Chapter 22 The Tylock Inheritance
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
THE TYLOCK INHERITANCE
Brune dropped his hands to his knees and took a deep breath.
There was a pleasant hum in his muscles and a chill as the wind cooled the sweat from his skin.
The days were growing colder, and this early morning was no different.
The sun had only just risen, and the dew was still clinging to the ground.
It was early by a lot of standards, but Brune had not noticed.
Distraction had him fleeing his warm tent in search of something that would calm his mind.
Training with his shield had grown easier in all the time he’d held it.
As Henroen had said, it had become a part of himself.
Not quite an extension of his limb like a sword should be, but an extra limb.
Hammer, too. Even after all the use he’d gotten from it, the handle was still perfect.
It slid into his palm like it was made for him. Perhaps it had been.
Chief Restrina seemed to believe the Maladon’s Aegis was waiting for him. Crafted by a stranger so long ago and yet melded to Brune. The hammer could be the same, its maker guided by fate to create something he thought wholly original in concept, only to find its way to Brune. Like it was meant to.
If you had asked Brune about fate before he’d left Kaldonea, he probably wouldn’t have an answer.
He didn’t ponder things like that back then.
Fate was too grand a concept to fit between the walls of the city.
He drifted like a leaf in the wind, letting everything around him guide him to where he was supposed to be.
His thoughts were never bigger than the next meal.
The next day. He lived where his feet carried him.
Which might be fate, after all.
Something guided Brune to where he was now. A member of the clan, a warrior with a purpose, a life he wanted to live.
And an omega he wanted to share it with.
Even now, thinking about that night had Brune blushing red.
He’d caught his breath, but just picturing Ridan’s wry smirk and firebrand eyes had him breathless all over again.
Of all the people in the world, Ridan’s desire was Brune.
He’d let him touch, whisper promises into his ear, and kiss the doubts from his lips.
From the day Brune had seen Ridan crest that hill, teeth bared, and sword held aloft, he had been his fate.
Brune’s hand dropped to his sweaty neck. His sweaty bare neck. It was a constant reminder of what he’d turned down. His alpha chafed at the decision. Every time Ridan was out of sight, his alpha whined that he could be stolen away from him.
But he was more than his alpha, and even if the decision to wait was painful, it was still the right one.
Ridan deserved better. He might have pretended that Jonen’s courting gift was irrelevant or that he wasn’t just as invested in Osmond asking Niklas, but Brune had smelled the interest, the desire, in his sweet pepper scent.
Ridan had grown up looking at the teeth on his father’s sword, hearing how his mother had fought and won his dam’s respect. He deserved no less.
Which was all well and good, but Brune had no idea how to do that.
Courting culture was individualistic. No two suits looked the same.
And as a point of pride, alphas rarely asked for advice—the whole point was to prove their devotion and capabilities as an alpha.
Getting help would be like cheating. Just considering asking for advice had Brune’s stomach twisting uncomfortably.
No, he had to do this on his own.
Sighing, he stood to his full height and stretched.
Something popped in his shoulder, and he grunted, swinging his arm around until the twinge subsided.
Refastening his shield and hammer, he left the training grounds just as the clan awakened.
Hearths were warmed and the first smells of breakfast began wafting in the air.
Rather than follow his nose, he followed the familiar track to Ridan’s Chief tent.
He didn’t bother looking for him at his nest, where the omega should just be rousing.
Ridan spent most of his time in the tent staring down at the map as if he could find the answers to his questions in the faded lines.
On his way, he stopped by Henroen’s hearth. His mate yawned as she stared down at the food she had cooking. Brune dipped his head to her in greeting. She smiled and ruffled his hair, tugging the strands. It was longer than it had ever been, brushing against his dark, stubbled jaw.
“You look as if you haven’t slept.”
He shrugged. “I’ll survive.”
Tsking, she began plating food for him. “S’pose you’ll be taking some to our chief?”
Blushing, Brune nodded even though she was already getting him two servings. While they hadn’t announced anything, Ridan and Brune hadn’t exactly been subtle. Anyone who got close enough could smell them on each other.
He took her food with thanks, promising to bring her fresh meat the next time he went hunting. As always, she waved him off, claiming to have plenty. They both knew Brune would still bring her furs and meat in thanks.
