Chapter Thirty-Three
Stopping to rest for the night was out of the question. Benic tossed another glance over the top of the carriage toward the setting sun. Definitely a dust cloud. Small from this distance, and most people wouldn’t have spotted it, but he’d been chased enough times in his life to recognize a tail. Someone was after them.
He snapped the reins, milking what he could from his tiring horse. His heart ached that he’d have to run the poor beast into exhaustion to reach his castle in time.
“Not so fast, Benic,” Kele called from inside. “You’re jolting us too much.”
“Sorry, my lady, but we’ve trouble behind us.”
She stuck her head out the window, then with her shifter’s grace climbed along the side of the carriage to sit next to him. On her knees, she faced backward, staring at the horizon. “I don’t see it.” She looked magnificent in vampire dress with her pale hair flying wild in the wind, but he kept his unwanted opinion to himself.
“Look at where the sky meets the land but keep your gaze aimed at the blue.”
She leaned forward, clutching the roof. “I see a small brownish cloud.”
“That’s dust, my dear, kicked up by running horses. Someone’s trying to catch us.”
She twisted and sat with a thump. “I won’t be taken alive.”
And she’d probably try to take most of the slavers to the grave with her. He could have loved her right into old age. What a pity. He knew a lost cause once he saw it, though. She loved Peder. During this ordeal, Benic’s attraction had crossed a line of no return. Once again, he’d lost the female.
Ewald should have discovered Kele’s disappearance by now. Pemma was clever but even she couldn’t distract him this long before he asked about his only slave. Would he try to track them? Possibly, but someone from the magistrate’s office would definitely be on their tail. Peder killed a slave dealer and the shifter was presently in Benic’s possession. That means someone with power above Benic would lose money. Heads would roll and he had to ensure his wouldn’t be among them.
“This road skirts the forest. When we reach it, I’ll have all of you run for your packs and draw our trackers to my castle. My warriors will take care of them.” He gave her a reassuring wink.
She peered ahead, the wind whipping her hair over her shoulders. “Will we make it in time?”
“I’ve been riding the horse hard and it’s tiring, but the forest is that green haze in front of us.” He shrugged. “We ride hard and pray. If they catch us, then we fight.”
She patted his knee. “Simple plan but a good one. You could also be wrong and it’s only a merchant.”
“No, I’m not wrong. Whoever is following us is going fast and means us harm. I feel it in my—”
The sound of wood snapping filled the air. The carriage lurched to the right and the horse reared, yanking the reins from Benic’s hands. Without a moment to spare, he grabbed Kele and leaped from the careening carriage.
“Peder!” she screamed as they flew through the air.
The ground rushed toward them and he cradled his body around Kele’s so he could absorb the impact. His ribs compressed and cracked on initial contact with the compacted dirt of the road. He grunted yet managed to keep hold of Kele. One of the axles must have snapped under the strain of riding over the rough country road at such high speeds.
They rolled to a stop where she struggled from his grasp to watch the carriage flip. The passenger door sprang open midair as Peder jumped out. He landed on his feet then rolling forward with his momentum he stopped on his back. Miraculously, the horse managed to free itself before the crash and trotted to a stop.
Kele breathed a sigh of relief and flopped next to Benic. “Are you injured?”
Sitting up, he clutched his side at the sharp pain. “A few cracked ribs, shouldn’t take long to heal. You?”
She pushed her tangled hair from her face. “I’m fine.” She gave him a shy smile. “Thanks to you.”
Ahote came to a sliding stop next to Kele. “That was amazing. Are you well?”
She nodded and rose to her feet. “Peder?” She hurried to the already injured shifter who climbed to his feet and shook the soil from his long golden hair. What Benic wouldn’t do for a pair of scissors.
The young shifter scooped Kele into a kiss.
She melted against his body.
Benic rolled his eyes and groaned as he accepted Ahote’s hand.
“Let it go, vampire,” the hunter muttered. “They’ve been through a lot together. I think the Goddess has touched these two.” Ahote pointed at the dust cloud. “We’ll have company soon now that we’re on foot.”
The horse stood on the road, sides heaving to catch its breath.
Peder, with Kele under his arm, joined them. “Kele says we’re being tracked.” He glanced around the open land. “We’re vulnerable out here.”
Benic knocked the dust off his pants. “We won’t get anywhere standing here. Let me approach the horse alone so you don’t spook her.”
Kele stared in the direction they came from. “We should make a stand here.”
Ahote, still in feral form, nodded as he followed her gaze. “We can’t afford to lead them to Payami lands.”
“No.” Benic waved his hand in front of him to draw their attention. “We’ve no idea how many are following us or how they’re armed. There could be a full regiment of vampires armed with muskets.”
“For two runaway slaves?” Peder asked.
