by Aimee Moore
Mindrik pushed the front door open into a sleepy village that was just starting to wake. “Perhaps he won't, but I'm fairly certain his friends will put up enough of a fight for him.”
The minute I was out in the open air, I forgot all about breakfast and stingy tavern keepers. “Where is Dal?”
“Good heavens, I'm not the beast's keeper, that's your job.”
I frowned, looking at the barn and seeing no signs of life. I looked out at the field, carefully searching the shadows and finding nothing. Panic began to rise up within me. What if they had found him in the night and done something horrible to him?
“Seraphine? You look like you've seen the dead rising.”
“Let me see his sword, please.”
“You can’t possibly wield it.”
I sighed. “Yes, thank you for reminding me, as everyone else does, that I am weak and helpless. The sword, please.”
Mindrik shrugged and handed it over, and the sword drooped in my hands, being much heavier than I anticipated. Dal made it look weightless. Nonetheless, I hugged it to my body, avoiding the sharp edges.
Mindrik led the way. “Come on then, let's go to the mounts, perhaps if we all wait there we can be on our way sooner.”
I walked behind Mindrik, looking around for any signs of Kenni as I clutched Dal's sword in fingers that were as steely as the blade. Among the various villagers glaring at us or pretending we didn't exist; the small blond did not appear. Women walked along with slight frowns, a hardness in their countenances that was wholly explained after my talk with Kenni last night.
When we got to our leathery steeds, Dal was already there. I ran to him, letting joy carry my feet. I dropped the sword and slammed into his hard chest, wrapping my arms around him as if it had been years instead of just hours since we'd seen each other. Dal was stiff for a time, and even though I knew why, I still wished more than anything that he'd show me some sort of kindness. A large hand came to the back of my head in a soft gesture, and the rumble of Dal's voice, almost indistinguishable from the wind, floated down to me.
“The night was long, Sera.”
And just like that, the large hand was gone, and Dal stepped away. I looked up into hazel eyes that were the only part of Dal to express joy. It would have to be enough.
“Well then, now that you've been reunited with your lost puppy,” Mindrik said in a sour tone. He slung his bag over his drooping steed. “Perhaps we can be on our way.”
Dal retrieved his sword and began to move to his mount. I turned back to the town, searching the indifferent villagers who were going about their day. “Wait, I need to say goodbye to Kenni.”
Mindrik turned to me, one arm resting on his saddle. “Seraphine, I should think that if Kenni wanted to say goodbye, she would be here. In the very least, she would have convinced that stingy gimp in the tavern to feed us.”
“You have not had food?” Dal asked.
“It doesn't matter,” I said quickly. “I need to find her.” I dropped my bag next to my mount and ran back into town.
“Seraphine!” Mindrik called after me.
I ignored him, knowing I would not be long. I stayed out in the open, in sight of Dal at all times. I was not going to have a repeat of last night. I leaned toward alleys and shadowy places, glanced in windows and scanned every face that passed me. Kenni was nowhere to be found.
My attacker, however, was. He sat on a creaking chair on a tiny porch, hunched over, scowling at me with the ugliest look I have ever seen.
“Demon bitch,” he whispered at me.
“Next time it'll be more than your tiny member,” I said back. His eyes widened as I shot him a contemptuous look and turned away.
After fifteen minutes, I admitted defeat and walked back to Dal and Mindrik.
“Perhaps I offended her,” I said as I reached them.
“I don't find that likely,” Mindrik said as he began to lead his mount away from the shabby village. “She seemed positively glowing when she spoke of you in the tavern last night.”
I frowned and glanced at Dal. He shot me a curious look as he walked alongside his morose steed. After a time we mounted and picked up the pace, sharing precious little conversation as we rode. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts. I wished to be alone with Dal so that I could get lost in the strong warmth of his arms, but Mindrik would not have it. Every time we stopped for water or rest through the day, Dal and I were not able to find even a sliver of alone time.
Aside from shooting each other knowing looks now and then, Dal and I remained courteous and distant.
