Chapter Thirty-One
The sound of heavy footsteps had Kele at the door before Ahote. Her stomach cramped at the smell of fresh blood. She cracked the door open and gasped.
Benic supported Peder as they drew closer to the room. Once again, her mate was coated with blood, and she could tell that much of it was his.
She shoved the door open, ignoring Ahote’s protests, and hurried under Peder’s other arm. They maneuvered him inside the room and slowly set him on the bed. Bruises, cuts and scrapes covered most of his skin. Her hands hovered over his body in fear of causing him pain with the slightest touch. “Where’s Nahuel?”
Peder entwined his fingers with hers and gave her a weak smile. “You got away.”
Benic collapsed in the room’s only chair and began cleaning his sword with the bedding. “The Yaundeeshaw hunter is dead.”
The empty ache in her chest grew larger. “Nahuel? How?” Did she really want to know? No, but his pack deserved the truth.
Peder squeezed her hand. “We escaped Timothy, but his slavers caught us in the streets. He beat Nahuel to death.” Peder stared at the ceiling with an inward gaze as if recalling the moment. She could heal wounds of flesh but not those of the soul. How would she bring back the sparkle in his eyes?
She wet a cloth in the washbasin and cleaned him. Everything she wanted to say seemed so unworthy. Sorry was weak, and revenge empty. She couldn’t even offer the consolation that Nahuel had died as a hunter instead of a slave. All she could manage was to be at Peder’s side.
“The owner is dead, his guards wounded, and God knows Ewald has probably noticed you’re missing by now. It’s time to run.”
She stared at the dried blood coating Benic’s weapon. He saved Peder. Would the vampire ever stop surprising her? “Thank you.” There was no love lost between those two. He could have killed Peder and claimed Timothy had done it. Maybe she misjudged him, but she couldn’t trust vampire motives. Not after he’d kidnapped her.
Benic slid his sword back in its scabbard and tossed a few items in a saddlebag. “I’ll trade the carriage for a few more horses.”
“Horses?” The dark hunter shook his head. “Don’t get one for me. I can keep pace.”
She wanted to second him but knew it to be a lie. Her skills lay with stealth and tracking, not strength and endurance like Ahote. Yet, she’d never ridden a horse. Eaten one, yes.
Peder sat up, but his movements were slow and jerky as if he was in great pain.
“Lie down.” She pressed her hand to his chest and he fell back on the mattress. “Peder will have to ride something but I don’t know if he can remain on a horse long. That would require some kind of skill, right?” She aimed her question at Benic.
He blew out a frustrated sigh. “We’ll tie him to the fucking saddle if that will make you feel better, but we have to make speed. Stealing slaves is considered a capital crime in New Berg.” He stared at their blank faces. “That means if they ever figure out I helped you and Peder escape, I’m dead.”
“Sounds promising. I like hunting with you.” Ahote grinned and slapped Benic on the back. “I’ll get the lovers ready while you gather the transport.”
She blocked Benic’s way. “There’s no point in running if we arrive home with Peder dead. He’s exhausted and injured. A fall from a horse while running will end him. We take the carriage.” A horse would not cooperate with a wolf shifter on its back. She was sure of this.
A storm of emotion flashed across Benic’s face. “What? No.” He slashed his hand between them. “I have to draw the line here. Time is of the essence. Once I get you to the forest, I know you can hide from anyone, but there’s a long journey between here and there.”
“So stop wasting time arguing with me. Shifters were never meant to ride other animals. I never heard of such a ridiculous thing. The animals will go mad as soon as you sit us on top of them.” She could see the muscles of his jaw working as he clenched his teeth.
“Fine.” He pointed to Ahote. “Carry Peder.”
She flung her arms around Benic’s neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming for us.”
He rolled his eyes. “Thank me properly when I get you home alive.”
Peder growled from the bed and struggled against Ahote’s arms.
“Easy, wolf. That should give you enough incentive to make the return journey alive.” Benic winked at her before striding out the door.
She rubbed Peder’s back. “He’s only joking. Settle down.” At least, she hoped Benic was. The sky was painted in dawn colors as she followed Ahote to the carriage, where they settled Peder on a bench lined with a thin padding. Sitting next to him, she gathered him in her arms. “Rest against me.”
Ahote passed the water skins and some provisions. “If we run hard, we can be home in a day.”
“There’s no riding hard in a carriage. The wheels won’t take it.” Benic climbed aboard. “But we’ll do our best.
Pemma kissed along Ewald’s neck and ran her fingers through his hair slowly.
He lay on his back with her on top, tangled in the bed sheets. His eyelids grew heavy. “We should argue more. Reconciling is quite invigorating.”
She hid her smile and glanced at the sun over the horizon. She hoped Kele was out of the city by now. Keeping Ewald in bed all night had been a chore. After seeing the way Peder looked at Kele, she found herself yearning for such a connection. Ewald would never see her as an equal and vampires didn’t seem to fall in love as easily as shifters. Their time together was coming to an end. She could sense it in her bones.
