The Stolen Valkyrie: Broken Bonds (Part One) (Fantasy Erotic Romance Novelette) (4 page)

Rolling to place her atop him, Johan watched her dazed eyes rise to the huts surrounding them. He knew that his words hit home when her firm breasts thrust proudly in the air. He did not know if they were heard or seen by the clan nor did he care. Riding his cock, she looked like the high Mistress he had always wanted her to be.

He spread her thatch of hair with nimble fingers, watched her eyes glaze when his thumb rolled her sensitive pearl, and welcomed the sight of firelight dancing over her arched torso. Her slickened folds tightened around him as her nails dug into his arm. With hair flowing down her back, Asta raked grooves in his arm as the first blissful wave hit.

She had never experienced a climax, had not known a woman could feel such bliss, and almost slid off him when intense orgasmic waves spread throughout. He rolled and towered over her, pistoning into her convulsing folds until she mindlessly writhed under him.

Twisting fingers into her long tresses, he drove repeatedly inside her while growling over her lips, “Licking at my seed is for the lesser ones.”

Visions of this act drove her back off the dirt. With her nipples pressed against his birthmark, Johan’s face twisted. He lost control and drove deep inside her while loudly growling, “May Clan Zajihn bear witness to the birth of a phoenix!”

In her state of newfound ecstasy, his words failed to register. He pulled out and left her in the dirt by the dying fire. Realization of his meaning slowly dawned. Scowling, she slapped the dirt and, for the sake of the clan’s ears, breathed at the winking stars, “May the Gods and Goddesses be with me.”

The heavens remained coldly silent. Asta lay in the dirt, waiting and listening for tribal noise above the crackling fire. When nothing was heard except for the snapping flames, she rose from the dirt and headed toward the stream.

Her cache of weapons was not her only secret. Kneeling by the trickling water, she quickly cleaned herself while picking an herb that would ensure no future leaders grew within her womb. It was not that she did not want to produce another leader; Asta simply was not ready to submit to motherhood.

For the first time, she plucked more of the potentially poisonous plant than necessary and shoved the leaves in her mouth to chew. Spitting them out in her palm, she tucked the pulp inside her and rinsed her mouth. A familiar nagging voice rolled through her mind.

Make sure ye remove all of the pulp or the next heat encountered will be your funeral pyre.

Grunting, her stomach muscles quivered as she strained to push the pulp from her birthing canal and into her palm. She tossed the slickened leaves into the water and, fearing Johan would discover her betrayal, glanced around before quickly rinsing her hand.

Upon returning, she found him fast asleep. Sinking down next to him, Asta looked fondly at his peaceful form. She drew a finger over his marking, darker than his suntanned chest, and lowered her gaze to his limp cock. Temptation almost made her lick him back to life but she knew the forbidden act would throw him into a rage. The seed of a phoenix would never be wasted upon the lips of a Grand Mistress. Only lesser ones were graced in that fashion and only if her Master willed it. 

As if he knew her thoughts were on him, Johan mumbled her name in his sleep. Slinging a heavy arm across her, he pulled her to him. She nuzzled into him and breathed, “I bid ye a good sleep, my Master.”

Slipping into a restless state herself, Asta’s dreams were filled with clanswomen pleasing him. Moaning in her sleep, she was finally allowed to kneel before him and open her mouth. Directly before his bulbous head touched her tongue, she awoke from Tani shaking her shoulder. Weakly pushing at her friend, Asta sat up and moaned, “Ahhh…no! I almost had him.”

Thinking her friend was enjoying a dream about hunting, Tani said, “Mistress, today ye will hunt again.”

Shaking her head, Asta shoved the dream from her mind but exhaustion lingered. She moaned, “What tires me so?”

Tani turned away but not before Asta saw the slight smile and blush spread over her friend’s face. She grabbed Tani’s arm. The girl sobered immediately, fearing her Mistress was angry about the night before. Aware of the clan’s roles more than Tani, Asta ignored Tani’s anxiety and asked, “Who witnessed my Grand Master Johan’s finish?”

Tani’s blush deepened, “If the Gods of Jihn will it, Clan Zajihn awaits a young leader.”

Asta groaned as she fell backwards on the furs. She suspected the entire clan would never let her out of their sight now. Johan ducked inside the hut, not allowing further contemplation. Tani looked right and left, wondering where to go, until Asta told her, “Master Johan has graced ye, Tani, with his touch. Ye are most welcomed in our home from this time forward.”

Johan ignored Tani but told Asta, “Grand Mistress, ye must rise now. A four-day journey awaits ye.”

Trying to shake the dregs of sleep from her mind, Asta moaned, “What do ye speak of, Master Johan?”

Her gaze rose to his, finding a hard expression on his face, “I have received word that there is trouble in Western Shire. This is the perfect opportunity since ye need time away from Clan Zajihn. Rest assured, ye will have two companions.”

He motioned for her to rise and threw a traveling garment upon the bed, “Your supplies are already packed. Your attendees along with the clan are waiting for ye.”

Without another word, he left their abode. Tani rushed to help her dress, assuring, “Kelci and I will be your escorts. She is bringing the horses around now. We must hurry to get a full day’s travel.”

Glancing at the door, Asta was surprised to see the sun high in the sky. Noticing this, Tani said, “Ye were in a deep sleep. I tried waking ye earlier.”

Still groggier than she could ever remember, Asta pulled on her clothing and followed Tani out of the spacious hut. Kelci was bidding her bond mate from just a couple of months past goodbye. Spotting Johan with her horse, she headed his way and called, “Master Johan, what trouble do our Western lands have that ye must send me away?”

