by Ana Meadows
The Stolen Valkyrie: Broken Bonds
Part One
Ana Meadows
Copyright 2014 by Forbidden Fruit Press
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.
Published by Forbidden Fruit Press
All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.
***
A taste of things to come:
Tani’s awed gaze remained on his face. He looked at Asta once again, “Perhaps an innocent one could teach a rebellious Grand Mistress a thing or two about disobedience and pleasing her Master.”
Asta had never seen him this passionate. Johan was normally a peacekeeper, wisely advising his clan on various matters instead of letting his emotions get the best of him. Gazing upon him now, she grew aroused in spite of her hurt pride. With hands still thrust into their hair, he turned them toward Asta, which perfectly aligned the females’ mouths for his pleasure.
***
Chapter One
Defiantly jabbing a finger in her bond mate’s chest, Asta proudly raised her chin, “Ye know I, Asta Najihn, am a superior hunter to most men. Why must I stay here, Johan?”
Squaring broad shoulders, Johan adjusted the bow slung across his back. Lowering his gaze to the offensive finger at his birthmark, which appeared to be a phoenix spreading its wings across his chest, Johan’s tone held patience but his expression said otherwise, “Ye must stop this defiance. Address me as Master Johan and learn your place as my wife, Mistress Asta Gojicia-Zajihn. The sooner that ye adopt Zajihn as your clan name and drop Najihn, the faster your fellow clanswomen will respect our bond.”
Her teeth clenched but she lowered her finger from his chest. Controlling her fiery nature was always on his mind. Asta loudly declared, “I am the last of the Najihn Clan, Master Johan. Why would ye rob me of that title? All women of Clan Zajihn know that I am your bonded Mistress.”
She wanted to stomp her foot in the dry dirt when a familiar expression settled onto his face. Knowing a childish foot stomping would not benefit her in Clan Zajihn’s eyes, she made her mind up to do something that would.
With chin held high, she proudly promised, “I will defend Clan Zajihn while ye are away. Tell the guard I will relieve him.”
Johan’s patience almost fled. His father had spoken of willful women across vast waters from long ago times when felines were cocooned and thought to be gods. As a child, Johan had thought the legends of women rulers preposterous. He now frequently wondered if Asta was not a direct descendent of one such ruler. Her feline grace certainly spoke of such.
He growled, “Ye will finish your wifely duties and help prepare the village for tonight like a Grand Mistress should.”
Furious over his denial of her obvious equality to men, Asta spun around and stomped off toward the women. Taking a deep breath, Johan turned to join the warriors who awaited the hunt. He had never met a woman so bent on rebelling against him. Asta was his perfect Mistress, revered by all the clan, but she needed something that escaped him. Frowning, Johan signaled for his men to follow while reflecting on how he could make her happy.
Mayhap a babe will slow her down.
When he looked her way again, Asta’s back was to him. A couple of the clansmen, with joyous mates wishing them well, glimpsed at her with curiosity too. Lately, she seemed even more defiant than usual.
Even though everyone adored her, any clansperson could see that she was forever restless where duties fitting a Mistress, not to mention one of such high status, were concerned. The men disentangled themselves from their partners and joined their Chief. None of them dared mention anything regarding their Grand Mistress’ behavior to Johan.
Back at the garden, the clanswomen respectfully averted their eyes and acted as if all was well between their Chief and Grand Mistress. It was not the first time nor would it be the last time that the couple loudly discussed traditional roles. Long ago, the women had grown accustomed to Mistress Asta’s defiant spirit.
Some had even attempted to mimic her fiery nature. Many warriors had towered over their mates, demanding due respect. Within months, those same females would normally grow large with a babe.
The women knew she could fight with the strength of a man, was a superb hunter, and held no hesitation when going up against an errant male. Tani, Asta’s only friend who was waiting to be paired with a bond mate, settled onto her knees beside Asta and whispered, “I know ye are going to leave after we finish. Please do not be foolish, Grand Mistress. Ye know ye will anger him.”
“Pshhh! Let him be mad for a change. I am tired of being angry for the both of us.” With a sideway nudge at Tani, Asta added, “I told ye to stop calling me Grand Mistress.”
Asta felt safe with Tani. She could show her belligerence. Her friend would understand. Every day, Asta watched the warriors go have fun on their hunts while the women did drudgery work within the village. Since Johan had chosen her as his Grand Mistress, knowing that denying the bond with a Chief was unheard of, she had rapidly entrusted Tani with her opinions.
Trying to understand Asta was no easy task. Tani watched the dry earth soak up a bit of their meager supply while whispering, “Come and help me get more water.”
Away from the ears of their fellow clanswomen, Tani tried again, “Asta, I know ye care deeply for our Grand Chief Johan. Why must ye test him so?”
Dipping the clay pot into the stream, Asta sighed as she reflected on her relationship with Johan over the years, “I do care but…” She turned her face away, hiding her pensiveness, “He is slow to understand some things about me.”
