The Rogue’s Stolen Bride

Chapter Five: At Least She’s Average!

Jace

It took all of my willpower not to laugh at the boy seated across from me. Based on size alone, I wouldn’t have guessed him to be more than fourteen or fifteen, but when I looked into his brown eyes I felt like someone had sucked the air out of my chest. I had the uncomfortable feeling that I might have encountered this youth before, though I had no recollection of any meeting.

Sniffing the air, I couldn’t discern his scent. Only a crisp, herbal essence mingled with the foul smells of the tavern.

The boy had masked his scent.

Clever.

I took a long draw from my ale, and immediately regretted it. I had planned to nurse it slowly, because I had no coins in my pocket to buy a second round. “I’ve been hired for many things,” I said carefully, pushing the tankard aside. “But never for that.”

“Please!” The boy pleaded, “It’s a matter of life and death!”

I was intrigued, despite myself. I steepled my fingers together on the grimy table. “Tell me more.”

“You see,” the kid began to babble nervously, “there’s this girl. I love her and she loves me, and we are engaged to be married! But her father sold her to the vampire!”

“Vampire,” I sat up straighter. “Which vampire?”

“Lord Vance!”

Just the mention of that monster’s name made bile rise in my throat. I had tangled with his nest on more than one occasion, and I had a long scar on my hip to show for it. “Go on.” The words unintentionally came out in a growl, and the boy reared back in his seat with a frightened look. But he sucked in a breath and continued nonetheless.“Her family is going to deliver her on the new moon,” the boy swallowed, “just four days from now.”

“What did you say your name was again?”

“George! I’m George Sherman.”

I’d never heard the name before. “And the girl you are so desperately chasing?”

“She’s called Kaida Hawkins.”

I pressed my fingers together until the tips turned white. “The Alpha’s daughter?”

George flinched slightly, “You know her?”

“I know of her,” I answered vaguely. There were rumors, gossip about Alpha Hawkins' youngest child. She was almost never seen in public, so there was lots of speculation. “I heard she was ugly, and a simpleton.”

The boy sat up straighter, and I could see the way his cheeks grew hot and red. “She is not! She might not be a great beauty or… well the smartest, either! But at least she’s average!” George said hotly. His voice grew a little high and alto in his indignation.

“I’m sure your lady love would be flattered to hear you consider her merely average,” I laughed.

He curled his hands into fists on the table. He had the smallest and daintiest hands I had ever seen. “Will you help me or not?”

Before I could answer, Esther, one of the bolder tavern wenches, came dancing into the corner, completely out of sync with the tune the musicians were playing. She had obviously put away more ale than she could stomach. “Jace! Jace!” She called, and fell eagerly into my lap, almost knocking my cup from the table in the process. I barely caught it before it went over the edge. One of her large breasts escaped from her low-cut bodice entirely, but she was too drunk to care. “Jace, I’ve missed you,” she pouted her rouged lips. “My bed is empty and cold! Take me upstairs,” she wound her fleshy arms around my neck. She lowered her voice to a stage whisper and wriggled her ass in my lap. “I’ll give you one round for free.”

I leaned down and kissed her lips until she moaned, and then gently set her back on her feet. “Not now, love,” I said with an indulgent smile. “Can’t you see I’ve got business here?”

I cut my eyes across the table at George. The kid had the most comical look on his baby face as Esther sashayed away to try her luck with another customer. It was one part revulsion and one part fascination. I’d bet my last coin that the boy was still a virgin. “You’ve not bedded your girl yet, have you?”

He turned his face away. “Of course not! We aren’t married yet.”

I laughed out loud. “What werewolf waits for marriage? Just bend her over and mark her!” Seeing how the kid’s face paled, I guessed he feared the girl’s alpha father. Sure, if I caught such an underweight welp with my daughter, I’d probably have him beheaded. No doubt Alpha Hawkins felt the same.

“Let me ask again, Sir. Will you help me or not?” George asked between gritted teeth.

It was on the tip of my tongue to say not. But several factors made me hesitate, not the least of which was the fact that my pockets were empty. “I don’t work for free. And this is a big job. You want to me kidnap an Alpha’s daughter, and the bride of a vampire. That’s dangerous business, boy.”

“I know that,” he said, straightening. “I’m prepared to pay. One hundred coins up front, one hundred coins when you deliver her safely to Haven Hill.”

“Haven Hill? The human settlement?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. But your price is much too low. And Haven Hill is at least a ten day journey.”

“Probably twelve, if you take her on the way to Lord Vance’s keep.” The boy grumbled.

“Exactly.” I waved my hand. “Two hundred coins can’t cover the expense of that journey, let alone the risk. So, good luck to you and your beloved—“ I picked up my ale and started to rise from the table.

“Wait!” George’s small hand shot out and caught mine. A weird jolt passed through my arm, and his too, judging by the way he jerked back. “I can double it.”

I slowly sat back down. “Show me.”

He swallowed and reached under his tunic, coming out with a soft kidskin pouch that was fat with coins. It jingled with promise when he tossed it on the table in front of me. “There’s two hundred coin there.”

I started to reach for it, but he covered it with his own hand. “But first you have to promise me something.”

I growled low in my throat. “I don’t make promises.”

“Regardless, you will give me your word. Miss Hawkins will be delivered safely to Haven Hill, unharmed and untouched.”

“Ah,” I smirked, “you are afraid I might deflower your little princess before you get a chance.” I tugged the purse out from under his restraining hand. “I have never and will never force a woman into my bed,” I stated seriously. “So unless your she-wolf comes to me asking for it—“

“She won’t!” George insisted hotly. “She’s… she’s a self-respecting lady!”

I shrugged away his words. I was just a rogue. I had long ago fled from my pack. I was an outcast, a reject. I had no home and no money. And still, women were drawn to me, despite themselves. Whether it was merely the enticement of forbidden fruit, the desire for a taste of darkness, or if it was the vestiges of my Alpha power that pulled them in, I knew not. I doubted his girl would be any different, but I wouldn’t tarnish his vision of his pure and innocent future bride.

“Fine, now I need the details.”

“Details?”

“You said she is being delivered on the new moon, so I presume that means she is leaving the Hawkins manner at least two days prior. I need to know how she will be carried. Horseback? Carriage? And how many men will escort her. And by the way, what does your fair maiden look like? Because so far, all you have told me is, she is average.”