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RHOSLYN

A blood-ringed sun set on the evening of the Monster Hunt. Once darkness cloaked our world, two women from our village would leave the safety of the high fortress walls to become brides to vicious, powerful orcs.

No one knew for sure what happened after they stepped beyond the walls, because the women were never heard from again.

With my basket of herbs hooked over my arm, I hurried along the winding forest path that twisted like a serpent through the undergrowth. Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy above, casting eerie shadows that darted among the ancient trees. Silence loomed over the woods, broken only by my light footsteps, a random chirp of a bird, and the squawk of a squitt hiding among the upper branches overhead. Nature itself seemed to hold its breath.

It never paid to remain beyond the safety of the fortress walls when darkness swallowed the world, and not just because of the Hunt.

The shaydes stalked us, hunting for food. We were their prey.

My knife gripped tightly in my hand, I left the depths of the forest and rushed across the broad grassy area between the woods and the high fortress walls.

Mine was the only village in this area, though I’d heard there were other villages far away. Only a few from my village had traveled in that direction, however.

Over a thousand humans hid beyond the ring of stone, relying on the fierce, enormous orcs who granted us protection from creatures even more dangerous than them in exchange for brides.

I slipped through the well-guarded door.

“Rhoslyn,” the guardsman said with a glare, stomping forward. “Why do you challenge them like this?”

“What do you mean?” I asked breezily, slipping my knife into the sheath strapped about my waist and brushing evergreen needles from my long blue skirt. I’d collected those while digging roots at the base of the tree. “I found some willadon.” I lifted the chunk of gnarly black root from my basket. “Now I can make more tea for your mother.”

His lined face softened. “You’re too kind to us all.”

“I love brewing potions and making tinctures that help my friends.”

“And what about Rhoslyn? What do you want for yourself?” His pale blue eyes like my own softened, and his voice took on a fatherly tone.

I placed the root back in my basket with the herbs I was eager to dry. “I want to watch my sister marry the man she loves and spend the rest of my years bouncing her babies on my lap. And discover new uses for herbs.”

“No marriage and bouncing babies for you?”

I winced. “I’m twenty-five. Who would have me?”

“Many. If you went to the village dances, you’d find a man to love.”

“I don’t need a man to make me feel complete.”

“What about children? Surely you wish to raise young.”

I did long for a child, but I’d yet to find anyone I dared give my heart to.

“Lyneth weds in a few months, does she not?” he asked.

Thinking of how happy my pretty sister would be with the man she loved, I grinned. “That’s correct.”

He patted my arm. “And then she’ll move in with him and leave you alone. That would be the time to find your own husband.”

My chin lifted. “I like being alone.” Most of the time. Too often, I was lonely. “I plan to trade a tincture for a chall kit. The fluffy beast will make a nice companion.”

“Indeed, the small creature will, but I haven’t given up on you yet. Someone will offer for your hand.” His warm gaze held appreciation, though it didn’t feel slimy like—

Kael’s eyes sharpened as he gazed past my shoulder.

Heavy footsteps approached, and my shoulders curled. If only I could sink beneath the cobblestones. I didn’t need to turn; I knew who stalked closer.

I pivoted, my hand going to my knife, though I didn’t pull it. That might get me into more trouble than I was eager to take on at the moment. But the last thing I wanted to do was present my back to Eamon, our village mayor.

“There you are, Rhoslyn.” His greasy tone made my skin twitch.

Last night, this man cornered me in an alley and pressed his thick lips against mine. His hands roamed my body until I thrust my knee between his legs. With his barks of anger echoing around me, I rushed home, where I locked the door and leaned against it, trembling with rage and dismay.

Not long ago, he told me I’d soon be his bride.

He said he wouldn’t ask permission, that he’d take me to his home, and no one would stand up for me.

He also told me if I didn’t allow him to do as he pleased, he’d hurt my sister.

“I’m sorry, Eamon. I must return to my home right away.” I held up the root, hoping he wouldn’t see the quake in my hand. “Kael’s mother needs her tea, or her body will ache all night.” I forced a cheerful smile onto my face. “We wouldn’t want to leave an elder in pain, now would we?”

Eamon huffed, and his gaze traveled down my curvy frame. “The women have been chosen.”

Kael bristled, stomping his feet and clutching his weapon. “We should tell the orcs no. We’ve sacrificed our women to them for ten years. It needs to end!”

“If we don’t fulfill our side of the truce, the orcs will withdraw their protection.” Dread coiled tightly around my heart. “We’ll be overrun and consumed by the shayde before we can suck in a deep breath.”

But did the fates help the woman claimed during the hunt?

Kael’s shoulders slumped. He knew we had no choice. “Who must go into the woods tonight?” The fear in his voice told me he prayed one of the chosen wasn’t his only daughter.

No one wished to become the mate of an orc. Why would they?

Our elders spoke of them in hushed whispers, and parents used tales of them to make their young behave. Some said they lived in splendor in a shining kingdom near the sea, while others said they were enormous, hideous beasts who lived in stark, damp caves.

They said that those claimed during the hunt were rutted until they became pregnant with an orcling. Once they gave birth, they’d be rutted again. Over and over until the day they died.

“Calita is the first. Her mother clings to her, but her father will see the deed done.” Eamon’s sly gaze met mine. “The name of the other woman who must leave the safety of the fortress and become the bride to an orc is being notified at this moment.”

“Who is it?” Kael bellowed, his weapons clattering against his side.

The slick smile Eamon sent me made my pulse come to a jarring halt. My mouth went dry, and my throat clogged off with terror.

“No,” I growled, knowing immediately who he meant. “Lyneth plans to wed soon.”

“Lyneth will do as she’s told.” He chuckled, low and nasty. “The orcs won’t care if she loves another when they capture her and claim her on the forest floor. I hear their bodies are large everywhere . That they don’t take time to . . . shall we say, ensure a woman is eager to receive their favors.”

Rage poured through me, making my face sting. Dropping my basket, I stomped over to him, sliding my knife from its sheath. If I gutted him this instant, I’d not only avoid lying beneath him on his bed one day soon, but I might also have a chance to save my sister. “I. Said. No!”

He backed up, his lips twisting. “It’s not your decision, woman.”

“It is if I volunteer for the hunt in her place.”

Kael gasped. “No, Rhoslyn. You cannot.”

“Anyone but Lyneth.” I gripped my blade so hard it made my hand ache.

“You have no choice in this matter,” Eamon said.

Oh, but there was always a choice. No one had ever volunteered, but there was nothing in the agreement that said a woman couldn’t. I’d read the passage in the scrolls myself.

I sucked in a bitter breath and shoved it from my pinched lungs. “ I volunteer .”

“Are you sure?” Eamon asked. “You may have a better offer to consider.”

“I’d rather gut myself than marry you ,” I bit out.

“Very well, then.” Eamon latched onto my arm and shoved me toward the gate, Kael followed, uselessly protesting. “The sun has nearly set. You must leave now.”

My eyes stung with tears, and I struggled to break free of his grip. “But Lyneth. At least let me tell her goodbye.”

“I’ll tell her you took her place.” Kael’s warm gaze met mine. “I’ll protect her too.” He glared at Eamon. “She’ll move in with me until she marries.”

“Thank you.” Breaking free of Eamon’s biting nails, I hugged Kael, whispering a heartfelt plea. “Tell her I love her, would you? That I’ll come back.”

“I will.” His face cratered with grief. He didn’t need to name it. We all knew.

No women had ever returned from the hunt.