Darkness Embraced Page 4

  “I need a bath,” She lifted up her arms in example, hoping that an Ajax who clearly had a water aversion even knew what “bath” meant. “Is there a creek or stream or something nearby I can wash in?”

  And you can feel free to take a dip too.

  Ivy tried to imagine what it would be like to see Dredd’s face and chest clean and uncovered by dirt and blood. Then she decided she was better off not picturing that.

  Dredd looked annoyed.

  So, the usual it is.

  He stood for a moment looking in each direction then gave a quick nod and grumbled, “Est.”

  Ivy felt like dancing. She almost let a “Thank you” slip out until she remembered that she was over saying that. Instead she said to no in particular, “Cannot wait to rip this disgusting dress off and dunk myself. I’ve never been dirtier.”

  He stiffened again, and Ivy assumed he was aggravated by her need to bathe, since he obviously had something against it. She refused to let his surliness affect her good mood. She was getting a bath! And, if her calculations were correct, a better means to escape. Any creek or stream nearby should lead her directly to the river. She would just need to make sure they stayed near it, and if she followed it then it should lead due west, to freedom. “How long will it take to get to water?”

  ****

  An hour later, Dredd was in a nightmare. It was as if this female had been delivered to torture him day and night. She denied him the sexual release that was his by right, ignored him, and now here she was, undressing with abandon on the bank of a stream. His plan was to fill the canteens downstream. But he made the mistake of turning back once. He saw Ivy’s dress fall to her feet and he had gone rock-hard, a condition he should have been used to by now.

  Now here he sat, hidden from view, the indignity of the situation not lost on him as he watched Ivy bathe. Gods, she was magnificent. She was still wearing her shift, but it was completely wet, plastered to her curves, and hid nothing. Her sweet pink nipples were hard, poking against the fabric. The dark golden patch between her legs was also plainly visible, and begging to be touched. Spending the last three days in close company with Ivy was driving him insane. He spent a good portion of each day imagining pulling Ivy down in the leaves and rutting on top of her until he couldn’t think. Or pinning her against a tree and pumping inside that sweet flesh. Or taking her from behind, her on all fours on the forest floor.

  He was going mad. Just the sound of her voice was enough to give him an instant erection. He tried hard not to look at her, because when he did his sex throbbed even more. When she mentioned taking a bath, the mental image he conjured almost brought him to his knees. This woman was going to kill him, plain and simple.

  He needed to take her more than he needed to breathe. She was everything he ever dreamed of in a mate. More than just her beauty, Dredd admired her strength. Until her breakdown last night, she hadn’t complained once despite the rough journey through the woods. And she did her part, helping to prepare the meals and gather firewood without being asked. Most of all he loved her disposition, so unlike the Ajax in every way. After that first day, when she stopped worrying about him jumping her at any moment, she lightened up, humming to herself and chattering at times about things he didn’t understand.

  His frustration grew, because as much as he wanted her, he found he couldn’t do it against her will. She was his by right, her body belonging to him and him alone, yet her tears that first night affected him like nothing before. Dredd wanted her willing. He needed her clinging to him, begging him to take her. Her rejection of him in the cave belted him with an icy fist. Despite the overwhelming instinct to take her, claim her as his, he could not. He wanted her to want him to. It was a ridiculous notion, for a warrior such as him to attempt to woo a female like Ivy, but Dredd wasn’t sure what else to do. He showed her his skill as a warrior and a provider, and neither sent her rushing into his arms.

  He continued to watch her, scrubbing herself with her hands, making sure she was as clean as possible despite the lack of soap. Her glee in the bathing almost made him want to wash too. He had never seen much need before, but then he’d never been with a female so beautiful. What must Ivy think of his dirty appearance? It honestly hadn’t occurred to him before, but now he realized it. She thought him a beast.

  Immersed in thought, Dredd left his hiding place to fill the canteens.