He ran his hands over her bare hips. “You’re putting me to sleep.”
She chuckled and nibbled his earlobe. “Take a nap and we’ll play more later,” she whispered.
“Hmm…” He rolled her over and gave her a playful slap on the rump. “I can’t. It’s a busy day. I have to meet with your alpha and go over supply lists and I hoped to invite Lord Benic to dinner tonight. I have a few more questions for him about the route he wants us to take.”
“Do you want me to run the invitation over?” She rested her head on the pillow and silently prayed he would. The longer Ewald suspected nothing wrong, the longer Kele and Lord Benic had to escape home.
He’d grown still. “No, I should never have sent you through the city alone.”
“I know the way and I can take a carriage this time.” She’d say Kele would accompany her, anything to keep him from seeking her. Who knew how Ewald would take Kele’s escape? She thought the loss of coin would be his greatest concern.
“No, we’ll send one of the hunters.” He scooted her off the bed and rose to his feet. “Let’s break our fast and go shopping.”
She nodded eagerly. He meant shopping for supplies and weapons, not dresses. She had a few suggestions. “Very well.”
He dressed in yesterday’s pants and rang a bell. “Get under the covers, Pemma. We can’t be scandalizing Weis’s servants all the time.”
She pulled up the thin, almost transparent summer sheet. He liked scandalizing the servants. He couldn’t lie to her.
The maid entered, her gaze averted to floor after it landed upon Pemma. “Yes, sir?”
“We’ll take our meal here. You can send Kele in to serve it.”
She curtsied. “Yes, sir.” Then she hurried from the room.
Pemma’s appetite vanished. “Why Kele?”
“She needs more training if she’s to be your lady-in-waiting.” Ewald went through his clothes, picking out an outfit. “After she knocked my fang out, I think she could at least bleed in a cup for me so I don’t gum you anymore.” He winked.
“I doubt I’ll need a lady-in-waiting in the West. What we need is her hunting skills. We should let her sleep.”
He sat to put on his stockings and boots. “What she really needs is to submit to your alpha and join your pack. Have you introduced her to them yet?”
“Not officially. I hadn’t a chance.” She joined him in dressing. “Maybe I should go do that while you eat.”
“Nonsense.” He pulled her on his lap, grinding his hardening cock against her. “I think we should play a game today.” He plucked her underclothes from her hands. “No petticoat today. That way I can lift your skirt and have you anytime I wish while we shop.”
She flushed. He wouldn’t be in a mood to play nice if he found out she helped Kele escape the grounds. “Very well, but at least let me pull on my dress before they return.”
He held her tight. “Maybe I’d like them to see you like this.” Tracing her nipple with his fingertip, he stared as it pebbled.
“Stop fooling around, Ewald. I get enough sass already from the ladies in this house. Let’s not give them more to gossip about.” She squirmed from his grasp and pulled her dress over her head as the door flew open.
The maid curtsied again and seemed out of breath. “I can’t seem to locate Kele, my lord. May I serve you as a meal in her place?”
Ewald frowned. “You checked Pemma’s room?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where did you lock her up?” He directed this question at Pemma.
Her mouth flapped and she purposely made silly sounds as if flabbergasted. It was too soon for him to find Kele gone. Pemma had hoped to keep her disappearance secret until lunch.
“You did lock her in the room?” Ewald pulled on his shirt in a hurry and buttoned it. “Fuck, Pemma. She cost me a good deal. Lord Weis made an offer for her that could have doubled my money. We need money more than we need a slave.” He stormed from the room.
Kele’s freedom had cost Pemma more than a few coins, but she didn’t throw a hissy fit. She stared at the maid. “Can you tie up my dress?” She turned.
Quickly, she had her bodice tightened in a fashionable manner and her hair in a fast twist. Petticoatless, she hurried after Ewald and found him in the courtyard with some of her pack’s hunters in feral form. “What’s going on?”
“They have her scent.” Ewald waved at a stable hand. “Bring me my horse.”
One of the hunters leaned in close to whisper in Pemma’s ear, “She’s not the only one we smell. What have you done, Pemma?”
A blush scalded her cheeks. “Nothing you wouldn’t have done. Our people shouldn’t be treated so poorly.”
He shook his head. “I’m a hunter and can take care of myself. What will you do if Ewald finds out?”
She pinched his stomach. “Then I’d have to mate you and make you take care of me. Stop teasing.”
He chuckled. “Your secret is safe with us, but I have to let you know if we catch her she’s coming back here. I won’t mislead our master.”
She scowled at him and raced to the stables. “I need a horse too. Something trained to be around shifters.” Even in feral form, she wouldn’t be able to keep up with the hunters.
How hard could riding a horse be?