By nightfall we were cranky and sore. I was anxious to trade the lumpy tavern bed from last night for a rest in the dirt with Dal. I lit a fire and we found large rocks or pieces of fallen tree to act as benches around our large flame.
“Shame there's nothing to eat,” Mindrik said.
“We will find nourishment soon,” Dal said.
“It's been three days with only scant few pieces of bread in that time to tide us over,” Mindrik said into the flame.
Dal looked at me. “I am sorry that you did not receive food in the village.”
“It matters not,” I said, tossing a stick into the flame. “We'll find something soon, as you said.” I glanced up at Dal to see regret storming in his eyes.
Mindrik spoke in a sullen tone. “Yes, but in the meantime, I am notably poorer now and have gained only a night's rest for my troubles. My whole reason for stopping there was to acquire food, of which we barely got.”
“I'm sorry you slept on the floor, Mindrik, I should have let you have the bed. I forgot that you gave so much of your coin for us to be there.”
“There was only one bed in your room?” Dal asked.
I nodded.
Mindrik perked a little. “Yes, we had a rather private conversation, so the room was not a total waste,” he said, looking at me.
Dal furrowed his brow at me and I gave him half a smile, unable to say much more without airing out Mindrik's earnest apology. It was then that Dal began to look me over, taking stock of my appearance. I had nothing to hide, Mindrik had not laid a hand on me. When Dal's gaze stopped on my bruised arm, his eyes met mine again.
“Something happened.”
I looked down at my arm, wondering how much of the purpling was still there. All of it, of course. I bit my lip.
“You could not have hoped to keep it a secret,” Mindrik said. “Skin as fair as yours is decidedly unfair to your secrets.”
I met Dal's eyes. “It's no secret,” I whispered.
“That is a very large bruise, Sera.” Dal's voice was accusing.
There was no use sugar coating it. We were well out of range for Dal to exact revenge upon the village. “I happened upon Kenni being attacked.” I met Mindrik's eyes, which went wide at my statement. “The man with his hand up her skirt did not do it with her consent.” I looked back down at my toes.
“The attacker turned on me when I found them by mistake. He was not gentle.” I flicked my gaze up at Dal to see something I had never seen before. Barely contained rage. Under the dusky skin and tattoos, muscles tensed and flexed with Dal's every breath.
“You were attacked?” Mindrik said, aghast. “Why in the seven hells did you not say something? Light of the nine kingdoms, woman, are you alright?” Mindrik was rising from his seat, hands outstretched toward me as if I might faint.
Dal was still as stone.
“I'm untouched. The bruises are the worst of it. Kenni's face was purpled as she tried to save me.”
“How did you manage to escape?” Mindrik asked.
I gave him a sly smile. “I was the demon of fire that the man was screaming about.”
Mindrik's jaw dropped. “Light have mercy, you're right, it was the same man that left with Kenni!” And with that, Mindrik began laughing loudly.
I shot Dal a proud smile as Mindrik became lost in hysterics, but the smile was wiped off my face when murder stole into Dal’s eyes.
Dal rose, lumbering off toward the forest. I rose as well, trotting behind him.
“Where are you two going?” Mindrik asked, the humor gone.
“I don't know!” I called back, worried. “I'll be back soon.” I couldn't speak for Dal.
Mindrik settled on his perch, laughter replaced by brooding as we disappeared into the darkness. Dal trudged on, not sparing me a backward glance as he crashed through the dead saplings and bushes. After a few minutes, the cold began to seep into my skin, despite my hurried pace and anxiety over how angry I had made Dal. I needed to make this right.
“Dal, I'm sorry,” I said while trying to keep up behind.
“Foolish,” he said, stomping onward.
Shame washed over me. My brave self-rescue was no longer funny, now I was embarrassed. He stomped on for a few minutes more and then halted abruptly, taking deep breaths.
I lingered behind, not sure what to say. After a minute, I rested a hand on Dal's arm. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone outside alone,” I said.