  ****

  Ivy sat on the boulder near the shallow edge of the creek, combing her hair out with her fingers, when Dredd walked up to stand before her. Ivy blushed a little, feeling shy at him seeing her in a state of undress. Despite the fact that her shift had dried enough that it was no longer see-through, she still felt incredibly vulnerable.

  “Did you fill the canteens?” She asked him, gesturing toward the canteens, really just to have something to say to fill the awkward silence. She was only too aware of her state of undress, and though she doubted an Ajax had any sense of propriety, it still added to the uncomfortable sexual tension that was building between them. It was the last thing she needed.

  “Est.”

  Always the conversationalist.

  She worked up the courage to look up at him, and noticed he was busy taking off his tool belt and storing the canteens in their place. He was all warrior, his masculine form enough to make her yearn, If only he would take the opportunity and step into the creek. Ivy licked her lips in anticipation at the thought of seeing a clean Dredd. A wicked idea crept into her head, Ivy couldn’t help but grin at the notion of pushing the overgrown Ajax into the creek. He would get a bath whether he wanted one or not! And as he stood there, arranging his canteens, completely oblivious to her, she found she couldn’t resist the urge. The mental image alone of his shocked face almost had her laughing out loud.

  With a shriek of glee, Ivy stood up and pushed Dredd into the water. Too late, she realized she’d pushed a bit too hard to knock him off balance. Dredd’s large frame crashed into the water, and Ivy went with him, landing on top of him with a squeal and a splash, unable to brace herself in time.

  “Sora dist ramm!” Dredd roared as he came up sputtering, shaking water from his eyes. Ivy flailed to come up as well, her body still lying on top of his.

  She pushed her hair from her face and glanced at him. “I just couldn’t resist the urge to push you in. It didn’t quite go as planned.” She began giggling, which turned into full-blown laughter at his befuddlement.

  Dredd just stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. It was clear to her that the Ajax was still trying to process the fact that she had the gall to push him in. Ivy wondered if he’d ever been playful, even as a child.

  She stifled her laughter and moved to get off of him, but her body slid and before she could right herself she straddled him. They both froze, breathing hard in the drawn out moment, staring at each other, Ivy all too aware of her now see-through shift.

  In a flash Dredd grabbed her, dragged her a few feet up the bank and with a growl threw her body beneath his. He leaned down and took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking on it through the damp fabric of her shift, Ivy gasped as her already erect nipple grew even harder. When Dredd grazed it with his teeth, she thought she might pass out. Sensations she never experienced before swirled through her, coiling into a knot in her belly.

  Dredd had never seemed as large as he did now, his hard body over hers, seemingly everywhere at once. She could feel the bulge of his erection between her legs, and felt the overwhelming urge to writhe against it. But before she could act on it, Dredd thrust himself against her. Hard. He grabbed her wrists and pulled them over her head, securing them in one of his large hands. And then he thrust against her again. Ivy could barely stifle a groan. The knot in her belly moved lower, and she felt a delicious tingling between her legs, and a curious wetness.

  “Sweet I-vee,” Dredd groaned against her skin, his tone one of reverence. “Nayan.”

  His words touched something deep inside her. She didn’t know what
was happening, could not think clearly.

  Dredd…

  Dredd’s movements became rougher. He used his free hand to rip down the bodice of her shift, exposing her breasts to his gaze. He sucked her nipple into his mouth and reached his hand down to grasp her hip, shoving her tightly against him.

  “Dredd!” His name came out as a moan. With every pull of his mouth on her nipple she felt a pulse of desire shoot straight to her core. What was happening to her? Did she want this?

  Yes...Yes...

  Dredd was quickly losing control, bucking against her. Despite the desire rushing through her, Ivy started to panic a little. This was going a little further than she was ready for, regardless of her body’s protests to the contrary. She needed things to move a little more slowly, an Ajax out of control with lust could really hurt her if he wasn’t careful.

  “Dredd, wait—”

  Dredd’s loud growl cut her off. He continued licking her breast.

