pitchfork from the night before. Stooping, she grabbed it and spun around, impaling Dax in the leg. He let out an inhuman roar.
Redlynn released the pitchfork, and it stuck, its prongs deep in his thigh. Dax roared in pain. Blood oozed from the wound, making her stomach lurch and her head spin.
“I didn’t mean to… I didn’t…” Wide-eyed, she backed away from Dax as he clutched at his leg. Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a cry. What’s wrong with me? I just injured a defenseless man!
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to.”
Dax ripped the pitchfork fr
om his leg. “You can’t go into the woods.” He limped forward. “Lady Redlynn, you can’t.”
“I need water. My mother used to take me…the moss…” she mumbled. Redlynn moved to the drawbridge, through the gate, and made for the woods.
Behind her, Dax shouted for Blain.
Chapter Ten
Adrian approached the cave with caution. Juda and Jale, already in human form, stood at the entrance. Angus and the other wolves moved away as Adrian stood on his hind legs and shifted.
“Bloodsucker,” he called into the cave.
There was no answer.
“Bloodsucker, show yourself. This is Prince Adrian of Wolvenglen, show yourself, or I’ll send my wolves in to tear you apart.” He was in no mood to play games.
From the depths of the cave, a shadow moved, and a tall, pale figure with blond hair walked out into the mouth of the cave. He wore a leather traveling cloak and had a sword strapped to his back.
“Who are you, and why are you on my lands, Bloodsucker?”
“My name is Sageren, not Bloodsucker. But you may call me Sage.”
“What are you doing on my lands, Sage? Many of you have been here lately.”
“So I’ve seen.”
“What do you want?”
“What do I want? Or what do they want?” Sage questioned.
Adrian growled. “Don’t play games.”
“What they want is blood. What I want is to tell you about it.”
“Why?”
“Because someone in the woods is helping them get the blood. I’ve heard that they took some girls. Virgins.”
“Who’s helping them?” Adrian asked.
Sage shook his head. “That, I don’t know.”
“And why are you telling me this?” Adrian demanded, his patience waning.
“Because you protect the humans, specifically the girls that are being taken. I think the Weres have suffered enough at the hands of my uncle, the king. And I don’t agree with what is currently being done to the humans by my kind.”
“What do mean to the humans?” Adrian took a step closer to Sage. Had they gotten through his borders into the farmlands? “Are there more than the girls?”
Sage shifted his stance and scanned the wolves. “Let me take care of that. You just worry about your women.”
Adrian stared at Sage for a moment. His age was unknown but his demeanor and calm nature spoke of royalty. He’d heard the stories of the royal family being murdered by Philos when he took the throne from his brother.
“You’re Lothar’s son, the deposed vampire heir.”
Sage leaned casually against the cave wall. “I am.”
It surprised Adrian how unaffected Sage seemed to be about the fact that he was in a cave surrounded by a pack of werewolves. If this were the exiled Prince Sageren, this information would most likely come at a price. He may seem like a friend now, but you could never trust a bloodsucker.
“So, what do you want in return for this information?”
“Your possible help in regaining my kingdom, should the time ever arise.”
“I have no desire for another all-out war with the vampires.” Adrian crossed his arms over his chest.
“War is coming for the vampires whether you help or not. If you help, my side might stand a better chance at winning.”
“And what does that do for me?”
Sage chuckled and then sighed. “I told you about the females. I should think that’d be enough. Even so, I promise that should I retake the throne, any vampire caught bringing unwilling humans into Tanah Darah will be executed.”
Adrian tried to see the pros and cons of the offer, but his mind was elsewhere. He needed to get back to the castle. It was a decision he would need to put off until he was in a clearer state of mind.
“If we are able to find the girls, and they are still alive, you may call on me should you find yourself in need of support.” It was as diplomatic as Adrian could be. He was not saying yes he would help, but he wasn't saying no either.
“But, Lord Adrian—" Juda broke in.
Adrian spun and bared his teeth. The wolf stood his ground for a moment, and then lowered his gaze.
“Thank you, Prince Adrian,” Sage said. “May your woods be fruitful, and you find an end to your curse soon.”
A ripple of grunts and growls ran through Adrian’s pack. He turned at the sounds of a wolf shifting. Angus was on his feet. Brushing his shaggy red hair from his face, he moved to Adrian’s side.
“Lord Adrian, I need to speak with you.”
“What is it?” Angus was older and deserved respect, but this was not the time.
Angus looked from Adrian to Sage and back again. “We’ve just been told that your…” Angus’s eyes traveled to Sage. “Guest,” he continued, “is in the woods.”