He swallowed hard. “No, for Timothy’s murderer.” They didn’t understand the repercussions of Peder’s actions. How could they? Wild shifters lived by pack law and killing a slave trader would have been rewarded. As it should be.
Peder stood tall before him. A new confidence radiated from him that was not omega-like. He rested his hand on Benic’s shoulder. “We won’t let them take us.”
The tension in Benic’s shoulders, which he hadn’t been aware of, eased. “If we stay and fight, we’ll die. We should run for my castle. I have ample warriors there. The fastest of us should go ahead of the others.”
Peder glanced at the horse. “Will it be able to run?”
“Without a carriage to pull, yes. The question is can you keep up?” He eyed Peder’s battered body.
The male rolled his arms around and popped a shoulder. He grimaced. “Sure.”
Benic laughed and shook his head. “I can’t ride ahead and leave you behind.”
Kele opened her mouth as if to argue but quieted as Peder puller her against him. “I won’t be alone. Take the horse, get reinforcements, and meet us at the Temple.”
“The Temple?” A low growl rolled in Ahote’s chest. “Is that wise?”
Peder faced the bigger hunter and managed to seem stronger, more dominant. “They already know where it is. We’ll lead them away from Benic to familiar ground and make a stand.”
“Just the three of us?” Kele asked.
“No, me and Ahote, I want you to run to the Payami and bring the hunters.”
Ahote woofed his agreement, his ears forward as he assessed Peder. “Can you fight?”
“I’ve had a lot of practice the last few months with Sorin.”
Ahote raised an eyebrow. “Sorin, is it? Not alpha?” He shook his head. “I’ve heard about your skill, but that’s not what I meant. Are you well enough? No offense, omega, but you look like Benic dragged you behind that carriage instead of inside it.”
Kele crossed her arms over her chest and stepped into Ahote’s personal space. “He’s a hunter, address him as such. I’ve witnessed him fight and win challenges to earn that title.”
Ahote’s ears folded back. “I will choose how to address someone, healer, and not be influenced by a lovesick pup.”
Benic smothered a laugh as Peder scooped Kele away before she launched herself fist first at Ahote’s head.
“Enough.” Peder spoke softly with a new authority that hadn’t existed the last time Benic had seen the omega. It was all it took to settle her. Benic had never seen such magic at work before. “I can fight. My injuries are mostly bruises.” He stroked Kele’s hair in a possessive manner.
Kele rose on her tiptoes to place a gentle kiss on Peder’s purpled cheek. “I won’t leave you.”
He stared into her eyes with his gentle power. “Yes, you will because I need you to bring help.”
Her mouth opened but nothing came out, then she nodded.
Ahote leaned in to his ear and whispered, “You’ll need to teach us this trick.”
Kele glared at them, hearing their exchange. “The forest is still quite a distance.”
“Then let’s begin.” Peder undressed from his threadbare kilt and shifted with the ease of an alpha.
Benic blinked at the thought. Peder wasn’t the same omega male he’d met a few months ago. That male was dead, and this new one was earning his respect. Benic removed the horse’s tacking and jumped on her bare back. Before urging her into a gallop, he watched the three wolf shifters race toward the green haze way ahead of them.
He wasn’t surprised to see the golden shifter leading his small group. Even though Ahote was bigger and stronger, he didn’t have the dominance that Peder had acquired in the slave pens. It would be interesting to see Sorin’s reaction to this new development.
There was only room for one alpha male in a pack.
Pemma eyed the vampire slaver riding next to her. For some reason, he’d slowed to keep pace with her horse.
He wore the rough leathers needed to live in the wild. Knives and blow darts decorated his jacket. His musket lay across his lap, pointed away from her, thank the Goddess. He gave her a toothy smile. “I’ve never seen a shifter ride a horse.” His accent was so thick she almost didn’t recognize his words.
“There’s a first time for everything.” She gave her horse a small kick to hurry closer to Ewald, but the beast ignored her. The hunters ran way ahead and left her by herself with this rough individual at the back of the hunt.
Even though the horse moved quickly, the slaver still was capable of riding close enough that his knee almost touched Pemma’s. “I heard some of the lords kept pets dressed as ladies. I’ve never seen one up close.” He reached to touch her leg.
She slapped his fingers. “I’m not a pet. I’m a companion.” Her heart pounded so hard she was sure everyone could hear it.
“Same difference.” He leaned against his musket, his gaze traveling over her. “I wonder how much he’d ask for you.”
She jolted as if he’d pinched her. “I’m a free shifter, not a slave.”
“You still do what he says. The only difference is you don’t need a collar and a whip to make you do it.” He winked. “In the New World, everything’s for sale. You just watch.” His gaze lingered on her breasts before riding back to the front.
