The Berserker Brides Saga

Hazel-2

I woke to him shaking me. “It’s time to flee.”

He drew me to my feet.

“Hazel, you must promise me to stay close and heed what I say.”

My forehead wrinkled.

“The last time we faced these Grey Men, I ordered you to flee. Instead, you stood to face them and then ran from me. I understand you did not know who I was, but now you do. Disobey again and you’ll face the consequences.”

Anger made my cheeks flush. “Like a spanking?”

He lifted his chin. “Exactly.”

Fists clenched at my side, I opened my mouth to argue and he caught my chin.

“You don’t deny me. I am the only one standing between you and the Corpse King’s creatures. You will heed my words and obey. If you don’t it may mean your death and I will not tolerate that. Will you submit to me?”

There seemed to be only one answer the golden eyes would accept. “Yes.” I had to work to wet my throat.

Immediately his hand on my chin gentled. “Poor little one. So cold and all alone. You are not alone anymore. Do you understand?”

I just stared at him.

“Sweet rabbit,” he murmured. But he dropped his hand and turned. “I am going to scout the way out of here. You will wait for my return.”

I nodded. I had no desire to rush to face those Grey Men.

He moved to the cave entrance, light on his feet. I secured the pelt around my shoulders as best I could and picked up the piece of witch’s staff. I did not understand what powers it had, but I was reluctant to leave it.

“Hazel,” Knut called to me from the edge of the path behind the waterfall, his deep voice rumbling over the crashing sound. I hastened to his side.

“Good girl.” He grinned down at me. I put my hand in his, clutching the short staff with the other, and he drew me back out into the light.

It was morning, soft sun just starting its arc through the sky. We’d spent the night together behind the falls.

“We have miles to go before we’re beyond the Grey Men’s reach. My friends have retreated back to our mountain home while the Alphas decide the best plan of attack. We have declared war on the Corpse King.”

“And Fleur?” I asked.

“She is safe, home with the pack.”

A little worry in me eased.

“Is that where you are taking me?”

“Yes,” he said, glancing at the sky to determine our direction. “And no. I’ve lived in the barracks with the rest of the warriors, but will make a new home.” He shot me a look I couldn’t interpret. “The Alphas will allow me to build a lodge at the foot of the mountain for myself and my mate.”

My heart twisted, but I kept my voice neutral. There was no reason for me to be disappointed that this warrior was pledged to another. “You have a mate?”

This time I knew exactly what his grin meant. “I do now.”

I nearly stumbled and he steadied me before pulling me along.

“Wait,” I tugged on his hand. “What do you mean?”

“The moment I scented you on the wind, I knew you were mine.”

I tried to free my hand, but he had an iron grip.

“Do not fight me on this, little one. We have enough enemies. We need not be at war with one another.”

“I-I am not yours,” I stammered.

“You are. But you have not realized it yet. Come. There is time to talk of this, when we are safe.” Clasping my hand, he picked up the pace. He moved with the powerful grace of a predator, body tense on high alert for our enemies.

I trailed after him, wanting to stay close and wishing I could pull away. I had no choice but to follow him. There was nowhere else to go.

I’d spent my life sheltered in the abbey, trusting a caretaker who’d lied to me and the other orphans when he said he’d care for us. He’d sold me and Fleur, and who knows how many of my friends, to be fodder for the Corpse King.

Knut gave orders, but risked everything for my care. The more time I spent with him, the less I wanted to leave.

Which was ludicrous. He was attractive and capable, to be sure. But pledging myself to him forever, when we’d just learned each other’s names?

As we made our way around a high hill, the wind shifted, bringing a rotting stench to our noses just as we ran into a group of Grey Men.

Knut tensed, pushing me behind him and drawing his axe. We were in a deep ravine, with no way out but to run back.

Go, a voice sounded in my mind. Knut’s. Impossible. I must be going mad.

I stepped back, hands twisting on the witch’s staff. There were so many Grey Men and they were armed. They could overwhelm Knut while he was letting me escape.

“Run, Hazel,” Knut ordered. “I will keep them from you.” Before he finished speaking, the creatures closest to him attacked. Spears swung down and Knut faced them with a challenging roar.

Whirling, I began to run. A voice murmured in my head. Head west and do not stop until you see mountains. I will call on the pack to come to your rescue, if I fall.

I stopped. Biting my lip, I looked back. Knut’s blond head bobbed amid the corpse-like creatures, ducking and wheeling as he fought many at once. If I left now, he would die.

In my hands, the wooden staff crackled with sudden energy.

A Grey Man had worked past Knut, trapping the Berserker between him and the rest of the horde. It slashed at Knut while he faced ten others.

My feet were moving before I could give it a thought.

The Grey Man raised a sword to stab at Knut’s back—and jerked and stiffened when I thrust the staff at its back. Ripples ran through its body while it stood paralyzed. The sword fell from its lifeless fingers a second before it dropped.

Knut glanced back, incredulous.

“I told you to run,” he grunted.

“Look out!” I screamed as two Grey Men leaped from the walls of the ravine, dropping onto the Berserker warrior. With a cry, he tossed one off his back and threw the other into the advancing horde.

The creature landed near me and, before it could run and attack again, I whacked him with the staff. The Grey Man sizzled and he flew as if lightning had struck him. The smell of charred flesh filled the air and the rest of the Corpse King’s servants hissed.

Under my fingers, the wood hummed. A second later, Knut’s hand closed over mine and he pulled me along. We raced along the bottom of the ravine. My bare foot caught on a stone and I stumbled. Knut swung me up into his arms. I held onto his shoulders.

“The Grey Men—they’re not following.”

“Whatever magic is in that stick, it stunned them. I killed a few, but it did not deter them until you used that thing.” He grimaced at the staff and I tucked it closer to my body, so it wasn’t touching him. “Where did you get it?”

“A witch gave it to Fleur, before I met her. The friar broke it before the Grey Men took us from the abbey, but it appeared in the cave before I made my escape.”

Knut grunted and I knew he didn’t trust such magic.

He didn’t stop running until he’d found the river again and crossed it. As the sun climbed higher, his pace slowed. We left the thick forest and came to a countryside of fields broken by a few copses.

Finally, he set me down.

“We’re off course, but I do not want to lead the Grey Men back to the pack. We’ll keep near water, for now.”

He fed me dried meat and we both took bracing drinks from the river.

“We’ll go this way,” he said and caught my hand when I started forward. “You disobeyed me, little one.”

“I saved your life,” I retorted, then bit my lip, hoping he would not lose his temper.

He pressed his lips together. I heard his thought clearly in my mind.

First, we find safety. Then there will be a reckoning.