Balancing two bowls of broth thickened with cream and oats, and a loaf of fresh spiced bread, he went in search of his omega.
Predictably, he found Ridan bent over the table. His hands were spread and eyes heavy. He smelled like he hadn’t slept the day before, clinging to his skin. Perhaps he could convince him to come for a walk later. Or a ride. Anything to get some fresh air.
Still, seeing Ridan made his heart flutter in his chest. He grinned, unable to help himself as he watched Ridan’s necklaces swing as he scowled down at whatever he was or wasn’t seeing on the map.
“You’ll go cross-eyed if you keep that up,” Brune called, smile widening when Ridan jerked in surprise.
He parted his lips to say something—probably something rude—but then his nostrils flared, and he took several experimental sniffs.
Before he could ask, Brune brought the food over to the table. Careful not to set anything on his work, he placed the bowls down. The bread was still warm. It pulled apart easily in his hands.
Ridan took an offered piece, popping it into his mouth as he stepped closer to Brune. Over tired and distracted, he nuzzled into his chest. It was too intimate a gesture for their stage of relationship, but Ridan had always done whatever he wanted.
He sighed into Ridan’s hair, letting his arms wrap around him. The omega seemed to sag, dropping his weight, and trusting Brune to catch him.
“You should get some sleep.”
Ridan grunted around a mouthful. “Can’t. Too much to do—”
“Which you’ve done,” Brune cut him off. “You have prepared supplies, doubled the sentries, and established a safe route for your people to retreat. What you need to do now is take care of yourself.”
Brune couldn’t see, but he knew Ridan was making a face. He always did when faced with advice he didn’t like.
Ridan continued to angrily chew, taking pieces of bread as Brune ripped them off, popping them into the omegas mouth and trying not to get distracted by the plush pink of his lips.
It was all too easy to remember just how they felt on his skin—clumsy but full of such passion.
It was like every kiss was branded into his skin.
Between bites of bread, Ridan spoke of the problems he still faced.
Most of his current dilemma was their lack of information on Sinestrus.
Halm and Derry had returned last night with nothing of note.
The drawings in the tunnel were interesting, but vague.
They didn’t shed light on anything they didn’t already know.
When the food was gone, Ridan was still leaning against Brune’s chest. With eyes half lidded with sleep, he began playing with the Snap Jaw necklace hanging against his clavicle.
The thick leather Ridan had strung it with was soft now.
Time and sweat had worked it until the cord was darker than it originally had been.
It was comfortable, a weight Brune barely felt anymore.
Still, he couldn’t help but smile when the teeth clattered against the red beads.
Ridan’s hands trailed from the necklace to the scar he’d earned it with. The Snap Jaw had left a perfect divot in the meat of his right bicep. Skin pink and glossy, Ridan let his fingertips drag across it. Brune shivered at the soft touch.
“I was scared,” Ridan admitted softly. “Scared I was going to lose you.”
Brune thought he was going to lose himself that day, too. “Nah,” he said breezily. “I couldn’t leave. Not when I’d just found you.”
The blush that crept up Ridan’s cheeks to the tips of his ears was worth facing a hundred Snap Jaws for.
“Did you know?” Ridan asked without looking up.
“That I’d love you?” Brune chuckled when Ridan’s shoulders tensed at the word. He took a moment to think before answering. Did he? No, probably not. At least, not in the way he did now. He didn’t save Ridan from Bargrave’s betrayal because he loved him. He didn’t even know him yet.
But fate did.
“I think my heart did before my mind.”
My warrior’s heart.
Chief Restrina had been right. Minds were easier to change than hearts.
Ridan huffed, mumbling something about Brune being ridiculous, but he didn’t pull away. Brune would hold him as long as Ridan let him.
Brune chuffed happily when Ridan scented him, dragging his wrists up Brune’s arm and leaving his sweet pepper scent behind. With his eyes closed, the omega began purring gently. It was barely audible, but Brune could feel it in his chest. He tightened his arms around him.
“Do you want me to take you to your nest?”
Ridan only grunted before the tent flap flew open and a wild-eyed Jonen was pushing through.
“Corric is missing,” he panted, curls falling into his face.
Head jerking up off Brune’s chest, Ridan stared at Jonen for a moment while he processed what he said. “What do you mean?”