Alexandru's Kiss

  “Boys? What boys?” Simon asked with a frown.

  “Your twins,” Aura replied before she disappeared.

  Tory sat frozen in her seat. Her eyes widened and her hand moved down to her stomach in disbelief. Sure enough, she felt not one, but two small sparks of life under her hand. Blinking, she turned dazed eyes up to stare at Simon. Her lips parted in shock as she absorbed that they were going to be parents. Simon reached over and gripped her hand in his.

  “I’m marrying your daughter,” Simon announced turning to look at Charles Carson.

  Nonny’s laughter filled the room. “That is exactly what Charlie said to Sophie’s father.”

  3

  Ka’ya waved her hand at the wolfhounds. The alpha snorted and settled down closer to her while the other two moved out to scout the area. She walked over to the wolfhound and ran an affectionate hand over its muzzle before turning to look at the unconscious male.

  “He doesn’t look like much of a raider,” Ka’ya remarked, tilting her head to assess the man. “His clothing may be filthy, but it is of excellent quality. I wonder if he stole it.”

  The wolfhound sneezed at Ka’ya’s quiet musings. She had found the three orphaned pups before they had been weaned from their bitch. She had come upon their mother after she had been killed by a more aggressive bitch. It was obvious she had still been nursing.

  It had taken Ka’ya a day and a half to find the den. The bitch that had killed their mother had found the den before her. From the signs of blood and fur, Ka’ya had suspected all the pups had been killed and eaten.

  She had been surprised when she heard the sound of whimpers coming from the ground. A portion of the den had collapsed, trapping the last three remaining pups but saving them from the bitch’s teeth. Ka’ya had dug them out and placed them in her knapsack.

  She had just reached for her bow when she heard the faint sound of a branch crack in the bushes behind her. Reaching over her shoulder, she silently drew an arrow and fitted the notch onto the string. Her fingers tightened on the grip and she balanced herself.

  She rose and twisted at the same time as the massive wolfhound leaped from the pile of boulders not more than a stone’s throw from her position. She pulled the string back and released the arrow before twisting away and pulling another arrow and readying it. There was no need – the bitch was dead.

  She had handfed each pup, nursing them back to health and teaching them to hunt. A year after she found them, she tried to set them free. They came back – again and again and again. She had finally given up. They were smart, affectionate, and very protective.

  “Well, should I kill him or see if there is a reward for him? I could use the gold for passage and supplies,” she said, glancing at the wolfhound who silently returned her gaze. “Reward, it is.”

  Ka’ya bent and rolled the man over onto his side. Pulling a length of rope from the pouch at her waist, she deftly tied his wrists. She would need to leave his feet free unless she wanted the wolfhounds to drag him. Where they were going, there wouldn’t be much left to collect on if she had to drag him.

  Glancing up at the darkening sky, she calculated she had less than an hour to set up camp for the night. She stood up and returned her gaze to the wolfhounds. They knew the routine.

  “Stay and guard him,” she instructed the alpha before looking at the other two who had returned. “Food!”

  In a flash, the two wolfhounds took off in different directions. Ka’ya glanced around the rock ledge then back up at the sky. She would need to drag the man further under the ledge. There was rain in the air. First, she needed to gather the wood for a small fire.

  Ka’ya stared at the man for a moment. There was something different about him. It was more than his clothes. There was a feeling of power and something she couldn’t quite put her finger on…. Her gaze moved back to the wolfhound. A frown creased her brow and she shook her head. The man made her think of the wolfhounds.

  Ka’ya shook her head again in exasperation with her musings. “I should have eaten the food mother gave me. I’m touched in the head,” she said out loud. “Keep him safe.”

  Ka’ya didn’t question why she instructed the wolfhound to keep the man safe instead of ordering it to guard him. It wasn’t like the man would be much of a threat. She had given him the bruise on the chin, but the large knot on his temple had come from something else. She would see if she could make a salve to take the swelling down and heal some of the bruising.

