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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Myra

We rode hard.

It had taken us three days to get from Bloodfire Village to Jura, and I thought we’d been moving quickly then. But now? I found out exactly how fast a determined orc male could ride.

After the Battleborn told Vartok everything they knew about his brother’s horrific incarceration and dropped us on the mainland, we collected our horses and rode westward.

Night fell, but Vartok didn’t stop; just lifted me into his lap and kept riding, using the light of the just-past-full moon as a guide.

I woke a few times as he switched horses to give the animals rest from the burden. But each time he tucked me back against his chest and I fell asleep cocooned in the warmth of his skin and fur .

My Mate .

Vartok was my Mate, and I still had trouble believing it. Nay, I understood it to be the truth—there was a knowing, as Nan had told us. I knew Vartok was mine. But after months of thinking he was my enemy, ‘twas difficult to wrap my head about the change.

Or rather, ‘twas difficult to believe my good fortune.

I had a Mate.

I had a Mate and he loved me. He was a creative, gentle male who fought to protect me, who agonized over decisions which might harm his people, and who treated me as someone worthy of worship.

If I had ever stopped to wonder what sort of partner I wanted in life, I would have chosen Vartok. Or rather, I would have, had I seen the Vartok I had come to know in these last weeks, rather than the one I thought I knew.

I was lucky, indeed.

But by mid-morning the next day, I knew my Mate was struggling. He’d ridden all night, carrying me, and the night before had been spent keeping watch for the Battleborn. He must be exhausted.

He needed an excuse to stop.

“There is a croft.” I pointed to a picturesque cottage with smoke coming from the chimney, sitting in a field dotted with sheep. “Could we trade horses, mayhap, and take a little rest? I am…”

I pretended to yawn, and Vartok made a sharp turn toward the cottage .

It turned out that the crofter was used to such requests, and once he examined our animals, declared them fit enough for a trade, needing only some rest and pampering to make up for the hard days’ journey. Vartok was ready to demand the crofter’s bed for me when I interrupted.

“Could we just lie down for a bit here in the stable? We will not stay long.” I smiled at my Mate. “I sleep so much better with your arms around me.”

Vartok obediently wrapped me in his arms…and began to snore almost immediately. I wriggled from his hold, moved his head to my lap, and sat up, determined to keep watch over him.

His nap lasted an hour, but he woke ready to ride again.

And so it went; the horses carried both of us, and I dozed in his arms. When he could take it no longer, he curled up in his cloak and allowed me to keep watch, which was flattering and nerve-wracking all at once.

During those watches, I was glad for my mother’s knife.

What had been a three-day journey was made in two on the return trip, although we traded horses twice more, each with a promise of Bloodfire goodwill in the exchange. It seemed as if the entire Highlands knew of Vartok’s position as the temporary chief of his clan.

Except…

‘Twas possible he would not be for much longer.

We were almost to Bloodfire land when I finally brought up his brother.

“Do you think Kragorn escaped? Or will we need to wait until the full moon to rescue him? ”

My Mate’s lips twitched as he glanced down at me, then bent to brush a kiss on the crown of my head.

“What did the Stormseeker call ye? A fierce wee warrior? Ye’d come with us on that attack, would ye?”

Pretending indignation, I poked him.

“You will need a healer.”

Unspoken was the assumption that, according to the description we’d heard, so might Kragorn.

He merely grunted and tightened his hold on me, his attention returning to the path ahead.

“I notice you have not agreed,” I pointed out a few minutes later, just to keep him talking. But when I tipped my head to one side to study his expression. I was surprised to see him looking thoughtful.

“Ye ken the Mating Bond grows with time?” he suddenly asked. “The longer we live together, the longer we love one another, the tighter ‘twill be. Mated pairs can feel each other, sometimes across distances, and understand each other’s feelings without being told.”

I hummed in agreement, not understanding what this had to do with my earlier question.

“Aye, Nan has pointed it out to me a time or two.”

Vartok grunted faintly, then exhaled. His lips twisted almost ruefully as he glanced down at me, then up again.

“There are other relationships that can result in such a bond, although never as strong. Kragorn is my brother. I shared a womb with him and have lived my life by his side. ”

My breath caught as I understood what he was saying. “You can feel Kragorn? Since he is your twin?”

Behind me, Vartok stretched, taking his time answering. I appreciated that he was considering his words.

“For years, I didnae realize it. But when he disappeared last autumn, there was a…a hole in my life. I thought ‘twas because I missed him—I mean, och, aye I missed him! And since I’d been forced to take his place as chief, it made sense that I’d been focused on the space he used to occupy…”

When he trailed off, I twisted on his lap so I could focus on him.

