Authors: Kassanna
The veil opened both ways. There were stories about otherworlders finding their way to his lands only to meet a quick death, become slaves, or worse, blithering idiots. This was a dangerous place with beasts that would eat you as quick as look at you. Landis’ exotic looks could draw attention from unsavory creatures who would want to do unmentionable things to her. The thought of another man or woman laying a hand on what he considered his made him finger the knife he wore on his belt. There was a reason he was wanted in most of the kingdoms. To preserve his land and his people he didn’t shirk at the necessity to kill.
When Landis rose, she hadn’t uttered a word. She stood in place for a moment with the cover clutched against her, closed her eyes, and inhaled. When she exhaled she opened them, and her shoulders drooped as she glanced around. Beneath the bright rays of the morning sun she reminded him of some sort of Goddess rising. The light touched her skin, giving her an unearthly glow. He’d touched her hand and she’d moved away from him, walking to the nearest shrub.
Landis was a puzzle and he was determined to figure her out. When she emerged from the foliage, he’d opened his mouth, thought better of it, then pointed at Dubh, already saddled. She did offer his unicorn a soft pat below his horn and whisper words near his ear that Lucky hadn’t been able to make out. Dubh flicked his head as if in understanding, and before Lucky knew it, the damn creature dipped and she swung up onto the beast’s back. They had traveled in silence ever since and the quiet was making him crazy. For hours he’d walked alongside them and she hadn’t glanced his way.
Now, he touched her calf and she peered down at him. “I need to talk with Tolley.” Lucky handed over the reins and muttered a few words to Dubh in Gaelic, telling the beast to behave.
With a curt nod, Landis took the leather straps in her hands.
Lucky jogged ahead. Tolley looked over at him and hefted the pack higher on his massive shoulders. Lucky pulled his hat lower on his forehead, gazing at the trail ahead of them. They would be reaching the fork in the road soon. His friend had been in a pissy mood since Landis’ arrival. “Do we have a problem, Tolley?”
“Nope, but when you decide to bed a woman, you might want to keep it down.” Tolley stared ahead. “Oh, yes. I’m coming!” he said, his tone pitched high to mimic a woman’s voice and shuddered as if in the throes of passion.
“Landis did not do that.”
“How would you know? Oh fuck, yes,
Mo Shearc
, yes.” Tolley’s voice went deep. Then he dropped his head back and moaned loudly.
Lucky turned his head to see if Landis noticed them. Dubh kept an even pace and she stared straight ahead. “What is it about Landis you don’t like?” He sighed.
“She’s selfish, and you don’t treat her like a casual fuck. The woman is not one of us! Hell, you were moaning ‘beloved’ in your sleep all night.” Tolley stabbed a thumb in the air in Landis’ direction. “Not like the others, and that one will hurt you. She won’t stay here, and you can’t follow her when she leaves.”
“I think I can handle it, old friend, without your painful reminders.” Lucky gripped his side where Tolley had kicked him earlier. “You seem to have forgotten you weren’t one of us either, but that didn’t stop my mum from taking you in. You’re right. She is different, and I’m anxious to see in just how many ways. I’m well aware of what can and cannot happen. Stop acting like a petulant child and grow the fuck up.” Lucky exhaled. “I’m going to pick up provisions in Fachan. Do you need anything?”
“You don’t want my help? If the gnome snags you this time, he will exact retribution. We still owe him from the last visit, and I won’t be there to save your ass,” Tolley grumbled.
Lucky ignored the first question. “It’s only a few thousand
kun
,
and I had to feed our people. As for the gnome, Draken will have to catch me first. If Dicklaus hadn’t cheated us, we would have the funds to pay our debts.” He shrugged. “Can’t cry over lost feed. When we get with Fizell, we can make a plan to get back what was stolen from us and take care of our obligations.”
“Trade the woman.”
“No. She is under O’Conner—my—protection. Deal with it.”
“Are you claiming her, Lochlan?” Tolley’s voice held a thread of curiosity as he stopped suddenly and turned on him.
“I already have. Even Dubh recognizes the connection she and I have.” Lucky gripped his friend’s arm. He wanted the giant to understand no matter what, no matter who, they were family. He simply had to get Tolley to see past the jealousy. “I will take care of everything as I always have.”
As he peered at Lucky’s hand, his face was grim. “As you wish, Clan Master.” He bowed his head. “I wonder if the others will accept her so readily.”
