Valiant Heart (8 page)

A stab of jealousy hit me and I frowned inwardly. I wanted this for myself and my means of achieving it was only feet away.

“So why haven't you done it then?” Her tone was all innocence while her eyes sparkled wickedly. “You have a Hunter here. You have your bite already. Why not gain the advantage?”

I shrugged.

“She's scared,” Lance said as over his shoulder, his lips curled into a smirk. “She knows if she bonds with me, that she's gonna fall head over heels.”

Cocky bastard.

“I'll be bound to no man,” I said. “Leader or not, the bond makes the Huntresses weak, in particular to the Hunters.”

Kelly smiled, a brief touch to my arm. “No, Ariana, the bond makes you strong. What's better than having your best friend at your side battling with you?”

I frowned. “Oh yes, and what about you, Kelly? Did your Hunter make you strong? Did you benefit from that bond?”

She flinched as if slapped. Her eyes searched mine for understanding, for compassion perhaps. I glared back, hard, strong, unflinching before cutting away and moving ahead. I had no time for friendship, not from one so weak and dependant. Once she had her bite she would grow harder, cooler. She would know what it was to be a true warrior.

“Where's Cat?” I grumbled as I caught up with the Huntresses tracking at the front of the group.

“She caught sight of a doe, is corralling it for capture.”

I shielded my eyes and looked up through the trees. We'd made it past midday, hours of hard trekking still ahead. “I'm going to head west and scout the area toward camp. Keep moving—we'll rendezvous in two hours.”

We had a few spots we liked to use for camp when in wolf territory. Heading west would put us in line with the best of them though. A sheltered clearing that had a wall of thick brush and vines along two sides, making it ideal for protection.

I glanced back at Lance and Kelly, both deep in conversation as they walked, heads bent together like they were conspiring or whispering their love. Bah, let them have each other. I sheathed my sickle and motioned to Melonie to give me her extra bow. While I was scouting for camp, I could hunt as well. Nothing like a little tracking to get my mind off things.

I slung the bow over my shoulder and sprinted off, leaving the group behind and shifting my thoughts away from Lance.

Dead rabbits, hung by their legs and secured to my belt, thumped against my thigh as I walked. A good haul, four in total, nice fat juicy ones to be sure but not enough to feed the group. I'd been tracking a young buck for the better part of an hour, all the while keeping a look-out for wolves.

Nothing seemed out of place. The wolves circulated mainly in deep forest where game was plentiful and sub-territories very clearly marked. Where we were, on the outskirts, was open territory and often where skirmishes occurred between packs. During the day, like now, the beasts tended to lay low. The forest canopy wasn't dense enough to block out the daylight, the sun weakened them in a way we didn't totally understand.

A cracking branch echoed to my left and I froze, bow raised, my eyes silently scanning the trees. The buck had bolted ten minutes earlier a clumsy maneuver on my part giving up my position. I'd almost accepted defeat when I caught sight of the stream. I was closer to camp than I'd realized. I shifted to the side, moving through an open patch that took me closer to the water. There he was, head bent low, drinking, bulbous eyes on the look-out. His body was tense, ears moving in all directions. I licked my lips, positioning myself for the shot, pulling the string back until it brushed against my nose.

The buck stopped drinking, raising its head, ears flickering, body poised to bolt. I let the arrow fly. The buck jumped, the tip merely skimming its back.
Fuck!
I drew another arrow, aimed, was about to fire when a shot rang out, the echo almost deafening in the quiet of the forest. The buck stumbled and fell, landing with its head in the water.

Lance came out of the woods a few feet upstream.

“Are you fucking stupid or something?” I shouted as I slung the bow on my shoulder and stormed in his direction. Bastard had taken my game.

He was kneeling at the buck's head, assessing the small bullet hole he'd put there. “You'd let it get away once.” He glanced up at me with a shrug. “I'm hungry.”

I wanted to kick him. “That shot just echoed through the forest,” I hissed as I pointed over his head. “We don't use guns in wolf territory.”

He screwed up his face and scoffed. “You scared of a few wolves?”

I clenched my fist, unclenched it, clenched it again. “You'll attract unwanted attention. And yes, I'm scared. Being scared is what keeps me alive, keeps my women alive. You cocky son of a bitch!”