Dal stopped his relentless march and turned to me, eyes ablaze with emotions I couldn't understand. “The fault was mine, not yours Sera. I was a fool to let you leave that barn.”
I tilted my head up to Dal and placed one tentative hand on his chest, over his heart. It was beating rapidly.
Dal's voice vibrated with anger. “You were in danger and I wasn't there. My arrogance has failed you.”
I furrowed my brow up at him. “Arrogance?”
Dal gave a single nod. “I had believed that my display in the beginning had made it clear that you were not to be harmed. I was mistaken. And now you have been harmed, and the filth who did it walks freely.”
“He doesn’t walk freely, Dal, he is incapacitated with injury. Probably incapable of assaulting another for the rest of his life.” I met Dal's gaze. “I’m not the frail flower you think me, you know.”
Dal let off a heavy sigh, brushing a large thumb up and down my neck before moving his large hand to my bruised arm. Tingles went to my belly. “Dragonflies are not frail. But they can still be crushed by the jaws of a bigger predator,” he murmured. “I will not allow it to happen again.” He pulled me closer.
“If I recall, you're the one who told me to leave the barn. Does this mean I have permission to ignore your advice next time?” I smiled up at Dal as strong arms came around me.
“You are going to be the death of me.”
“Nonsense, Kraw are strong,” I whispered into the space between us, smiling.
Our lips were a breath apart. “Not just Kraw, Sera.”
“But—”
Dal's kiss silenced me, scattering my thoughts to the stars, and I drank it in with greed and joy. His hand came to the back of my head, and he pulled me closer for a kiss that stole my breath away. Each movement was reverent, each sigh of breath let me know that he wanted me, cherished me. And I was drunk on every sound he made, every touch he bestowed upon me. My very blood throbbed for him.
With a groan, Dal lifted me off the ground. Effortlessly, as if I were weightless. It was exhilarating to kiss him from up here, equal in height, desire pounding through me. The rough bark of a tree scraped at my back, and Dal pressed between my legs. I pulled him harder against me, inviting rougher contact.
I broke the kiss to fumble at the button in the back of my dress, and my hands were shaking too much to grasp it. Dal tore the buttons off with a flick of his wrist, pulling the top of my dress down to my waist. He kissed and sucked at each breast until I was begging for him to take me.
But still he did not. The dress was too tight around my waist to shimmy out of, so he worked his hand up the skirt, stroking me in the part that throbbed the most as he nipped at my tender nipples. Within moments I came undone at his touch, and he stroked me through each new explosion until I could take no more.
On a shaking breath, I came back down from the starry height of pleasure, catching my breath in between kisses. But Dal wasn’t finished with me. Holding me against the tree with one arm, he worked at his pants, then pushed my skirts out of the way so that he could give me what I had been wanting for days. When he pushed into me with a groan, slowly, I was already slick and throbbing for him, and his kiss faltered as he filled me.
New waves of pleasure shot through me as Dal took me there against the tree. This weightless sensation combined with the ecstasy of his lovemaking brought me to the peak of my pleasure faster than before. I held on to him as my body grew tense, letting tiny moans escape into his mouth. Dal's fingers dug into my thighs as he began to thrust harder and faster, more than what I was used to.
And I took it greedily until my world was shattered by another burst of climax. Somewhere, far away, a woman's moans of pleasure echoed through the dead forest, joined by the deep groan of a man. My leap into world tilting pleasure seemed to last an eternity, and I rode it until I was too weak to move any more.
As the world righted itself, tremors of pleasure wracked my body intermittently. Dal rested his head against mine, breathing hard. With a final kiss, he withdrew and put me back down, where I slumped to the leaf strewn floor with a shaking sigh. Dal righted his pants and sat next to me with a heavy sigh of his own, leaning against the tree and pulling me close.
“I can't be without you,” I whispered, listening to Dal's heartbeat. It was still fast from what we had just done.
Dal kissed the top of my head. “You won't be.” With one hand he pulled at my dress, trying to help cover me.