  “If I have time before the rain,” she qualified.

  The loud sound echoing around him pulled Alexandru awake. He didn’t know if the crashing explosion was coming from his head or from the weather. He decided it was probably a combination of both when he felt a damp mist coat his face.

  Forcing his heavy eyelids to open, he lay still, waiting for his mind to clear enough so that he could assess where he was. His first thought when he saw the bright yellows, reds, oranges, and blues of the flames was that he was in hell about to meet Hades. He was pretty sure of it when a pair of dark eyes, glowing red with the reflection of the fire in them stared back at him. The short snout and four tusks told him that he was staring back into the face of one of Hades’ hellhounds.

  His body jerked when he tried to lift a hand to run it over his face. Tugging at his hands, he realized that he couldn’t move them – well, he could move them, but not very far. They were tied behind his back. Why in the hell would Hades need to tie his hands?

  “Kala ta may lei. U’tama ke j’lee?”

  “What?.... What did you say?” Alexandru asked, struggling to sit up.

  “Kala ta may lei,” Who are you? Ka’ya demanded.

  A string of words danced through his mind. They moved faster than he could grasp them. The strange language she spoke sifted into his brain, flowing until they formed into a pattern he understood. The moment the words became clear, his stomach rebelled at the intense pressure that built in his brain until he knew he was going to lose whatever contents he had in his stomach.

  Alexandru slumped forward at an awkward angle. He really wished his hands were free. It would make what he felt like doing next a lot easier. He pushed up until he was on his knees. Struggling to stand, he realized he wasn’t going to make it. The woman must have realized what was about to happen because she moved with a speed that surprised him. Grabbing him from behind, she steadied him when he turned and stuck his head out from under the thin sheet she had erected as a barrier against the rain.

  Alexandru’s stomach heaved in protest, but the cold rain quickly calmed it. The icy drops coated his hair and ran down over the throbbing knot on his temple. Once again he wished his hands were free.

  “Come back inside before you get completely drenched. You are no good to me sick or dead,” the woman stated, pulling him backward.

  “Where… Where am I? Why… Why can’t I…? Why are my hands tied?” Alexandru choked out.

  The woman pulled him backwards away from the sheet and raging storm until she could prop him against the hard rock wall of her makeshift shelter. Alexandru tilted his head back against the rock and closed his eyes as the last of the nausea faded. Droplets of cold water ran down his face from his hair. He wanted to shake them free, but seriously doubted his brain would survive the movement.

  “You are in my shelter. You are my prisoner,” the woman stated, moving back to the other side of the fire and sitting down.

  Alexandru slowly lowered his head to stare back at her. In the dim light of the fire, he could see the blue in her hair shimmer. She stared back at him with intense green eyes. He swore if he had to die, he could do so willingly in the cool, green depths. Shocked by his thoughts, he frowned.

  “What the hell are you talking about? Prisoner? I haven’t broken any laws – well, except for trying…,” Alexandru’s voice faded and the frown deepened. “Where am I?” he asked in a suddenly quiet, cautious voice.

  “The forest of Vail,” the woman replied.

  ?
??Vail, as in…?” Alexandru started to ask before his voiced died again.

  “As in what?” the woman responded.

  Alexandru shook his head. Pain splintered through it, but he forced it aside. Vail…. He’d heard the name before but he couldn’t remember where. His gaze moved back to the huge animals lying near the woman.

  “What are those... animals called?” he asked.

  The woman glanced at the massive beast beside her. Her hand rose and she stroked it behind the ear. A low rumbling sound escaped the creature.

  “They are tusked wolfhounds. It is best not to enter the forest if you have no knowledge of them. They can rip your throat out before you even know they have done it,” she said.

  Alexandru’s eyes locked with the woman’s. Something was wrong – very, very wrong. Sitting forward, he stared unblinkingly back at her.

  “What is your name?” he demanded in a low voice.