It took all her willpower not to clutch her neckline closed. Let him look. Ewald wouldn’t sell her. She stared at her lord’s strong back as he kept pace with the slavers. Or would he? Kele had cost him some needed funds for their trip west and he’d lost his investment. If he discovered Pemma was involved, he might have a change of heart about her presence in the pack. She was sure Gramp would fight for her, but in the end the slaver was right. Gramp would do as Ewald told him, even if it meant selling his granddaughter to a rough group of slavers.
Tears burned in her eyes and she blinked them away. She wished she had stayed home. She was such a great, big silly fool with delusions of adventure where none existed. The New World consisted of pain and rape and poverty. Was this what living in the West did to people? It served her right to get sold to Huan. She should have listened to her mother. She would have helped Pemma find a nice quiet mate to settle down with, maybe a crafter or another omega. But no, she had to be Lord Skirt-Chasing-Ewald’s lapdog.
Ewald twisted around at that moment and slowed next to her. “Are you tired, Pemma?” He offered her a small water skin from his saddle.
The warm water soothed her parched throat. “I’m all right. I just don’t trust these slavers.” She handed him back the water skin.
“Who says we have to trust them? We need them to retrieve Kele. They can have the others.”
She ran her hand over her face. “I think they’ll want to keep all of us.” She did her best to keep her voice low over the pounding of hooves.
“Us?”
“The hunters and me. They are slavers. To them, we’re just easy coin.”
“I don’t think they’d steal from me.” He pointed to his ring symbolizing his position in vampire society.
“I don’t think they care. They could leave you dead out here and say the wild shifters did it. Who would believe a bunch of slaves?”
Ewald licked his dry lips and watched the vampires ahead.
Huan turned in his saddle and tipped his hat toward them.
“He wants to buy me from you. He said as much.” She took a deep shuddering breath. “I would assume a group of strong hunters would bring a nice pouch of gold.”
“There’s only four slavers against all these hunters and myself.”
“Against muskets and blow darts, tooth and claw is not enough. These vampires make a living trapping wild shifters. I’d assume they’re very good with those weapons, where our hunters have never fought more than in the challenge rings.”
“Fuck,” Ewald muttered. “Stay close to me. I’ll figure something out.”
Ducking her head, she clung to the saddle as he increased their horses’ pace until they reached their hunters. She didn’t know where he thought she’d go. Of course, she’d stay close.
She frowned as something in the distance caught her eye. At first, it looked like a large pile of refuse, but the closer they rode the more details became apparent. Wheels. She was staring at wheels and a door. “Ewald…”
“I see it.”
Clutching her stomach, she searched the surrounding area for bodies. A crashed carriage. It made sense they’d take one. Most shifters wouldn’t climb on a horse like she had. Shifters smelled too much like predators. Why didn’t they run like their hunters in feral form? As they were wild shifters, she would have thought they could manage the distance better than her pack.
Unless one of them was injured.
The hunters reached the wreckage first. They milled around sniffing the ground.
She and Ewald arrived with the vampire slavers close behind.
Pemma jumped off her horse and rushed to the carriage’s side. She searched the interior. Empty. Thank the Goddess and all her moon powers. She leaned against the side and caught her breath.
Ewald grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently. “What are you doing? Stay on your horse. Who knew what could have been waiting inside for you?”
She gave him a slow blink. He cared. In his weird vampire way. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him close. “I thought only to help if someone was injured. It didn’t occur to me they’d be in any shape to hurt me after such an accident.”
He rested his chin on the top of her head. “How will I keep you safe if you rush into danger at every chance? I should have made one of the hunters take you back to the manor.”
She hugged him tighter. How could she help Kele and Benic? If she pleaded for Ewald to take her home, he might just send her back with some hunters. Even if he did return with her, should she leave Kele to her fate with the slavers? She closed her eyes.
“You’re trembling.” The concern in Ewald’s voice made her confusion even worse. Before Pemma agreed to being his companion, her mother had taken her aside and explained the rules of being a vampire’s lover. The number one was to never fall in love. She would age and he wouldn’t. It would only lead to heartache for them both. Ewald needed a vampire wife and Pemma should start looking for a mate.
“I’d send you home,” he whispered in her ear, “but I don’t like the idea of you alone out in the wild with only a few hunters to protect you.”
“What do you think will happen when we go west?”
He remained silent.
Exactly.
A hunter loomed over them with the vampire slavers following still on horseback. “The scent trail is confusing. From what we can tell, it looks like they went to the forest on foot.”
Huan waved to his men and in unison they galloped toward the forest.
She spun toward her horse but was yanked back by Ewald. “We can’t let them get to Kele first.”
“She sealed her fate when she ran away.” He held her fast and wouldn’t let her go. “If they live in those woods, what do you think will happen to us?”
She stopped struggling and watched the slavers grow smaller in the distance. “I hate this.”
“I do too. Benic’s castle must be close. We’ll follow this road.”
“He probably went with the hunters in the forest.”
“Then his people might be willing to send help to him and the packs against the slavers.”