I shifted a bit to make it work, even though I wasn't sure what I would do about the ripped buttons. A last tremor ran through me and I gave another shaking sigh, melting into the man I loved.
Dal gave a soft laugh and tilted my face up to his. Instead of kissing me, he just looked at me. “You are most beautiful in this moment, Seraphine.”
“Too limp to argue?”
Dal smiled. “No. Flushed with wonder and satisfaction. Unguarded. Wanting nothing other than to be here in this moment. I have waited too long for this. The stars in your eyes are worlds full of promise and mystery.”
“They should be no mystery to you, Dal, because you put them there,” I whispered.
He smiled again and kissed me. Slow, soft, and lingering. So very gentle for such a warrior.
After we had caught our breath and I could once again make my shaking legs work, we began to head back to Mindrik. The walk was longer now that I wasn't trotting to keep up with Dal's great strides. When we got to the camp, I realized that I had no idea how long we had been gone.
Mindrik, apparently, did.
He stood. “Where in the seven hells did you two go?” He looked between the two of us, apprehension dawning on his face.
Dal went to sit in his spot, ignoring both me and Mindrik.
I took my own spot, trying to avoid the heat of Mindrik's glare as my heart raced. His gaze burned the top of my head as I put more large sticks in the fire.
“He is a beast, Seraphine,” Mindrik said in an accusing tone.
“We've been over this; his name is Dal.”
“And you are in love with him.”
“We just had something to discuss, Mindrik, don't be ridiculous.”
“A woman only comes out of the woods looking like that for one reason. I am not a fool.”
I cast Mindrik my most exasperated look. “Looking like what, Mindrik? Like I had to run to keep up with him? Have you forgotten how fast an angry Kraw can run?”
Mindrik frowned at me.
“Very fast,” Dal said.
Mindrik crossed his arms. “What reason do you two have to hide your affections from me?”
“If there are affections between a human and myself, what reason do I have to reveal them to one who openly despises my species?” Dal asked.
“So you admit to spoiling her?”
“Spoiling? I beg your pardon, but when did I become some vegetable to be traded?”
Dal sighed. “Your race can be so small.”
; “And yours can be so savage. Seraphine, do you lie with this beast or not?”
I rose to my full height, which wasn't much shorter than Mindrik. “Not that who I lift my skirts for is any of your business, Mindrik, but no, Dal and I are not intimate.” I willed my face not to crack on the lie. “He is my friend. And as such, I will not hear of you calling him beast any longer. You depend on him as much as I do, and your ungrateful snobbery is intolerable.”
“But my coin is not intolerable.”
“What?”
“My coin. It buys you comfortable passage in places where Kraw brutality will not.”
I scowled, rage licking its way up my insides. My hands balled into fists. “Make no mistake about it, Mindrik. I am a woman who has grown comfortable with having nothing, and I have no fear of remaining so.
“If you think that in these hard times your coin can buy you friendship, loyalty, or lovers, then you are going to find yourself poorer than the most ragged beggar in ways you never thought possible.” Flame feathered its way up my fists and I glared at Mindrik with my full ire.
Mindrik deflated, shaking his head and sitting. “I don't know what to think anymore.”
I glanced at Dal, who was frowning at Mindrik.
“Perhaps sleep will help,” Dal said, rising.
“Yes, perhaps,” Mindrik said. “Then I can watch the two of you lay like lovers, as always, and continue to tell myself that you are not.”
“If I didn't know that you despised country bumpkins such as myself, I would think you jealous of such imaginings, Mindrik.”
“You may think what you wish. And by the way, it will be a while before you can fix the torn back on your dress. Goodnight.”
Chapter 17
Chains of Gold
When dawn pierced the darkness of my dreams, I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Mindrik was still asleep, his back to us. I shifted, sucking in a deep breath on a stretch, and a noise sounded in Dal's throat as he shifted and his hand roamed my body. Desire flared up anew, and I wished that Mindrik was not laying ten feet from me so that I could indulge in Dal's touch.