  “Wait! We need to slow down, please just free my hands. Oh!” Dredd leapt off of her, his chest heaving. She looked down and realized that he had torn her shift, and there were a few small marks on her breast, trickling blood. She knew it was an accident, but the damage was done. He let out a roar that echoed through the woods. Their moment was over, and she felt a strong desire to weep.

  “Dredd…” Ivy clasped her torn shift together to hide her breasts and sat up. “I’m sorry, I just need time. I—”

  “Still you de-ny me!” Dredd yelled, startling her. “I go mad!” He beat his chest, looking every bit the monster of legend. His eyes had a wild quality, and there was a split second that fear bloomed within her. Had she finally pushed him too far?

  No, Dredd turned and stalked off. Her lip trembled but she did not cry. She had shed enough tears the last few days for a lifetime. And what did she expect anyway? Dredd was an Ajax. He was a savage, she a former slave, and they had nothing in common. There could never be anything between them. Ivy stood up and began to dress, her shift still soaking wet.

  As she put her dress back on, Ivy formed a plan. Dredd would only end up hurting her, whether he meant to or not, and she would end up hating him, hating the life of an Ajax slave-mate, until whatever small affection she once felt for him lay crushed beneath the fist of a cruel fate.

  No. Tonight she would escape. And she already knew how she would do it. She just hoped she could make it out of the Dark Woods on her own.

  Chapter 4

  Hours passed since the encounter at the creek, hours of awkwardness, as Ivy shuffled quietly a few steps behind him. There was none of her usual chatter. Why on earth had he thought for even a moment that a creature as exquisite as Ivy would accept him? How had he let the fantasy of The Vessel overtake him? It was humiliating, that she knew just how much he coveted her. And it was shameful, that he handled her so roughly, almost ravaging her small body.

  Free my hands…her plea echoed through his mind.

  Dusk was beginning to fall, and Dredd wanted to push on, since they were still several days journey from his horde, but after the day they had he planned to camp early. He was eager to reach the horde for the mating ceremony, but it could wait another day.

  He stayed on his original course for one reason. Dredd refused to let her go. He knew now that despite their language barrier, his only course of action was to lay it all on the line. He would have to try to tell Ivy everything, to the best of his ability. He would tell her of his shame, of his past. And then he would tell her that since he laid eyes on her five days earlier he could think of nothing but her, that he could offer her only himself, his protection, and his name. He could hope that if Ivy really lived the life of a slave as she claimed, that the comfort and protection he could provide would be enough for her. He would promise to be gentle with her from now on.

  They stopped for the night, under a rock outcropping that Dredd deemed acceptable. Ivy began making preparations for the evening meal, her movements mechanical. Dredd almost wished for her ceaseless questions.

  Dredd caught some fish in the stream, and they ate them for dinner, no words between them. When Ivy passed the canteen to Dredd, he took it gratefully; inexplicably pleased she was acknowledging his presence at all. Dredd washed down the meal, noting the water tasted chalky, then got up to make a quick perimeter check to ensure there were no unwanted visitors before they bedded down. He made a mental note to clean the canteens better next time.

  He came back several minutes later, to find Ivy already laying down. But they needed to talk. “We talk now, Naya Vorali,” She ignored him from her fur, but he continued. “I need say—”

  “Dredd, I don’t want to talk now!” Ivy breathed, her voice pained.

  Dredd didn’t feel right, something unusual that he couldn’t put his finger on. Nerves, he told himself, and he stood to move closer to her. In a rush, an overwhelming sluggishness came over him, his feet like cement blocks. He tried to move but...couldn’t. As he went to take another step, he staggered and went down on one knee.

  What is happening? I must...stay...alert. Must protect Ivy...

  Ivy popped up, peering at him from where she lay on the fur. The way she studied him registered somewhere deep inside his brain. It was as if she waited for something...

  The water tasted chalky.

  No, it couldn’t be. She wouldn’t betray him thus, after the sacrifices he had made for her. Surely she wouldn’t have drugged him.

