Chapter 9
Nine
ZAKAI
Istumbled over my feet in a poor attempt to keep up with the barbarian’s longer strides.
I wasn’t sure what the hurry was, but it wasn’t like I could ask anyway.
It annoyed me that he was making me carry everything, though.
I dug my heels in, stopping his progress, and glared at him.
He gave me an impatient look, so I shoved the clothes into his arms and crossed mine defiantly.
If he wanted to run around, he could carry the clothing.
With an annoyed growl that put my back up, he tucked the bundle under one arm and grabbed my hand, dragging me toward the village center.
I went with him because I had no other choice.
I tried not to be annoyed by that fact. I wasn’t that much smaller than him.
Kind of. Okay, I was short compared to him, but in my home, I was average.
I was even taller than one of my brothers. If I was wearing boots.
No one needed to know that, though.
By the time we arrived where a group had gathered around a carriage, I was out of breath and fuming.
I hated this. Hated being dragged around and treated like a nuisance.
Hated being cold all the time. And I especially hated it when my barbarian dropped my hand and walked away from me.
I’d behaved well enough that he’d taken the shackles off that morning, and yet he walked away from me without a backward glance.
To punish him, I spun on my heel, aiming for the field of horses I’d seen a few times. From what I’d been able to tell, it was unguarded. It should be easy to take a horse.
I only got a few feet away before the terrifying barbarian who’d attacked me on the night of my arrival stepped into my path.
He wasn’t even looking at me, his focus on the man beside him hugging a book to his chest with a shy smile, but my feet were still frozen where I stood.
He’d pinned me in front of his entire clan and only my barbarian stepped in to stop him.
I didn’t want to get near him ever again.
A hand on my shoulder spun me around and my barbarian nudged another man forward to speak with me. A very familiar man.
“You,” I breathed, eyes wide.
His mouth fell open. He still had the pretty pink hair, though there was a small section that was shaved on one side. He was still beautiful. And he spoke my language.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
I didn’t answer at first. I couldn’t. I was so relieved to hear my language again that I reached for him, yanking him into a tight hug. He squawked in protest, stiff in my embrace, and I heard a growl from somewhere behind him, but I needed a moment.
“I am so glad you are here.”
Awkwardly, the whore from my once favorite brothel patted my back, his voice tinged with confusion as he repeated his question. “What are you doing here?”
I opened my mouth to explain, straightening to look at him, but a cold gust of wind tore through the village center that even my new warmer clothing couldn’t combat. I winced and shrank in on myself, whimpering.
Before I could open my eyes, I was lifted off my feet and my stupid barbarian began walking away. My eyes snapped open and I flailed, screeching at him.
“Put me down! I need to speak with him! Put me down, you giant asshole!”
A snort caught my attention, and I peered over my shoulder where the whore was following behind me, another barbarian at his back.
I only settled when I realized he would be coming with me, allowing my barbarian to bring us back to his tent where the wind was blocked and my blankets were waiting.
I immediately wrapped myself in them, sitting as close to my savior as possible while whispering to him.
“You have to get me out of here. I don’t belong here.”
He seated himself beside me, studying me with a frown. “No, I don’t think you do. But I need to hear the whole story. Did you become a citizen of Yaifem? How did you become a tribute?”
“I was set up,” I hissed. “I returned to your brothel and—” I straightened suddenly, looking him over with wide eyes.
He was wearing the same clothing as the barbarians.
“Were you taken too? Do you need to escape as well? If we can get word out to my family, I can help. I am a good rider. We can escape together.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “While I appreciate that, I’m happy here.
See that big barbarian over there?” He pointed to the one who had been following behind him and now stood in a corner talking to my barbarian in hushed tones.
“He’s my bondmate. We’re essentially married—according to the clans anyway. ”
That surprised me. I’d thought maybe they’d taken him and were using him as a whore for the clan to pass around.
