The Bridal Hunt (Brides of the Hunt Book 1)

by Jeanette Lynn

  A group of beast-men came strolling up, as if out of nowhere, women being carried much the same way I had, bundled up and over their shoulders or in their arms, the males holding them most pleased with their prizes.

  I gotta figure out which way they came from, I thought, trying to take a step forward. Before I’d even moved an inch, however, I was hauled back into a hairy chest, grunting on impact as I slammed into a thick wall of serious muscle.

  A hand came up to touch my hair, sifting through it caressingly, but I slapped it away, earning a chuckle for my efforts. "Stop touching me," I groused.

  I spotted Kirch among the group of men coming back, carrying an emaciated, familiar blonde bunny with flotation devices attached to her chest. She was like a whiny-voiced action figure, complete with accessories and wildly enhanced parts. The tart’s thick, puffy jacket wasn’t even enough to hide those puppies.

  Am I jealous? I don’t know...

  Hm. No, I just hate her and I’m kind of a bitch—but I own up to it.

  On the one hand, I wasn't particularly happy to see the little turd blossom, but if this meant Kirch had found himself a replacement... then—ahem—hello, Candy! Come on down!

  Kirch lumbered up to me with Candy in his arms, standing in front of the male whose hand was currently, gently but firmly gripping my neck.

  The lion-maned beastie started speaking rapidly in his tongue, spitting words at the behemoth holding me captive. The pair began talking too fast for me to even wonder a guess at what he was getting at, that fast paced back and forth yammering quickly dissolving into an argument.

  Hell bent on finding the way out of here, I tuned them out, trying to look around Kirch. Was it that way? Is that the way to the portal or whatever it is that could take me back?

  One of the new captives started wailing about wanting to go back through the tunnel and go home, but her beast called it a portal—from what I could tell from his raspy, growling voice—so I decided to go with the latter.

  Right, so I need a portal.

  Candy sniffled noisily, swiping at her mascara streaked cheeks, looking around through puffy, red eyes. Her gaze landed on me and she screeched happily, the sound startling Kirch so much he almost dropped her.

  "Oh! Oh!" She squealed in her high-pitched, whiny, baby voice. "Oh, Willy!" Keening long and loud, she jumped out of Kirch's arms, latching herself onto me, tumbling us to the snow covered ground.

  Babbling incoherently, she hugged my ass enthusiastically—like I was a newly discovered, long lost relative or something. We rolled in the wet white stuff, her squeals drowning out my grunts of pain as she smothered me half to death.

  "Oh, Willy! You're here! Everyone thought you'd been eaten by bears!" Lifting herself up, fuller looking lips than I remembered trying to purse into a pout, all she could manage was puckered, sad, pink lip gloss smeared duck lips.

  "Wha...?" I mumbled, stunned as she stared at me with those large owl eyes of hers curiously. Everyone was watching the exchange between us avidly, especially Kirch and the quiet behemoth dude.

  "It was all over the news! Georgie was beside himself when he thought you were dead!" Gripping the fat under my arms through my jacket for a hearty squeeze, sprawled out atop me, she squeaked, grinning from ear to ear.

  Oh boy... "You're awfully happy to see me, Candy... for someone who was trying to take my place just the other day." Bitter much? Why, yes, yes, I am. And not so subtle, either. Nudging her none too gently, I tried to pry her off. Stronger than she looks, she clung tighter.

  "Oh, but that was before I thought you were dead!" Drawing out the words, she giggled and squealed, way too close to my ear, clutching me, unrealistically, even tighter.

  I grimaced, wincing, debating on whether or not I should have her elaborate. Then I took another moment, wondering whether I should just chuck her skanky butt off of me and shove her face in the snow. I wouldn’t, at least not yet, but it was a thought.

  I don't see how me possibly being dead changes things, but okay, I'll run with it. Candy seems a few chocolates short of a box anyway. And I don't think I'm going to get anything that makes much sense out of her anyhow.

  The chucking her off thing was starting to sound better and better.

  "Georgie hasn't been the same since, you know." Her full, over-plumped lips pinched, flopping out into the duck purse/pout again. "But now that you're back, he can go back to normal!" Grinning triumphantly, she crowed.