  She returned his stare with a more cautious one. He wanted to force his body to relax, but the panic beginning to darken the edges of his vision made that impossible. He needed to know who she was. He needed to know where he was. He needed… to know what in the hell was going on!

  “I am Ka’ya Stargazer. I am called the Huntress,” she responded, lifting her chin.

  “Ka’ya…. I am….” The name danced on the tip of his tongue. An image flashed through his mind. The name was being screamed at him. “Alexandru… My name is Alexandru.”

  The pain in his temple grew as he choked out his name. The brief picture of a large beast flashed through his mind. That beast was similar in some ways, but also different in many ways from the three lying next to the woman.

  “Alexandru… Alexandru….”

  His head began to dip again. He tried to force it up when he heard Ka’ya calling his name, but it was impossible. He felt his body sliding to the side. Surprise washed through him when warm hands caught him and gently lowered him to the ground.

  “Thank… you,” he muttered before releasing a long sigh. “I need….”

  He didn’t know what he needed. There was something that if he knew what it was could help him heal faster, but he couldn’t remember what it was called. Giving up on the confusing thoughts, he allowed his body to relax. Sleep – that was probably what he needed. Tomorrow, he would deal with the blank gaps. Tonight, he would enjoy the warmth of the fire and the soft, tentative hands stroking his throbbing temple.

  4

  The soothing sound of the crackling fire, the rumble of thunder, and the steady fall of rain surrounded Ka’ya and her peculiar captive. She shifted so she could sit down and lean against the rock. Careful of the man’s injury, she adjusted his head on her lap so he wouldn’t get a kink in his neck.

  Stretching out her legs, she reached for the knife at her side and pulled it free of the leather and fur-lined sheath. She awkwardly bent over his inert body and cut the cord of rope she had used to bind him. The man was in no condition to attack her, and if he tried, the wolfhounds would kill him.

  Returning the knife to the sheath, she leaned back against the rock. Her fingers hovered over the dark bruise on his temple. The combination of the medicinal herb salve and the rain water had washed away the blood. The long cut along it already looked better.

  Her fingers traced the line of his jaw. The dark, rough whiskers felt pleasant along her fingertips. He had a strong jaw, much like her father had. She touched the corner of his mouth where his lips were slightly parted. The bruise from where she had struck him was already fading until she could barely see it. He was a fast healer.

  His dark lashes lay like crescents against the olive complexion of his skin. Ka’ya caressed his bottom lip with her thumb. Her breath caught when the tips of two of his teeth suddenly peeked out from his upper lip. Curious, she pulled his lip up slightly and watched his canines lengthen.

  She had never seen anything like it before. Her tongue touched her canine. Biting her lip, she glanced at the wolfhounds. They had long canines like the man, but theirs were always long. Returning her gaze to the man, she touched the end of his tooth to see if it was as sharp as the wolfhounds’.

  A gasp escaped her when she felt the slight prick to her thumb. She was about to pull her hand back when a soft moan escaped the man and he drew her bleeding thumb into his mouth. Her eyes drooped in pleasure and her body tightened in surprise at the feeling of pleasure she felt when his warm mouth wrapped around her thumb.

  Curious about her physical reaction to him, she didn’t pull away. The slight tug on her thumb and the feel of his tongue sent a piercing shaft of heat through her. Her left hand tangled in the material of his jacket and she bowed her head until the feeling passed.

  Frightened by the intensity of it, she pulled her hand free. Sliding to the side, she gently laid his head down on the ground and rose to her feet. She returned to her small pallet. Glancing down at her knapsack, she picked it up and returned to the man.

  Kneeling beside him, she lifted his head and placed the knapsack under it to give him some cushion from the hard ground. Her hand moved to brush his hair back from his temple. She blinked in surprise to see that the dark bruise and cut were now completely gone. She swallowed uneasily and stood back up.

  Ka’ya returned to her mat and sat down. Drawing her knees up, she raised her thumb to study it. She had felt his tooth pierce her skin and had seen the droplet of blood, yet there was no indication of it. Hesitantly lifting her thumb to her mouth, she ran her tongue over its pad.