“But?”

He exhaled again, then shrugged. “I think…I think I can feel him again.”

“Thank the Lord,” I murmured. “Mayhap ‘twas because he was in the humans’ world that you could not feel him?” I found myself holding my breath hopefully as I offered a possibility. “And now he has returned?”

I saw the long column of Vartok’s throat work as he swallowed, then eventually drop his gaze to me.

“Aye,” he croaked, and I saw hope in his eyes. “Aye, I think ‘tis exactly why.”

Smiling, I snaked my arms around his middle and hugged him. “I hope so, love. We need him home.”

“Home,” he breathed.

“Not just because ‘twill be a relief to know he is safe and healthy again, but the Bloodfire Clan needs its chief back. ”

“I was thinking of what the Stormseeker called ye, Myra— Blacksmith’s Mate .”

I remembered how much that had angered me, that the sea raider hadn’t given Vartok his due. But…

“He knew that Kragorn was still alive, so you were not the rightful chief of the clan. I am sorry.”

“I’m no’!” he burst out, half-laugh, half-exasperation. He dropped another kiss to my head, as if he couldn’t bear not to be touching me. “I pray that Kragorn is well enough to pick up the mantle of chief again, so I can give up all this fooking responsibility.”

Chuckling, I pressed my cheek to his chest. “Does this mean you are pushing the horses—and us—so hard to get home because of that possibility? All this time, I thought ‘twas because you were anxious to claim me.”

With a groan, he readjusted me on his lap, so I could feel his cock harden against my buttocks.

“Lass, why did ye have to go and say something so tempting? Do ye have any idea how difficult ‘tis to ride with a cockstand?”

Remembering the last time we’d tried to do something about our mutual arousal atop a horse, I winced and vowed not to tease him more.

“I am sorry, love.”

His chuckle warmed me. “I do want ye. I think I’ll have to be dead and burned a month afore I cease wanting ye.”

Another kiss, then a sigh .

“And I dinnae ken another Mated pair who have had to wait as long as we have to finalize our Bond.”

I remembered what he’d said about claiming , about spilling inside me. I wanted that—but I wanted to do it properly.

Vartok groaned again. “Lass, ye getting aroused willnae help with the whole cockstand situation.”

Giggling, I snuggled closer. “I refuse to apologize for that. I was just imagining what we might do once we returned to your cottage— our home—and I had my talk with Nan about ways to prevent pregnancy until I am ready.”

His hold on me shifted until his palm rested against my stomach. I admit that I liked the feel of that, as if he were cherishing me and—one day—our bairn. With a happy little sigh, I rested my head against his chest again.

“I willnae push ye, Myra.”

“You will not have to,” I assured him. “We will know when the time is right.”

He moved his hold back to my waist and squeezed me.

“We’re almost home, lass, and we’ll find our answers then.”

To everything.

I closed my eyes. My Mate would protect me—he’d proven that. Soon he’d claim me fully, and we’d be able to start our lives together. Avaleen would be safe, we’d find Kragorn, and everything would be?—

“’Tis about time ye decided to show up!” came the exasperated call from ahead of us, and I jerked with surprise in Vartok’s lap as his hold tightened .

“Nan!” he blurted, kicking the horse ahead. “What are ye doing here?”

I twisted around in time to see the small human woman glaring up at us from where she stood by the side of the path, hands on her hips.

“Waiting for ye, of course.”

Dread pooled in my stomach and I gripped Vartok’s forearm.

“Is it Avaleen? What is amiss?”

Nan shook her head as Vartok pulled both horses to a stop so suddenly they shied sideways.

“Ye walked out here, woman!” he roared, yanking on the spare horse’s reins to pull the animal closer. “Dinnae try to make us believe naught is amiss.”

“Oh God,” I whispered, clutching my middle. “’Tis Avie? The bairn? Please God, keep her safe.”

Nan, however, rolled her eyes. “Yer sister is no’ worse. Slowly improving, in fact. And yer niece is as loud and demanding as that father of hers.”

Praise God . I couldn’t make my voice work to whisper the prayer, and my eyes were still wide, the panic still clawing its way through my body.

‘Twas Vartok who asked what needed to be asked.

“Then why are ye here, Nan, giving us a fright?”

“I need that sea holly, laddie. Ye’d better have fetched more than we thought we needed?— ”

“Aye,” I blurted eagerly, glad to be able to report good news. “We made certain to get enough for several seasons.”