“Let me worry about that. I want you to stay out of Fachan and closer to the Agrona border. If Dicklaus is near, at least you can get to the Winterlands and claim asylum. Once I’ve secured what we need, I’ll meet you at the Shadow Rock overhang. If I’m not there by the time the sun hits its zenith, go on without me. Get through before nightfall. Last I heard, the banshees had developed a taste for giants. I bet they would be happy to see you.” He offered Tolley a grin and released his arm. It was worrisome, the unreasonable dislike Tolley had for Landis. Granted the giant had never trusted anyone easily, but he would have to get use to Landis. There was no way in hell Lucky was going to let her go.
Tolley snorted. “It will take more than a banshee or two to bring me down. I still don’t like crossing through their territory, though. Their appearance makes my skin crawl.”
“It’s the only way. We don’t have time to take another path. That damn troll won’t follow us through their range, and it will take him days to go around. We need that window of time to escape. Just be ready to go when you see me on the horizon. And if Dicklaus decides to follow, his men can give us a distraction we can use to get away.”
“Are you taking
her
into town?” Tolley resumed walking. “Or do I need to babysit
her
?”
“Of course Landis is coming with me. She needs clothes.” Lucky kept pace with the giant. “Are ye done pouting now?” They reached the fork.
“To hell with you, Lucky.” Tolley veered off, lumbering down a different trail.
“Be on your guard. Dicklaus’ men can’t be far behind.” Lucky turned toward a trail between two hills. A crisp breeze tugged at his hat and he whistled, calling Dubh to him. The shrill note carried on the air. He waited for the unicorn to trot up next to him with Landis on his back.
Landis spoke for the first time that day. “Where is your friend going?” She frowned, staring suspiciously ay Tolley’s broad back as he tramped through the brush until he disappeared.
“We’ll catch up with Tolley later. First, we need provisions. We will be traveling hard and fast for the next few days, and there won’t be another town where we can pick up supplies until we are close to our destination. We’re going into Fachan. You need clothes.” He took off his leather hat and handed it to her. “Your unusual looks are memorable, so put this on to cover your hair.”
She took the hat and pulled it low on her head. “Now what?”
“Follow my lead, but don’t be shocked if you see my picture on any posts.” He reached into the saddlebag and yanked out a hooded cloak. After slipping it on, he pulled hood over his head.
Her eyes narrowed with wariness. “Why?”
“Let’s just say I do what I have to. We can’t take Dubh into town. He’d be recognized as my mount.” He helped her down as she scrambled to get off the animal. Once she dismounted, he pulled his whip from the bag and hooked it to his belt. “Dubh, stay hidden but close.” Lucky swatted the unicorn’s flank and Dubh trotted away. He spun toward Landis. “The town is about a half mile up the trail.
~ * ~
King Dicklaus gazed off into the distance. Lucky and Tolley were close—he could feel it. He would hang those bastards by the ankles and feed the fuckers to those hungry little shits, the Mumiai, who lived in the tunnels beneath his castle.
The lavender fields danced in the breeze against the backdrop of clay-colored mountains; it was hard not to be distracted by the beauty. Dicklaus cracked his neck. He should be home in bed, surrounded by Summerland fairies willing do to his bidding. At least until Moira came to her senses. Instead, he had to hunt down a fucking giant. And that damn leprechaun would pay for interfering.
He turned his gaze on Stalker, his tracker, and grunted. “Report.”
“Looks like they are heading to either Fachan or the lowlands. They have acquired a third traveler.” The soldier peered down, rubbing the dirt on his fingers. “One set of large boot tracks—probably the giant—and the unicorn’s hooves have sunk deeper into the soil, like they are now carrying an additional load.” The scout looked around. “There is nothing else out here to pick up unless they met up with another person.”
“Good. Hopefully, that will slow them down. Take a squad of trolls and go to Fachan. I’ll head toward Agrona.”
“The banshee…” Stalker muttered.
“I am the Bridge Troll King. What the hell are a few cursed women to me? If that asshole chooses to take that route, I want to ensure his party doesn’t come out. The banshees killing them will solve my problem even if it doesn’t satisfy my thirst of revenge. I will not be made the laughingstock of my own people by that freaking giant.” Dicklaus snatched up the reins to his horse and pointed a stubby finger at several of his men. “Ride with me. The rest of you, go with Stalker.” He maneuvered the animal’s head away from the group and kicked his heels into its flanks.