“Have ye not spoken of such things with him?”
Asta knew Tani meant well but since her friend was young and lacked a partner, thought her ignorant on the matter of bonding and mating. Shaking her head dismissively, Asta answered, “Worry not for us, my friend. All will be well. Now, help me finish so that I may have a moment to myself.”
Ignoring Tani’s loud sigh of defeat, Asta rose and began collecting the colorful crumbly minerals near the water’s edge. A celebratory monthly feast was scheduled to welcome two males who had just entered adulthood. They would officially become warriors after tonight. One of them had his eye on Tani.
Glancing over, Asta tried to draw her into conversation about him, “Nikoli made enough arrows to kill a herd.”
Tani shrugged, playing it off, “’Tis his right. He enjoys the work.”
Asta studied her, “He will bring ye back something. I’m sure of it.”
Tani lowered her head but not before Asta saw her blush. Smiling, Asta nudged her with an elbow, “I will speak with Johan, Master Johan, if ye want.”
Tani shook her head. In truth, mating scared her. She had seen many clanswomen die in childbirth. She and Nikoli spoke often. He seemed to want to bond faster than she did. Tani still did not know how she felt about him. She knew, of all the warriors, he was the most handsome and kind.
Thinking along those lines, Tani’s face heated. Asta asked, “Will ye mark him tonight?”
Tani’s gaze fell to the colorful minerals in her hand. Marking Nikoli with the sign of the phoenix could wait until next month. She sho
ok her head and breathed, “Next moon phase, I might.”
“Why do ye wait?”
Tani stood and asked, “Why do ye rush me?”
Asta stood as well, “Mating is a grand thing to be a part of, Tani.”
“Is that why ye test Grand Chief Johan so?”
Tani gasped, slapping a colorful hand to her mouth. Asta made a face. Tani had a way of getting the best of her at times. Asta dropped the subject and said, “We must get back.”
The two women hurried to deposit their multi-colored goods before moving onto the next task. As they worked, Asta’s mind strayed to how she felt tracking and bringing down an animal. The exhilaration of selecting just the right animal, stalking it, and presenting the food for the clan held no comparison to that of women’s work.
Her movements were rushed as she pounded the colorful minerals into powder before handing the dust off to Tani. Her gaze strayed to the guard post while her mind cursed her dumb luck in being born female.
Asta was a beauty, with high cheekbones and a heart-shaped face. Her only true fear was fast moving water but only because she had seen too many floods sweep livestock and people alike to their deaths. Easily bored with menial tasks, she frequently slipped away in secret to keep self and skills sharp. Having witnessed too many women grow soft and demure after a bond mate ceremony, Asta vowed she would never grow content in such a fashion.
Her eyes darted upward. It was a perfect day for hunting. Anticipation roared through her blood, driving her restlessness mad. She brought the post down on the ochre hard, grunting as the chunk disintegrated. The woman in charge of replacing it thrust another piece under, fast as lightning, and yanked her hand back. Her gaze rose when Asta grunted louder as the piston hit home.
Working quickly alongside Tani, she was surprised when her friend’s hand stilled her motion. Tani’s pointed look spoke volumes but Asta was not listening. Her mind had turned predator, chasing phantom prey.
Tani tugged at her arm. Asta held the heavy pole off, blinking as she asked, “What is it, Tani?”
The girl whispered, “Go now or ye will crush some fingers. I will tell the other women that ye had to gather herbs near the grove of trees.”
Asta’s eyes flew to the woman who now wielded the pole. Darting back to Tani, she nodded and quickly left Tani’s side. Ignoring the mumblings of the other women, she headed for her secret stash of weapons. Ducking around the side of the hut, which she shared with Johan, Asta reached behind the thicket and snagged the small woven parcel. She happily increased her pace, moving toward an area away from the men, as anticipation flooded through her.
She kept up the rapid pace until a huge boulder came into view. Kneeling behind it, she grinned as a huge antelope bent to pull at a tuft of dry grass. Fitting her arrow to bow, she rose in time to see the animal dart away. Reflexes sent her onto her feet and jumping the boulder. With hair streaming wildly behind her, she chased the beast until it ran into the river rapids.
The fast-moving water made her back away. Looking left and right, a yelp tore from her throat. A wild boar, grunting as it charged, was closing in on her. Fleeing to the nearest tree, she shimmied up it and held on tight to the thick trunk. The boar rammed the tree again and again, sending vibrations through her entire body.
Waiting for the boar to tire itself out, her gaze lifted to the sky and noted the sun’s location. Darkness was closing in fast. Throwing caution to the wind, she carefully snaked onto a thick branch, wrapped her legs around it, and started to aim. The boar’s head smashed into the trunk again, sending her off the branch to hang upside down.
She smoothly twisted with the momentum, releasing the arrow straight at the beast’s head. The howling screeches of pain were music to her ears. Swiftly loading another arrow while dangling upside down, she tracked the beast’s backward movement and landed the next shot into its thick neck.