He rolled his shoulder back, then reached down and pulled the buck's fore and hind legs together. With a grunt he heaved the animal up onto his shoulders, hoisting it into the air as he stood. “Where's the camp?”

I glared at him and his stupid sweaty face and bulging muscles, his tousled hair and dirt-streaked skin. Fuck, why was he so goddamned appealing even when he looked disgusting? I threw my hands up.
Fuck!
Then I turned, stomping back into the woods, not caring in the least if he could keep up.

Chapter Nine

Sacrifice

He hadn't liked it when Ariana bolted into the forest and away from the group. Not one bit. He was annoyed that she'd made him choose between her and Kelly, but there was no way he was going to let her just take off into wolf territory by herself, no matter what kind of experienced Huntress she was.

“So you were following me?” she growled over her shoulder as she stomped through the woods, the tension across her shoulders evident with every branch she shoved away or broke.

“Yep.” He had to admit, getting her riled up was fast becoming one of his favorite pastimes. One of these days he was gonna get her so pissed she would have to rip his clothes off and ravish him. It was straight out of fantasy. Had to happen. He snickered at the thought. “Think I might have been the reason you lost your shot the first time.”

She scowled at him over her shoulder. He smiled and winked, adjusting the buck as he did. Shit, the damn thing was heavy.

“Fuck you,” she snarled.

“Yeah, I'd sure like that.” He adjusted the buck again, his shoulder growing numb under its weight. “I've never had sex in the woods. What'd you say we take a break and entertain ourselves for a bit?”

She grunted, shook her head then gave him the finger over her shoulder.

Yeah, he liked riling her up. With a big smile, he picked up the pace a bit, keeping her lush little ass in his view at all times. The swing of her caught rabbits, the bow slung over her shoulder, sickles sheathed on her back—all hot as fuck. He wasn't expecting a hardcore warrior to be the one. Had gotten used to the idea of a softer woman in his bed and by his side, but she was growing on him, despite her caustic attitude—or maybe because of it.

They made it to the camp within ten minutes tops, but by that point his shoulders were screaming. He dumped the carcass nearly at Ariana's feet and lifted his numb arms to roll his muscles a bit. “This is it?”

She ignored him as she sidestepped the buck and started barking orders to her women.

Bank the fire, fill that gap in that brushy wall, where's Cat? She get the sacrifice?

Lance shook his head as he surveyed the camp. Two walls of brush, vines and thick trees gave them great protection although also created a blind spot in that direction. The women had set up a perimeter guard, three standing sentry. The others were busy clearing out twigs and branches, a fire going—smokeless, thanks to Paige. Ariana tossed the bunnies to one of the Huntresses and motioned to his buck.

Kelly came up behind him, her hands on his back, rubbing his shoulders to ease the tension. “Carried it alone, didn't you?” She giggled.

Lance sighed into her touch, groaning as she kneaded a particularly sore knot. Ariana glanced at them, did a double take. Lance watched her through narrowed eyes. Her face gave her away. Eyes growing wide, cheeks getting ruddy, scowl creeping.

Yeah, she was jealous.

He groaned again, louder this time. “That feels damn good, Kelly.”

Kelly snickered, squeezed his muscles until he wanted to scream. She leaned forward, on her tiptoes to reach his ear. “I know what you're doing. I should be mad, but with the way she's treating you, I get it. Just be careful, Lance. Playing with a woman's emotions never ends well.”

Kelly gave him a playful smack on the arm then moved away, immediately offering her help in the cleanup of the camp. Lance shifted his gaze to Ariana. She flinched when their eyes met, her gaze contemplative, before she gave him the finger again then turned to help her fellow Huntresses.

Busted.

He spent the next while gutting the buck and prepping it for roasting. He was so into his job, cutting and tossing slabs of meat into a metal container, that he hadn't really noticed what had been going on around him while he worked. His hands soaked in gore, his clothes faring no better, he finished up just in time to see the captured doe arrive.

He blinked in surprise, rising to watch in awe as the women led their capture into the camp. The doe was walking next to the women, one of whom had her hand draped casually on the animal's neck. He'd never seen a wild animal behave in that way.

“She's bewitched it,” Kelly said as she came up beside him. “The Huntresses were telling me about their powers while you were running around with Ariana.”