  “I-veee,” Dredd slurred angrily, staring her down. “Nom!” He was really struggling to stay upright now, willing his body to not collapse into unconsciousness.

  Her guilty face said it all. She had drugged him, the canteen innocently handed to him at dinner laced with blackwillow.

  The betrayal twisted in his chest. Just when he planned to lay bare his heart to her and ask her to accept him. This was his payment? That she would drug him with potentially lethal blackwillow?

  “I’m sorry, Dredd, so sorry. It had to be this way...”

  He heard her choked whisper, and as his mind spiraled into blackness, he had one thought. As with Annis, the bitch would pay for her treachery.

  ****

  The firelight flickered in Dredd’s gray eyes as he watched the encampment burn. He stood several yards away, his chest still heaving with exertion, his torso covered in the blood of the three men he just slaughtered. Yet he felt nothing as he watched the flames devour their campsite and their bodies. His mind focused on one thing.

  Naya Vorali...

  The voice in his head screamed, ripping through his consciousness like an explosion. It was all he thought about, day and night. All he heard, awake or in dreams, was the roar of a beast denied his mate.

  It had been four nights since Ivy had drugged him and disappeared. Four nights since his own mate deliberately tricked him with toxic blackwillow and deserted him. It was two moon risings before he had woken, disoriented and alone.

  Ajax lore foretold that all Vessels cleaved to the Warriors who claimed them. Never before had a Vessel run from her Warrior. Such betrayal was like acid in his gut, eating away at him until he was mad with it. Reminding him of past shame, of Annis...

  The flames danced against the water nearby, the calm waves of the River Byrne lapping against the shore. He knew she would have gone this way, would have crossed the great river to the settlements beyond, out of Ajax territory. She mentioned them to him before. He was close now to a bridge that spanned the river, a bridge he never thought to cross before. But cross it he would.

  Dredd wiped his bloody knife on his breeches and put it back in his belt. He bent over and began rummaging through the meager supplies he scavenged from the campsite before setting it ablaze. These worthless bastards were rivermen, scavengers who preyed on those seeking to cross the river from the Gravelands to the south. When he demanded to know if they had seen a female who looked like Ivy, they scoffed, one making a crude joke that Dredd only partially understood. But the frustration inside him had reached a fla
sh point. The world was well rid of such vermin anyway.

  Devious bitch. Where are you?

  He had gone against his very nature to try and make her comfortable, feeding her and protecting her while expecting nothing in return until she grew used to his company. And this was how she repaid him?

  Tomorrow he would head into unknown territory, to the villages beyond the river, leaving behind everything he knew. He would forsake the God of the Mountain to do so, to find Ivy. He would search for her as long as it took. And his fated female wouldn’t find her warrior so accommodating the second time around.

  Chapter 5

  Two annums later

  Doves Brothel

  The village of Dimm

  “Ivy, have you seen my turquoise garter belt? I want to wear it tonight for my guardsman. It’s his favorite.”

  Ivy stopped sweeping and glanced up as Morganza sailed into the room wearing her usual outfit: absolutely nothing.

  “I laundered it this morning, Morg, and put it back in your room. It’s in the top right drawer of your wardrobe.”

  “Oh, fabulous. You are the best! My night with Ulrich is sure to be…rewarding.” Morganza gave Ivy a quick wink and departed the room as quickly as she’d entered.

  Ivy stared after her friend, whose red-hair streamed in waves down her back like a royal flag, and shook her head with a smile. Morganza was one of the most sought after courtesans at Doves and it was no secret as to why. She was loud, sexy, uninhibited, and always looking for her next good time. Ivy resumed sweeping and fought the small surge of jealousy she usually battled when she dealt with the fun-loving Morganza. In the two annums since she was taken in by the owner of Doves, one of the Dark Isle’s most notorious brothels, Ivy often wished she could be more like Morganza. If only life delivered her to adulthood feeling carefree and unafraid of what each new day offered.

  I bet Morganza wouldn’t have stopped Dredd that day at the creek. She would have kept going to see what happened…