The thunderous sounds of his band’s horses would give their position away, but he no longer cared. The snickers would end with Tolley’s cock on a spike at the foot of a bridge—next to that damn leprechaun’s head—as a reminder that no-fucking-one made a fool of King Dicklaus.
It had all started when Lucky and his giant friend had come to Droicheal, wanting to sell gems. He offered the bastards his guest rooms and opened his home to them while they negotiated a price. And that idiot, Tolley, slept with his woman.
Dicklaus the Dickless
—Moira’s words still taunted him.
He’d gone to her bed prepared for a night of lovemaking. She looked him in the eye and told him she wasn’t sure if she would even feel his cock after having sex with a giant.
Her laughter echoed in his head, and he ground his teeth. Anger welled up through his gut, burning his chest. He wouldn’t beg her. No, he would make her come to him.
Dicklaus had locked the bitch in her chambers and warded the room. As a fae, Moira was familiar with magic, but it would take her a while to work through all the spells.
Maintaining his kingdom was not an easy feat. The fairies used their magic to help relieve his stress on a regular basis, but Moira, one of Oberon’s many daughters, was special. A marriage between himself and the eldest daughter of the Summerland King would be beneficial to Droicheal. He would have an alliance with the King of Fairies. It didn’t hurt that she was absolutely stunning.
Then that damn giant ruined everything.
For the insult, Dicklaus had kept the gems and had the two men arrested for crimes against trollkind. With the gems and the unicorn in his possession, he could easily win back Moira’s favors. Then the bastards escaped.
Dicklaus pursed his lips. The wind whipped through his hair, buffeting his body. Clumps of dirt flew up from the hooves of his hefty horse every time the beast touched ground. He urged his mount to gallop faster. Catching Lucky and Tolley was his priority. His judgment would be swift, but their death would be slow. He would chase them through the veil if necessary.
On second thought, he would also catch the obsidian unicorn. There were a few of the beasts in his stable but none that could piss a portal. Dicklaus lowered his head, lining it up with his horse’s. Perhaps he could simply offer the black unicorn to Oberon in exchange for Moira’s hand and take the decision completely out of her hands. And when they were wed, he would take her, fucking every orifice on her body, making sure she felt every thrust.
But first, he needed to make an example of the assholes who’d fled.
FIVE
Creatures Landis had on seen on the pages in a book of fairytales as a child walked the streets of Fachan. Myths come to life. She didn’t know who or what to look at first. Some of the beings she took cursory glances at made her want to reach out and touch them. She curled her hands into fists at her side instead. She certainly wasn’t in Florida anymore.
Muscular forelegs entered her peripheral vision. From beneath the brim of Lucky’s hat, she looked at the rider, and realized beast and man were one creature.
Shit just took on a whole other level.
She stared at the thick arms, the chiseled chest smoothly blended into a chocolate-colored, fur-dusted torso. Fine sable hair rippled down his back. He glanced at her and a slow smile lifted his lips. He flicked his tail, sliding the hair over her bare arm in a slow caress.
She stood rooted on the spot, unsure of how to proceed. Her voice caught in her throat as she tried to speak. Although the centaur was beautiful to look at, she felt no interest other than curiosity.
Lucky reached over, grabbed a fistful of the centaur’s tail hair, and yanked. A scowl replaced the smile and the guy took a few steps back, his hooves sounding hollow on the dirt road. Landis watched as he crossed his buff arms across his massive chest.
Lucky stepped between her and the centaur. Narrowing his eyes, he released the beast’s tail. “She’s with me, horse.” Lucky’s voice was hard as stone. “Trot along.”
“A leprechaun. I should have known.” The centaur snorted. “Don’t try your tricks on me, ye damn stable boy. It’s your kind who cleans up behind me and mine. How is it someone like you could secure such a beauty?” The centaur lifted his chin and gazed at Landis. “What are you called, precious? And why are you with a leprechaun?”
Landis squeaked, “
Uhm
.”
“Do you have a bit of jackass in your bloodline? The woman is with me.” Lucky pulled back his hood. “Your parts might be a bit different, but you’re still a damn mule. I was breaking you beasts at my father’s knee while you were still suckling your mother’s teat.”