He felt a stab of guilt. He'd left Kelly alone with a bunch of women she didn't know. “I'm sorry—”

“Don't be silly.” She waved his apology away and motioned to the dark haired woman on the right of the creature. “That one, Cat? She can speak to animals. Wolves too—like real wolves, sometimes even the beasts who are newly turned. The ones who haven't taken on their monstrous shape.”

“Really?” He didn't want to sound in awe. Didn't want to be impressed, but he was.

The Huntresses had become a mystery to the Order, the scholars relying on ancient magical texts for any information. The history of their existence had been destroyed at some point, now only conveyed through story telling that was rich in folklore and hard to tell what was truth and what was fantasy. To have such a grouping of Huntresses all together, well, it was like seeing a pack of unicorns…unicorns who hated men and rejected their Hunters.

“And that one?” She pointed to the short one with the buzz cut on the other side of the creature. “Ella, she works spells with potions. Builds them herself. Like a chemist. Everyone seems to think she's super special.”

He crossed his arms. “Oh yeah, you find out what Greer's power is?”

Kelly shook her head, her smile disappearing. “No, they wouldn't tell me that, but I get the feeling it's something dangerous in some way.”

“I'd say so,” he grumbled.

Kelly looked up at him alarmed. “What do you know?”

He shrugged. “Nothing for sure. I just think there's more to her then they're letting on.”

The women led the doe into the camp. Cat whispered something to it that made it shiver with one great shake and then lower down to rest, its eyes sliding closed.

“Dusk falls,” Ariana said, addressing the women. “It's time to pay our dues.”

“They want me to be part of the sacrifice tonight,” Kelly said, the smile back on her face. “To pay tribute to Artemis.”

“What kind of sacrifice?” Lance growled, not liking the way his gut twisted.

“A blood sacrifice,” she said, her voice gushy like she was a teenager being accepted by the in-crowd.

“Like hell!” He gripped her arm. “You're not giving up any of your blood. You're too weak as it is.”

“Oh don't be so dramatic. The doe dies, we simply offer up a drop of blood to show our allegiance.” She pulled her arm again, prying his fingers loose. “I need this. I need to become a part of this group. I know you don't understand but it's important to me, so if you can't handle it then maybe you should go for a walk.”

Lance shook his head. “No way I'm leaving until I see what this blood sacrifice entails.”

Kelly sighed then walked away, joining the half-formed circle of women around the doe.

Ariana glanced over at him briefly, her usual scowl in place. With the exception of the three women on guard, the rest of the warriors joined the circle, closing it up and him out.

The fire roared in the center, flames shooting high as the women all joined hands.

“Never again.” Ariana's voice was strong, the two simple words conveying meaning that Lance didn't totally understand.

“Never again.” The other women echoed in unison.

“We stand as one. Our tribe of Huntresses united against any who would put us asunder.” Ariana glanced at him pointedly.

He felt the creep of dawning understanding. Ah yes, words from the vow. He crossed his arms leaning up against the tree at his side.

Ariana held his stare for another heartbeat as her women chanted the words
never again
. She turned her attention back to them.

“We control our destinies. We empower ourselves. We are united in our goals. History never to repeat itself so long as we are united.”

“Never again.”

He felt the power of her words, like the tribe was making their own vows to one another. She was referencing the Burning Times. When the scholars turned Hunters against their Huntresses. Blasphemy. He could never abide by that if it were to happen again.

Never again.

“We share a history, a legacy. We are one and will share our stories.”

With a silent cue, all of the women sat. The fire's flames suddenly burning low, probably controlled in some way by Paige.

Lance uncrossed his arms and crouched, gaze shifting from Ariana to Kelly. Noting that she followed along as if she just knew what was expected of her. Kelly's wide gaze was raptly fixed on Ariana.

“It has been three years since I became empowered,” one of the women started, her tone proud.

The women took turns telling their stories and Lance couldn't help but feel a deepening pity, understanding of what these women had gone through at the hands of men who were supposed to protect them—to cherish them—enough to make him enraged. Their opinion of men shaped by abusive childhoods, neglect, outright abandonment. Fathers, brothers, relatives taking advantage and abusing trust. None of these Huntresses had sought out their Hunters, having experienced such terrible treatment at the hands of family members or lovers. When they were found by the Amazons—in most cases by Greer—they were in need of saving and only too eager to regain control and embrace the power that she offered.

