Chapter 15 #2
Thankfully Drog had not slaughtered their hargon beasts in his rush to intercept Kavon. The hargons had been agitated, Drog’s beasts milling with them, but were still where Kavon and his men had left them.
The ride so far had been quiet.
Very quiet. Aurina hadn’t said a word.
He could feel her slipping away from him like water through his hands.
Resting near his leg, nestled safely in his saddlebags, he felt the weight of Durendal. Something he’d dreamed about for so long, and worked toward ever since his father had died. And now that he had it… It meant little when he thought about the broken look on Aurina’s face.
He stared at Aurina’s bent head, and something burst inside him. He kicked Tarm up beside Colm’s beast.
“My friend.” Kavon pulled Durendal out of the bag and handed the wrapped bundle to his best friend. “Will you keep this safe and see it back to the estate?”
Colm took the sword, his eyebrows rising. “Where are you going?”
Kavon cut a glance at Aurina. “I plan to claim my mate and ensure she has no questions about where she belongs and to whom.”
A grin broke over Colm’s face. “About time, Kavon. I suggest you don’t say the ‘who she belongs to’ bit aloud.”
Kavon felt a spurt of amusement. “Thanks for the advice.”
Then Colm’s face turned serious. “You think she wants to stay here? Without all her technology?”
The idea that she truly wanted to leave him left him carved out inside. His jaw tightened. “I’ll make her want to stay. I plan to claim her in the oldest tradition of our warrior ancestors.”
Colm’s face froze. “What? You really think that’s a good idea?”
Kavon didn’t respond, just kicked Tarm to a gallop. The beast responded with a sharp burst of speed.
At the last second, Aurina heard the thunder of hooves, and spun in her saddle. He grabbed her and dragged her off the hargon.
She cried out, but he pulled her safely onto his beast and threw her over the saddle in front of him. He pressed a hand to her ass to hold her in place.
“What are you doing?” she yelled, trying to sit up.
He gave her ass a sharp swat. “Something I should have done a long time ago.” He urged Tarm on, turning sharply and riding away from his men and the direction of the estate. “My ancestors had a tradition of kidnapping the women they wanted to keep.”
“Barbarians!” She struggled to get up a few more times, before cursing him and going still. Not long later, the land turned to gentle hills, and in the distance he saw the Forest of Kern rising up.
Before they reached the trees, he spotted the hunting cabin.
He slowed, then commanded Tarm to stop. The hargon beast was more than happy to obey. The grass was lush and the beast was sniffing the air, already scenting the plentiful prey in the forest.
Kavon dismounted, then dragged Aurina off and into his arms.
She turned into a spitfire, slapping at him. “What the hell are you doing, you arrogant barbarian?”
“Calm yourself.” He tossed her over his shoulder and headed for the cabin.
“I’m going to kill you for this!”
The cabin was built of the same stone as his estate. It wasn’t large—the main cabin was a single big room with a small annex joined by an enclosed walkway.
“It is getting dark,” he said. “We need to get inside, as we are close enough to the Wilds that some of its denizens do come this way at night.”
He opened the sturdy wooden door and then he set her on her feet.
She came at him and landed a hard kick to his gut. He grunted, and just in time, blocked the second kick coming at him. He grabbed her leg and twisted so she was off balance. Her face was furious…and he’d never seen her look more beautiful.
“I want to go back to the estate. I want my e-beacon.” Her gaze moved to the wall and stayed there.
He watched her for a second. He’d known his woman wouldn’t be the easiest conquest, and he’d hurt her by not telling her his marriage plans. Now he had some making up to do.
He was a master battle planner, but he would need all his skills for this battle.
He wandered over to the large, wooden storage box in the corner.
He opened it and pulled out some glow rocks.
They weren’t in the shape of a wand, but just a small pile of stones.
He set them in an amber glass bowl. It cast a muted, orange glow in the room.
In one corner was a pile of furs and blankets with a sheet of gauzy fabric draped over them from the roof.
He knew someone from his estate came frequently to ensure the hunting cabin was kept clean and well-stocked.
“What is this place?”
His lips twitched. He’d known Aurina’s natural curiosity would get the better of her.
“It’s a hunting cabin. The forest beyond here is filled with animals prime for hunting.
It is a rite of passage for a young warrior to come and stay here alone, and hunt for his first kill.
” He started walking toward her and she stiffened.
“What are we doing here?” Her tone was icy.
“I’m claiming you…properly.”
“You already claimed me when I first got here.”
“Not that kind of claiming.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek and saw her eyelids flutter. “I don’t want you to leave me.”
Her lips flattened. “Right, you want me around for some convenient sex? Like my father wanted from my mother?” She pushed his hand away.
It was time for the truth. The bare, unvarnished truth. “I don’t want a warlord’s daughter. I want you.”
She went very still, and he saw many different emotions skitter across her face. “Kavon…”
He cupped her cheeks. “I want your strength, your intelligence, your beauty. You are more a match for me than any woman I’ve met before. I want all of you.”
Her face softened, and she reached up and put her hands over his. “It’ll mess up your plans, your alliance with some other warlord. All your plans to rebuild the Mal Dor name.”
“Alliances come in many forms. For now, the only one I’m concerned with is the one between you and me.” He tugged at the ties on her corset. “I want you. Ordinarily, as a warrior, I would announce my claim and that would be it.”
She raised a brow.
“But, as you are not of my planet and have other views, I’m asking you to be mine.”
“Kavon…”
“It is time for the truth, Aurina. Tell me how you feel.”
Her lips pressed together. “Goddamn you, I was planning to stay mad at you a lot longer.”
“Tell me,” he murmured.
She released a long breath. “I love you, dammit.”
Elation flooded him. He scooped her up and spun her around. “You are mine, Aurina Phoenix.” He took her mouth with his. The taste of her filled him, driving the urgent need in him to claim her in more ways than one.
She pulled back, panting a little. “Kavon, we’re filthy. We’ve spent the day in an ancient mine.”
“I have a solution.” He strode through the corridor to the adjoining annex.
She gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
It was a natural hot pool, and the main reason for the location of the hunting cabin. Some long-ago person had ringed it with rocks, and it was now a perfect natural bath.
He tugged again at her clothes. “Let’s get in.”