  Her eyes widened when a tingling sensation swept through her. She pulled her thumb out of her mouth and dropped her hand to her lap. Rubbing her thumb with her other hand, she stared across the fire at the man now resting quietly.

  Ka’ya reached out and rubbed the furry head of the alpha wolfhound before sliding down so she could lie down on her thin blanket.

  She folded her hands under her head and stared across at the man’s features. Soon, exhaustion pulled at her and her eyes closed. A smile curved her lips when the dreams began – dreams of a dark-haired man and his warm mouth.

  A soft chuckle escaped Alexandru. His shoulder jerked up, trying to push away whatever was tickling his ear. It disappeared for a moment, before returning. This time it felt like someone was sticking a warm, damp washcloth into his ear. A shudder ran through him and his eyes popped open.

  Turning his head, he found himself now nose-to-nose with one of the animals he had awoken to yesterday. A look of distaste crossed his face when the wolfhound ran its tongue up his chin to his nose. Alexandru’s hands instinctively rose to push the animal away.

  It scooted back and sat down. Alexandru sat up and looked around him. There was only the one wolfhound. The woman and the other two were gone. The small remnants of a fire burned low in a circle of rocks. Next to him was a cloth-covered bag.

  “It is food. You need to eat before we leave,” the woman instructed, stepping onto the narrow shelf of rock shelter.

  Alexandru’s gaze followed her when she stepped closer and held out a small jug. He started to raise his hand but stopped when he felt the cold blade of a short knife against his throat. They stared at each other for several tense seconds.

  “Thank you,” he said, wrapping his fingers around the jug.

  She bowed her head and took a step back. “Who are you?” she asked, sheathing the knife at her waist.

  Alexandru took a swig of the water before lowering the jug and picking up the food. He pulled the cloth aside to reveal a small cake made of fruits and grains. He broke off a piece and tasted it before answering her.

  “My name is Alexandru… Carson,” he replied.

  “Where do you come from, Alexandru Carson?” the woman asked.

  Alexandru shrugged and looked around him. A sardonic smile curved his lips. He would love to know the answer to that question.

  “Not from anywhere close, I suspect,” he offered as an answer before turning his gaze to look at her. “What is your name again? I’m afraid I d
on’t remember if you told me.”

  The woman’s head tilted to the side and she studied him for a moment. Suspicion darkened her green eyes as she stared back at him. Alexandru broke off another piece of the cake and lifted it to his lips. He noticed that her eyes followed the movement.

  “Ka’ya,” she replied in a slightly husky tone.

  Alexandru nodded. “Yes, now I remember. Ka’ya Stargazer. You called yourself something else as well,” he prodded.

  She glanced away from him to stare out across the gorge below them. He didn’t miss the way her features tightened or the proud lift of her chin. A stream of sunlight broke through a narrow break in the canopy above. The light caught the blue streaks in her hair and it shimmered. For a moment, he remembered another woman with vivid blue hair and dancing eyes before the image faded. His fingers curled in frustration.

  “I am known as the Huntress,” she softly replied before turning to look down at him again. “Eat. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

  “May I ask where we are going?” Alexandru asked.

  “Perth, on the edge of the Great Water,” she replied.

  “What is Perth? I’ve been there – I think. The name sounds familiar,” he said.

  “Good, then you will know who will pay for your release,” she said with a nod.

  “Pay for my release?” Alexandru asked with a raised eyebrow.

  Ka’ya pulled the long sword at her waist free. Alexandru swallowed the last of the cake he had placed in his mouth. His gaze moved up the pointed end of the sword to her face. She looked very serious.

  “Yes. You are my prisoner. I will either release you when a ransom is paid or sell you to the highest bidder if you are wanted. Either way, you are valuable and I plan to collect the reward,” she stated with a jerk of her head. “Now, stand up so I can tie your hands again. If you try to escape, I will order the wolfhounds to bring you down and then drag you to Perth by your ankles.”