Asta did not mind the travel but dreaded crossing the many rivers throughout their journey. Johan studied her face and said, “The border village guards need strengthening. A warrior from the group I sent last week returned this morning. I cannot send more or it will weaken Clan Zajihn. What worries ye, Mistress Asta?”

She quickly shook her head, running a loving hand over her stallion. Johan scooped Asta into his arms but, instead of kissing her goodbye, immediately sat her atop the horse. Noting her lethargy, he cocked an eyebrow, “Ye look frail. Did I overwork my Mistress last night?”

His jab squared her shoulders. Settling upon the stallion, she picked up the reins and said, “Of course not. I simply need sustenance.”

Already sitting atop her own horse, Tani spurred it forward and told her, “Grand Mistress Asta, your bladder of water and meat paste lies within the satchel directly to your back.”

Asta urged her horse forward as she reached behind her to drag the satchel forth. Johan called, “Ride well, Great Mistress Gojicia of Zajihn.”

With a sharp slap to the horse’s rump, he sent them off on their journey. They rode at a steady pace throughout the day, intermittently stopping to rest the horses and eat. Approaching the first of many rivers, Asta took a calming breath and ignored Tani’s anxious eyes upon her.

Sensing its rider’s nervousness, Tani’s horse shifted beneath her. Defying her fear in the face of her attending clanswomen, Asta quickly dug her heels into her own horse. Tani stroked her horse’s back, never more proud of her Chief Mistress than at that moment. She strived to be as strong and proud as Asta. With shoulders held high, she plunged her own horse into the river but kept a keen eye on the Mistress.

Asta’s mind focused on hunting for their meal. Anticipation strengthened her resolve as the flowing water lapped at her legs. When they cleared the bank, Asta released her white-knuckled grip on the stallion’s mane and urged her fellow clanswomen forward, “Lag not for we must hurry to make camp in the groves before nightfall.”

Slapping the flank of her horse with a foot, Kelci moved easily beside Asta and called, “Ye look pale, Grand Mistress. Are ye well?”

Forcing herself to relax and smile, Asta said, “Of course, I’m well.”

With heels digging into her horse, Asta leaned forward and distanced herself from the sound of the river. She welcomed the wind blowing through her hair and wondered if the pulp from the night before had worked.

Goddess be with me! It must work or…

She frowned, thinking of how Johan would make an excellent father. The thought of not being able to sneak off and hunt due to a swollen belly was simply too much though. Pushing those images away, she urged her horse faster as if running from the very idea. She did not allow it to slow until Tani’s horse galloped beside her.

Tani pointed to a grove of trees and shouted, “Night is nearing. We have to choose a campsite.”

Hoping they were far enough from the water’s edge, Asta reluctantly pulled at the reins and directed the horse toward the trees. Once they had secured the horses to low-lying branches, they brushed each down and fed them. Always worrying over the care of livestock, Asta urged them to pay special attention to the hooves. She knelt to spread a special poultice to her stallion’s legs before handing it off to Tani.

While they worked, Asta asked, “Did ye offer Nikoli a farewell kiss?”

Tani lowered her head, using her hair to shield her face, as she said, “Grand Mistress, ye focus much on the forbidden.”

Asta almost giggled at her friend’s throaty tone. She could not rid her voice of amusement, “Our Grand Chief would have allowed such. After all, ye put up a ferocious fight with Ziki.”

Tani peeked through her strands of hair at Asta. She did not bother hiding the awe in her voice, “My Great Mistress Chief, the memory stains your cheeks red.”

Asta tried to contain the laughter bubbling inside as she darted a glance toward Kelci. Observant as always, Tani quickly said, “She is aware. All the clan’s eyes and ears enjoyed the act.”

Asta leaned forward, “Tell me what was said.”

“They barely spoke of anything else but the mating feast. The warriors look forward to the next moon phase, waging on which bond mate will be next.” Tani’s voice shook as she asked, “Will the Grand Chief bestow another with his grace, Mistress Asta?”

Asta’s eyes widened. She had no idea whether Johan would continue with any other. She was surprised that the thought held a certain appeal. At the same time, jealousy fired strong. Lifting a shoulder in an attempt to ease her tension, Asta forced a smile and said the only thing that came to mind, “If the Gods will him.”

Tani’s head tilted as she asked, “And what of the Goddesses?”

Standing, Asta offered her a hand, “My friend, the Goddesses surely nag the Gods into doing their bidding.”

Tani gasped at such bold words. Asta’s eyes rose to the sky as she turned away, “For their passion burns hot. Just look at them winking down upon us.”

Tani’s eyes rose to witness the stars as well. Goose bumps flew down her arms but had nothing to do with the chill of night approaching. An uneasy feeling threw a shudder down her spine, “Mistress Gojicia, Great Chieftess of Zajihn, ye must not direct such blaspheme upon the Gods.”

With a heavy sigh, Asta draped an arm across Tani’s shoulders and said, “The Gods would have stricken me long ago, Tani, if they saw issue with my blasphemous nature. Fear not, the Goddesses are surely with us.”

Asta watched Kelci drop to her knees and lower her head in a cowering stance at her words. She could feel Tani trembling but refused to beg forgiveness from the Gods and Goddesses.

Both attendees waited. When Asta said nothing more, they nervously peeked right and left. Such brashness was an invitation for uproar that neither of them appreciated. Tani’s voice, just a whisper, cut through the silence and made Kelci jerk, “I pray to thee, Gods and Goddesses, for an uneventful journey.” 

Their Mistress said nothing. Knowing her boldness had rattled them, she left the two to gather their wits. Even as a child, Asta had been defiant of tradition. This rebelliousness did not stop at the heavens. Warnings from her parents had done nothing to dampen her spirit. On the contrary, their cautions had fired Asta into being even bolder.