  Ahhh... Now I'm beginning to understand. Pfft. "Uh, Candy?"

  "Yes, Willy," her tiny yet unreasonably loud, oh so annoying voice squeaked out happily.

  "Several things wrong with where I think you're going with this." I spoke slowly, making sure she absorbed everything into that squeaky, pea-sized brain of hers. "George won't take up with you again just because I'm alive. He thinks I'm going to marry him still, even though I broke it off. Told him a hundred times it's over, and then, you know, I had him arrested. Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he's not right in the head."

  Reaching out, I twirled my finger around my head near my ear. Candy blinked, following the motion.

  “The dude’s lost his marbles, Candy. He needs professional help. And in case you haven't noticed, we've been kidnapped by Abominable snow people that want us for their mates." No need to mention the eating us thing or anything like that.

  Without really needing to think about it, I knew I wasn’t quite prepared to take on a Candy melt-down, if ever. I’d probably lose my shit, along with her losing hers. Long story short, it wouldn’t end well.

  Candy seemed to mull all of this over, then looked up at me again, confusion swimming her bugged out looking eyes. "Why would Georgie want you though... when he could have me?" Lower lip jutting out in a pout, nose bunched up tight until it was little more than a tiny button compared to her overlarge eyes, her words squeaked out, giving the impression of a befuddled, plastic-surgery-enhanced mouse—a very stupid one.

  Awww, fuck me. Of all the... "Is that all you heard?! Release me, you half-wit!" Incensed, I bellowed at the leech clinging tight, sitting up with a short grunt as she followed, still suctioned to my person. Complexion going just this side of puce, I huffed indignantly and pushed her off, rolling over in the snow to dislodge her hands as she desperately tried to latch back on.

  Balance tenuous as I stood up, eluding the harpy, I slipped, sliding around in the all that mushy, white powdery crap. My ungainly flop giving her the opening she needed, she lunged, clutching at my jacket.

  Shaking myself out like a wet dog, hoping to fling her off, I hopped up, stumbling to my feet, trying to get away from the conceited little brat as fast as my feet could carry me, but the determined cretin grabbed onto my leg.

  “Willy!”

  “Get. Off. Of. Me.” Good Lord! What is with me and clingy people lately!

  "Don't leave me, Willy! I'm scared!" she wailed, but any sympathy I may have had for her had already dried up.

  Grunting as her nails dug in, I dragged my leg—the blubbering, silicone menace still firmly attached—inching my way over to a rather embarrassed looking Kirch.

  "Here! You broke her, you bought her." Gesturing wildly, hands waving in the wailing blonde’s direction, I pointed at him and then his mad mess, motioning for him to collect his spoil.

  The giant beside us broke out into loud, raucous laughter, grabbing me up in a bear hug that effectively dislodged Kirch’s wailing banshee better than I ever could, dumping her at the yellow-eyed demon’s feet.

  The laughter in the big beastie’s chest jiggled my body like a mini-jackhammer, squeezed in so close to him as I was, fairly rattling my brains. "Quit it! I'm gonna throw up!" I snapped.

  Patting my head like one would a pet, the big beast chuckled some more but settled down. Turning as if to go, taking me who knew where, Kirch shouted something to him that had him pausing.

  My original kidnapper stormed over, rumbling angrily, snapping his jaws as he spoke. The two males began talking anim
atedly, heatedly on Kirch’s end, gruff on the other male’s, the two of them gesticulating between Candy and me. The more they spoke, the more Kirch grew exceedingly upset, his voice getting rough and growling, the more persistent the other male became.

  Bellowing in frustration, Kirch threw his arms up, roaring furiously, before stomping over and picking up his distraught captive. Holding her loosely in his arms, grimacing as she screamed wildly, beating at him ineffectively with her tiny fists, the wild-maned beast took off with Candy, headed towards the hut houses at the other end of the village.

  Glancing back every so often as he stormed off, he stopped long enough a few times to glare at us.

  The giant snow beast carrying me hitched me up and started walking off towards the other side of their little fur commune, heading in the complete opposite direction as Kirch.

  My back to his chest, my new captor kept me firmly cinched in his arms, humming away to himself as he squeezed me tight, my legs dangling freely in front of him as he headed for a larger hut at the edge of the village.