Redlynn was in the wood. And though Sage had helped them, he was a vampire, and she was human. He turned to Sage. “Our business is concluded. You need to leave my woods immediately.”
“I see that you’re busy. So I will let myself out.”
“Angus will escort you to the border.” Adrian nodded to Angus.
“As you wish.” Sage gave a slight bow. Adrian didn’t have time to watch him leave, because he was already shifting. Once in wolf form, he felt Blain’s presence.
“What happened?” he snarled. “I left you in charge.”
“She was burning up. I went to get her a drink, and she slipped out of the castle. Dax found her and tried to stop her, but she impaled him with a pitchfork.”
“Is he alright?”
“He’ll be fine. She got him in the leg. Hanna was patching him when I left. I think she was delirious. She kept telling Dax she wanted water and moss.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you?” Adrian leaped over a felled tree.
“I’m heading to the river.”
“I’ll meet you there.” There was a long silence as Adrian sprinted south. “Is there something else?” Dodging a snake, he ran up onto a rock, hurdled off, and landed ten feet away without a sound. Pulling air into his lungs, he tried to catch her scent. Blain was unusually quiet. “What is it?” He wasn’t sure he could handle much more.
“She’s in season.”
“What do you mean? Women get their cycles all the time. Why is this so different?”
“I don’t know Adrian, but she smells different. This isn’t a woman’s bleeding time, she’s fertile.”
“How in the world can you possibly know that?”
“All I know is when you catch her scent, it will be all you will want. No disrespect intended. But every male in the castle smelled it. I had to send them to their rooms. As bad as it is for her to be out here, it’s better than her being there, trust me. The scent she’s giving off...”
What was going on? He stopped, stuck his nose in the air and sniffed, pulling air into his lungs again. The howl that cut through the night was something he couldn’t hold back.
“You smell her.”
“What the–”
“I don’t know, but we better find her before someone else does.”
“The Bloodsucker’s gone,” said Angus.
“Angus, you and the others, get to the castle. Blain, you go as well. Make sure the gate is dropped and the bridge secured. I don’t want any of the men getting into the woods tonight.”
“Aye,” said Angus.
“I’m on it,” said Blain.
Sage was gone, and the wolves were headed to the castle. Now all Adrian had to do was find her. And fast.
Adrian ran toward the scent of Redlynn, his very core answering the call that her body was sending. He ran on pure instinct, unable to understand what was going on. Finding her was his biggest priority.
His nose led him to the river. He turned north at the edge of the water and followed it toward the castle. After running for several miles, the fragrance grew so intense that he had to stop. Stan
ding in the shadow of a towering redwood, he shifted to human. He was naked, but there was nothing for it. He had no choice.
Moving efficiently to the bank, he walked a short way before he saw her. She lay on her back in the river, floating in her gown. But she wasn’t moving. Panic rushed through him. Wading out into the water, he moved swiftly toward her.
“Redlynn! Redlynn,” he called. He was almost to her when she turned slightly. “Redlynn,” he whispered, lifting her into his arms and cradling her against his chest. He kissed her cheek in relief. Her skin was hot as coals. He’d never smelled something that called to him the way her body did at that moment. Only the cold river water kept his desire in check.
Tension bunched his muscles as he held her close. He swallowed. He needed to get her to land, but out of the water, there’d be no hiding his arousal. His wolf begged for her. “What are you doing out here?”
“I needed water.”
“We have water in Wolvenglen.” The relief of finding her and the terror of her condition collided inside him. His heart pounded as he held her close and kissed her cheek. He couldn’t concentrate.
“My mother used to bring me to the river.”
“My mother used to do the same for me,” he said. “Only she did it in the tub. Come, let me take you somewhere safe, where Hanna can look after you.”
“I miss her so much.” She stared into his eyes. Her chin quivered, and Adrian pulled her close and kissed her hair.
It had been years since he’d let in the pain he felt at the loss of his own mother, but holding Redlynn in his arms, hearing her own sorrow, brought it all back.
“She was so wonderful. Amazing and strong. She didn’t deserve what happened to her. She didn’t deserve to be married to my father, or have a daughter who was an outcast. She deserved better.”
He looked her in the eyes. The sorrow of her life seemed to be spilling out. Everything she’d ever been through, all of the jeers and taunts. The unmet expectations and pain. How could someone so beautiful have been treated so poorly?
He shook his head. “You’re wrong. She did deserve you. How you see yourself… I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.”
Red the Were Hunter (Fairelle Series Book 1) Page 11