That would have angered me greatly. The time we’d spent together was wonderful, and I would hate to see such a beautiful man used in such a way.
But upon closer inspection, he looked unharmed.
In fact, he seemed to have a glow to him I hadn’t seen in the brothel.
Like he was truly happy, and it exuded from him.
“So, tell me,” he said, returning to the subject at hand. “How were you set up?”
I explained to him the deal my father hoped to make, as well as the advisor who’d met me at the brothel.
I was grinding my teeth when I spoke of Hameed’s betrayal and forcing me to become a tribute.
Because I couldn’t communicate, I couldn’t tell anyone who I was, and I was dragged out here without even an attempt to contact my family.
“They could have made a lot of money if they offered me for ransom, but instead, they brought me out here! In the cold!”
The pink-haired beauty made a face. “I could’ve told you it was a scam from the start if I’d known.
If a town advisor asks to meet you in a brothel, he’s intending to do shady business.
I saw it a dozen times. If he actually meant to make a deal with you, he would have taken you to the mayor’s home. ”
That was what Umaira had said. I’d been too stubborn to listen to her. I regretted it now.
“As for the ransom, the barbarians wouldn’t do that. Honestly, if I explain things to them, I’m sure they’ll find a way to get you home. Al Nuzem isn’t part of the treaty, after all.” He paused, chewing on his lip. “Are you actually a prince? I thought Tomas made that up to get me into trouble.”
“How would me being a prince get you into trouble?” I asked, confused.
He lifted a shoulder. “He said I insulted a prince, and they arrested me on the spot.”
I scoffed, crossing my arms. “You did no such thing! Our time together was a gift, not an insult.” I scowled, shooting a glance at the two barbarians standing nearby. “I can tell the town as much, if you do not wish to stay. You were forced here as I was. I can get you out.”
He shook his head with a grin. “You’ll find in time it’s really hard to resist these guys. They may look intimidating, but they’re all sweet. And the sex is better than anything I’d ever had.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, but he didn’t change his mind. He just shot a heated look at his barbarian, who took notice and smirked at him like they were sharing a secret between them. Meanwhile, when I looked at my barbarian, he looked as stoic as ever. Asshole.
“I wouldn’t know. I made some attempts to seduce my barbarian, but he refused to even acknowledge me.”
That made the little male cackle, and he switched languages, speaking to the barbarians with an evil grin on his face. My barbarian’s tone when he replied was dry, and I felt the distinct urge to kick him. If he wanted me here so bad, he could at least show it.
“He said he wouldn’t touch you until you understood him better. Let me guess, you refused to learn the language?”
My eyebrows shot up, and he grinned conspiratorially.
“I pretended to do the same thing. None of them knew I could understand them, and I pretended I couldn’t in hopes that they’d give up information when they thought I was ignorant.”
I stuck my bottom lip out in a pout. “I would have if I could understand. But I do not speak the common tongue, either. If I did, I would have told them who I am before they dragged me so far from my home. My father will be pissed when he finds out.”
That made the male pause, and his expression darkened. “You can’t blame the clan for that. They had no way of knowing who you were or that you weren’t just a scared tribute. Have they mistreated you since you arrived?”
Aside from refusing my advances and ignoring me occasionally? “No. And I don’t blame them, not really. They’ve been kind. It is Yaifem that will face my father’s wrath. But I can’t stay here. He might think I’m dead. Please, can you tell them to bring me home?”
Turning to the barbarians standing nearby, the little male shared my story.
My barbarian went pale at one point, I assumed when the male told him I was a prince, and he looked worried.
I hoped that was a good thing and that we could leave swiftly.
It was getting colder by the day. I would freeze soon.
My barbarian nodded and hope filled my chest when he offered me his hand to help me stand. I looked at the pink-haired male, who gave me an understanding smile.
“He said he’ll get you home. We just have to talk to the clan leader first about logistics.”
Relief swamped me, and I sagged against my barbarian for a long moment. Finally. I was going home.