  Strange plants and flowers—similar to the ones I’d glimpsed by the waterfall and the rock formation—popped up here and there, where dirt or odd looking grass wasn’t sprouting up, littering the edges of the grooved walking path he took. I took it all in as we passed, trying to take note of my surroundings.

  "Where are we going? Where are you taking me?" I demanded, panic starting to creep into my voice as he strode closer and closer to the lone hut’s front door.

  "Home," he said simply, his deep, animalistic voice rumbling out the word. Carting me across a wide expanse of white and green speckled, blue colored lawn, he opened a huge wooden door, nudging it the rest of the way open with his giant foot, and strode inside.

  Ignoring my alarmed squeaks as I really started to squirm, he closed the door behind him and set me down, heading over to an enormous bed of furs as I scrambled away to hug a wall. Muttering under his breath, his back to me, he rummaged around through the thick furs piled high, tossing one this way or that.

  Scurrying past a thick wooden table, I ran for the door. Gripping the handle, I yanked on it hard. It didn’t budge.

  I should have tried a window first, I thought wildly, eyes searching the room quickly. They're too far away, damn it!

  Bracing the wall with my foot, I yanked, pushed, and pulled uselessly at the thick barrier, until I heard unmistakable footsteps approaching me from behind.

  Crying out, I swung around, my back plastered to the door, watching the big beast looming over me closely.

  Approaching cautiously, lips tipping slightly at the corners, he smiled down at me a little, his upper canines peeking as his lips pulled back, shining sharp and white. He reached forward then, his hands jerking back when I flinched. The behemoth pulled back slightly, and thinking he meant to back off, a small sigh slipped past my lips.

  But then, with lightning quick speed, he made his move, pulling me towards him by my jacket, much faster than I could have reacted. Ignoring my startled scream, he tossed a thick animal hide around my shoulders, wrapping me up tight in the shockingly green and pink fur blanket.

  Satisfied with his handy work as my shrieks tapered off, my rattled brains registering his actions, realizing he had no nefarious purposes for me, towards me, in mind—at the moment, at any rate—he picked me up, grinning a pointy toothed grin, and clutched me to his chest.

  Leaning in, his chest rumbled as he ran his nose along my neck. Inhaling deeply, he gently rocked me back and forth, like one would a baby, hugging me to him.

  "Meanie Veck's mate now," his deep voice rumbled quietly, purring that loud, vibrating purr of his against my ear.

  "Me- What?! Veck...? Are you Veck?" I sputtered incredulously, struggling to pull back to get a good look at him. It proved almost impossible, wrapped up and smothered as I was.

  The big guy with a funkadelic blanket fetish smiled down at me, grinning broadly. Veck is extremely pleased with himself right now. Looks like it’s officially time to worry.

  Mate? Me? Him? Me and him?! "B-B-B-But... why? You don't even know me!" I shrieked, my voice shrill and ear piercing even to my own ears.

  "Meanie not afraid of Veck," he stated proudly, holding back a wince at my voice.

  "I'm terrified," I blurted, worried where this might be going.

  Veck shook his head and chuckled, jiggling me, something long, thick, and hard poking me in the hip. My eyes widened, alarmed, and I stared, slack jawed. His grip loosened slightly at the look on my face, the blanket turning me into a human burrito loosening along with it.

  Growling happily in his throat, Veck purred, as if he’d decided my reaction was stunned, delayed happiness at his announcement, nuzzling my cheek bone. Heart pounding as his face had drawn closer, I flinched at the affectionate but gentle nuzzle, pulling back, wiggling my hands free to slap at him when he went to lean back in for another go

  A deep, happy purr rumbled up from deep within his belly at my tenacity, his broad chest filling as he drew in a sharp breath, pressing into my hand greedily, and chuckled.

  "Stop that! What's the matter with you? No means no! And that better be a baton you're wearing! Because I won't be having any snow beast monkey sex with you tonight, or any other night!" I yelped out, panicked.

  "See?" His smile returning slowly to spread across his face, he rumbled happily. "Meanie not afraid of Veck."

  "No! I'm..."

