Page 130 of Blood Fist

“Why?”

“When taken whole, it’s a light anesthetic.” Halm finished bandaging Osmond. “But when it’s finely ground and mixed with liquid, it becomes a hallucinogenic.”

Osmond and Ridan stared at the healer.

Yawning, Halm waved a hand at them. “In a few hours, they’ll be seeing giant purple snakes and dancing cloud monsters. Or something.” She grabbed her bag of dwindling medical supplies, nodding at Brune. “Don’t look at me that way. It was his idea.”

Ridan turned to look at the big alpha. Brune wasgrinning sheepishly. “I remembered how poorly they stored our water when we were on a march. It always tasted foul.” His face fell when he saw Ridan’s expression. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you. It’s just…I told Derry and Shesto and they thought it was hilarious and jumped at the idea to?—”

He grunted, falling backward as Ridan tackled him. Arms around his neck, toes barely touching the ground, he kissed the goofy alpha. It wasn’t a delicate kiss. There was nothing soft about it. No gentle pecks that ebbed and flowed with the increasing beating of their hearts. No, it was ugly and fast. Messy with clacking teeth and uncoordinated lips, with noses smashed together.

Surprised, it took Brune a moment to wrap his arms around Ridan’s waist to hold him up. Somewhere behind him, Osmond chuckled, his footsteps fading as he left to give them privacy.

Ridan didn’t care that Osmond had seen, or that the entirety of camp could simply turn and watch him kiss an alpha he wasn’t officially courting. All he cared about was the slight blush on Brune’s cheeks, and the way he rubbed the back of his neck whenever he was uncertain. The greasy strands of hair pulled back with a leather band, stringy in places where blood and mud had congealed to the strands. The powerful way he slammed into his enemies, leaving crushed bones and broken bodies in his wake. His effortlessly handsome face and stupidly sharp teeth.

With the way his alpha didn’t announce his plan so everyone could praise his genius, but instead worried he should have asked Ridan’s permission first.

Really, he just wanted to kiss him. Over and over again.

Brune fell back against the tree, a pleased rumble echoing through his chest and his scent spiking intosomething that went straight to Ridan’s head. Sighing, he melted into the kiss as Brune supported his weight.

“Mmm, I missed your scent,” Brune mumbled against Ridan’s lips.

Cranking Brune’s head to the side, he buried his nose against his scent gland, grinning at the way his breath fanning across the sensitive organ made Brune shudder.

“Just my scent?” Ridan teased.

Brune hummed, letting his head fall back to give Ridan room to do whatever he wanted. Again, Ridan was shaken by the easy trust the big alpha showed in him. From the beginning, Brune bared himself to Ridan without any reservations. Held him when he needed it, but never made him feel weak.

“You know I’d have all of you all the time,” Brune said, eyes half lidded as he looked down at him.

It was getting harder to remember why they were waiting. Why Ridan couldn’t wear Brune’s mark and his scent.

“Ridan!” Corric’s voice was an unwelcome interruption.

Growling, Ridan dropped from Brune’s arms and bared his teeth at his packmate. “What are you doing here?”

Corric raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. “Everyone else was too afraid of you to disturb you two.” His small smirk deepened. “Put your fangs away, get off your alpha, and come here. There’s something you need to see.”

Brune slapped a hand on Ridan’s shoulder before he could launch himself at Corric and his smug little grin. He kissed his cheek, sliding a wrist down Ridan’s back to leave some of his scent behind. “C’mon Chief.”

Begrudgingly, Ridan followed him. But not beforeshoving Corric hard enough to knock that stupid grin off his face.

Ascending the small ridge they used as a windbreak for the camp, Ridan followed Corric until the trees thinned enough they could see out across the open field.

But the field wasn’t so empty.

Rows and rows of riders astride horses broke up the expanse of dead grass. Swords, shields, axes, and all manner of weapons glinted in the winter light. For a brief moment, panic set in. Had Kaldonea found them so quickly? But no. Kaldonea didn’t have cavalry.

Under the rider’s light armor and their gauzy clothes, Ridan could see tanned skin and loose hair. He grinned, pushing off the last remaining tree to step into the light. His eyes scanned the riders until he caught sight of a spritely mare with a speckled coat.

Areine’s hair was pulled back from her face with a seashell bauble, pearls strung along the sheer black strands. She sat straight and tall; her face breaking into a grin when she caught sight of Ridan. Tossing her nearly waist length hair back, she dismounted and approached.

“I have no idea how you live up here,” she groused, dragging her flimsy cloak closer to her chest. “I’m freezing my tits off.”

Ridan couldn’t help but shake his head, looking over her shoulder at the warriors she’d brought. “What are you doing here?”

She patted her mare's well-muscled neck, looking down her nose at Ridan. “Did you think the Strong Leg would sit back and allow you to have all the glory?” her sandy scent caught on the chill breeze, out of place so far north.