The raging beast finally turned away and ran. Asta maneuvered down as fast as possible, wishing she could track the animal and wait for death so she could bring back her own ceremonial kill. As the day grew even murkier, she headed back but knew she would arrive late for the evening’s ceremony.
Approaching the village, she heard Johan’s booming voice and paused, but she was too late. Her Master’s head turned as if sensing her nearness. He spun and pinned her with an angry gaze. Asta braced herself as he crooked a beckoning finger.
Squaring her shoulders while her chin thrust forward, she prepared for his wrath. Instead, he remained quiet and circled her waist with a muscular arm to draw her forward, “You’re just in time, my Grand Mistress, to help prepare the kill. I’m sure ye have a knife somewhere on ye.”
Daring to glance at him, she saw his jaw muscle tighten while his lips were drawn in a thin line. She knew he was furious. With newfound respect at how he held his temper, she drew her hunting knife out as she started toward Tani. Johan snagged her bow and arrow off her shoulder, “I’ll keep this. A fine bow is always useful. Mayhap Nikoli has arrows for it.”
At the loss of her prized possession, she whipped her head around but Tani tugged on her arm at that moment, “Asta, did ye gather the herbs for…?”
Johan’s stern voice silenced Tani, “Ahhh…ye are the one that took Rohan’s bow, Mistress.”
Asta tensed. After their last heated argument about her hunting, he had forbid her to construct one. She had snagged a bow and broken it. Rohan, a jolly warrior, had gloated over his own strength.
With a defeated sigh, Asta shook her head, “He knows where I was, Tani. Master Johan is anything but ignorant.”
“She’s right. Choose one of your friends, Girl, and see me after the celebration.”
Fearing that she was in trouble, Tani’s gaze flew to Asta who was searching Johan’s face. Finding no threat, Asta’s eyes narrowed. Johan stared with obvious lust at Tani. He had never looked upon other females although it was his right as their Grand Chief. Before Asta could stop the words, she blurted out, “Tell me your thoughts…”
“Ye know my thoughts, Mistress of my heart. Ye constantly disobey them. Now, go help prepare the kill, which our new warriors admirably honor Clan Zajihn with. ” His heated gaze landed on Tani once again, “I’m most assured that Tani will appreciate my choices.”
Pointing a finger at Tani, his passionate growl rang through the night air for all to hear, “Ye will welcome and obey me as your Master Johan of Clan Zajihn for the night. What say ye, Tani?”
Asta tensed, watching the firelight play over the birthmark on his chest. Obviously dumbfounded, Tani stopped tugging at her arm and remained silent for a moment. Johan looked pointedly at Asta before raising a brow at Tani’s speechlessness. She finally stammered out, “I-I-I…um…of course, M-Master Johan.”
Enraged at the gall of welcoming Tani to call him her Master, Asta watched Johan turn and walk away. Tani, with chin trembling, began to apologize but Asta sliced her hand in the air and tried to control her emotions, “Do as he says, my friend, and choose wisely. After all, he bestowed ye with an honor. For now, we must prepare the celebratory feast.”
With chin held high, Asta joined the other women. Keen to Tani’s searching eyes and Asta’s shielded thoughts, the clanswomen averted their gaze and continued their conversations. Aware of the ramifications of her task, Tani knew that every woman would gladly join her to partake of Johan. Massive in stature and charisma, their Chief had just offered a prized opportunity in the eyes of all the clan.
Clansmen valued women chosen by their Chief, especially a Master that had never stepped outside his own bond. Both overjoyed at the prospect and nervous over how it may affect her friendship with Asta, Tani’s mind raced to settle on a choice. Having never mated, she was clueless but had been privy to Asta’s awe over Johan’s size.
Knowing that every female wanted to be THE chosen one, Tani glanced at Asta repeatedly and yearned for some advice. Unfortunately, in this matter, gaining advice from a bonded partner was forbidden. A few times, she locke
d eye contact with Asta who immediately lowered her gaze.
This did nothing for Tani’s confidence. She knew the Chief Mistress well enough. Johan’s unexpected offer to a close friend had pained her more than Tani could ever know. Throughout the celebrations, Asta kept a discreet eye on Tani while Johan watched Asta monitor every move her young friend made.
When Asta’s gaze crept toward him, Johan occupied himself with other business. Although he loved Asta deeply and really held no desire for others, he refused to let her recent defiance go unchecked. By the end of the ceremony, Tani had chosen a newly bonded female named Ziki.
The remaining clanswomen drew them both aside, pampering them while hoping the handsome Grand Master would pick them next. This awareness traveled through the clan. The clansmen retired alone to their respective abodes, optimistic that Johan’s sexual appetite would linger and grace their own mates.
Deep murmurs over who would be next created an excited undertone. The women fawned over Tani and Ziki, treating them like royalty. When the fire burned hot and the antelope was cooked, they settled around the pair of chosen women and fed them. In her royal moment, Tani glanced at the woman feeding Asta and her nervousness increased.