  "Meanie smart," he said thoughtfully, nodding. "Beautiful." He sighed after a moment, leaning in and nuzzling my neck enthusiastically. "Veck likes Meanie spirit. Big spirit, little body." Lifting it up for me to see, squinting as he stared at his giant paw of a hand, he pinched his thumb and forefinger close together for emphasis. His other thick arm still banded around me tight, he grunted and gave my waist a nice squeeze.

  Blinking stupidly, my lips parted but nothing came out. Doing the fish gape a few more times, I gave him a disbelieving look.

  Is it sick that I'm kind of flattered by the flattery? He thinks I'm little, and smart, and beautiful, I thought, feeling a little spark at the compliment. Even if he is a bride swindling snow monster. Well... I haven't seen him swindle a bride—not him, per se—but the others had.

  I had to admit, he really seemed to believe the garbage he was spouting. The beast dude was staring down at me, as we speak, like a love sick puppy. You’d think I hung the moon. Pretty words from a beastly maw—did they hold any weight?

  Granted, they could just be pretty words from a desperate beastie lookin' to get a little somethin'-somethin'. I didn’t know, though... there was something about the way he said it. I’d swear he was not only dishin’ it out but drinkin’ straight from the punchbowl.

  Poor fella, he’s delusional.

  Although... Hmmm. Maybe I could use this to my advantage, I mused, peeking up at him again.

  While all this was going on in my head—all me, myself and I over here—my would-be beast suitor just stood there and watched, studying me intently, waiting patiently, a hopeful look on his fur-lined face.

  "Meanie stay with Veck.” Voice going gruff, his words part demand, part question, he frowned down at me.

  Without waiting for an answer, he carried me over to a wide, rough-hewn table. Two large chairs made in much the same style situated around it comfortably, his hand closed around the top of one and he yanked it back. The thick back legs scraped across the floor as he dragged it out, the sound similar to nails on a chalkboard, though muted. Pulling it out far enough to fit his hefty frame, he plopped down into it, situating me and the thick fur blanket smothering me comfortably in his lap as he grew pensive.

  "Meanie be Veck's mate, Meanie no need to run. Veck protect you."

  "I don't want to be a mate. That's why I ran in the first place... and Kirch said something about eating me if I pissed him off." I mumbled the last part, grimacing. Daring a peek at him, my gaze having previously been glued to my twisting fingers, twined in the fur in my lap, I bit the i
nside of my cheek. "But mostly, I ran from the crazy, bridal, kidnap, wedding scenario," I admitted dejectedly, watching him closely for a reaction.

  Veck took a while in answering. "Meanie wear Veck's fur, Veck wait for sex," he declared decisively, with a nod. Veck paused to watch me as I thought it over, a neutral look on his face.

  Gaze never leaving mine, he sat back, affording me a small—so very small—bit of space while he waited for my answer.

  "You'd wait?" I asked suspiciously, eyes narrowing warily. "This isn't some kind of trick?"

  "Mmm-hmm," he murmured, completely serious.

  "I swear... if you're just saying that, just to get me to agree-"

  "No. Meanie Veck's mate, Veck wait.” Lips twitching as his frosty eyes did that whole happy dance thing, crinkling at the corners, he chuckled and his throat rumbled. “Veck likes to wake up." Lips twitching, his belly shook as he snorted, then lost it.

  A wide smile split across his face as he laughed at his own joke.

  "Are you implying I'd maim you in your sleep?" My eyebrows quirked and I sat up straighter, eyeing him questioningly, the corners of my mouth lifting a little of their own accord.

  "Yes," he teased.

  "You could just take me home," I put in slyly, slipping it in there, though I already knew the answer.

  Veck’s smile dropped and his laughter died instantly. "No."

  It was worth a try. "Aw, come on... you're not like all the others," I cajoled. "I can already tell you're different. I’m sure you have a heart mushed in there somewhere." Smoothing my hand over his chest, I poked him square in the middle. "Use it and let me loose."

  "Portal closed," he admitted, studying the table as his skin rippled at my touch. Grunting as his eyes slid closed, he purred, his finger tracing the grain of the wood table stilling.

  My hand fell and I froze. "I-I-I-I-It... it closed?" Sputtering, I whispered the words in a small, choked voice, shoulders slumping in defeat at the news.

  Veck tugged me close to pat me gently on the back, frowning at the doom and gloom in my voice. "No cry, Meanie."