He was beginning to see the tribe's thrall. Why Ariana was so committed. He wondered what her story was. Who had hurt her so badly that she needed saving?

“My story is different,” the chemist, Ella said. “My salvation came when Greer found me with my beast.”

Kelly gasped and Lance frowned. She'd mated with a wolf? He glanced at Ariana, who shifted her eyes to meet his briefly as if to say,
listen, be witness, learn something.
He shifted back to Ella, watching as she surveyed her audience, her furrowed brow and frown enough to tell him her story would be different.

Ella's gaze seemed to skitter to Kelly. “Like you, sister, I was abused by the one who was supposed to cherish me above all.”

“But you bonded with your beast,” Kelly whispered.

“Happily bonded.” Ella sneered. “Or so I thought.”

“Ella's tale is much like yours, Kelly,” Ariana said. “Her bond began with love, romance, a connection between Huntress and wolf that may have been envied by some. Romantics.” She scoffed a little on the last word, earning her a small indulgent smile from Ella.

“Until he turned,” Ella said as she clenched her fists, her lips tightening as if she was forcing the words out. “Some evil gripped him and he became a monster, a true beast, when before he'd only ever transformed into a wolf.” She seemed to gulp her next words, cleared her throat and then continued. “He was no longer a man, no longer remembered the significance of our bond beyond my powers to his pack. He treated me horrendously. Brutally. Not so much in action—not really physically—but mentally, emotionally.”

“Like Andrew,” Kelly said, her eyes wide, tears glistening.

“Until that day in the woods…” Ella lowered her head, words seeming to fail her.

“We cut a beast down one afternoon. A beast who'd been after another Huntress,” Ariana said as she glanced in Ella's direction. “We didn't know that it was Ella's beast until we found her wandering the forest in a daze the next day.”

“And then I was saved, as you will be,” Ella said, her words quiet, without conviction when she glanced up at Kelly.

“You mourn him still?” Kelly reached across the Huntress next to her so she could touch Ella's hand. “Even though he abused your trust, your love?”

Ella snapped her eyes to Kelly's once again. “Of course. I loved him once. There are days that I wish with all of my heart that I could touch him one last time.”

Kelly gasped. Ariana frowned. Obviously, she hadn't expected that.

“But my love for my beast, or any man, is something that I should atone for since it made me weak. And it did make me weak.” Ella slipped her hand out from under Kelly's. “I am one with my tribe now, my heart mending slowly. And I am forever grateful for my sister Amazons.”

With that cue, Ariana nodded, then stood, the others following suit.

She started the chant, a low murmur, words that he couldn't make out. He felt the power rise. Goose bumps on his flesh made him shiver as the other Huntresses' voices joined hers. It wasn't loud, nothing that would attract attention above the usual forest sounds. It was lulling though, the power cascading through Lance, making him yawn, his body suddenly sluggish.

Ariana ceased her chanting, bringing the other women to silence. “Great Goddess Artemis, mother to us all, we thank you for your wisdom and your strength in our mission. We honor you with the blood of youth.” She pulled her sickle from her back before slipping it under the doe's neck. She slit its flesh in one effortless stroke. Blood pooled as the animal slumped.

The warriors each unsheathed a blade of their own.

“And blood of power,” Ariana said. She pulled her sickle across her palm, wincing as it bit her flesh before she tilted it over the pool of doe blood, hers mingling with its.

Lance jolted out of his stupor, watching with horror as Kelly did the same, angling her blade in a way that was going to cut too deep. Her cry of pain made him jump. He quickly moved to her, pulled her back and out of the circle, her hand cradled in his.

“Kelly! What have you done?” Her hand was splayed open, blood gushing. “Fuck!”

She smiled at him. “I've never done that before, I think I went too deep.” Her eyes rolled back and he caught her before she fell.

“Damn it, Kelly.” He lowered her to the ground, tilting her hand to let the blood drain from her palm. He was filthy—nothing on him clean enough to wrap the wound. He lifted her hand to his mouth, then licked along the cut, his mind focused on using his tongue as his method of mending her wound. He'd never done it that way before—why the hell would he? But as he licked along the cut, he felt his power rising. He used his lips to pinch the wound together and his tongue to send his magic in. Once he got into a rhythm, he closed his eyes and let the magic lead him.