The decision to leave my clan was easier than I thought it would be. I’d grown up with them and I cared for them at one point, but when they threatened to hurt my bondmate, my loyalty was lost. Briar was my life now. If I had to leave my clan behind to keep him safe, then so be it.
Briar.
I hadn’t known how to ask him his name. Tyal hadn’t had time to tell me how he’d figured it out. If we found safety in the northern clan, perhaps I would have a chance to ask him. It was a pretty name and suited him. It felt good on my tongue.
It was a significant risk for us to come here. It wasn’t that long ago that our clan and theirs went to war. I wasn’t there for that battle. I didn't agree with the clan leader’s insistence on taking over their clan merely because a tribute had insulted him. His mind was clouded with revenge and half of our clan refused to follow his orders. The northern clan was smaller than ours, but their fighters were stronger. It was a battle they had no hope of winning and when Tyal refused to go, I stayed behind with him.
The northern clan had no love for ours even before that day, but when discussing where to go to keep our bondmates safe, itwas the one place we knew our clan couldn’t seek us out. They wouldn’t dare.
Tyal’s stallion shifted uneasily. After running all night, both stallions were restless. They wanted to be free of us, and I didn’t blame them. Carrying my weight alone at that pace was a feat.
“Khrull…”
My name on Briar’s lips made me want to drag him to the nearest tent and fuck him until he was blind with pleasure. I enjoyed it more than words could say. But now wasn’t the time for that. I knew he was worried, probably cold and uncomfortable after riding all night without a cloak to keep him warm, but we needed to approach the northern clan carefully. We didn’t want to appear a threat. We needed their help.
Tightening my grip on my bondmate, I shushed him lightly. He needed to stay quiet, or the clan would hear and–
An arrow sliced through the air, burying itself in the tree behind me. Briar cried out, and I covered him instinctually with my body to protect him.
“Wait! We are not scouts!” Tyal called, also covering the woman in his arms. He had yet to claim her, she was given to someone else in the clan once she arrived, but he told me while we were discussing our departure that he refused to leave without her. Her spirit called to his and he would not leave her alone to suffer. He’d snuck her out of the tent she was held in and brought her with him to protect her.
“Why are you here?” a gruff voice demanded. Peeking over Briar’s head, I searched for the source of the voice, and when my gaze landed on him, my insides froze. I knew of him. He was known as Einar the Feral amongst the clans. Rumor said he would get lost in blood lust and it was told that he’d killed his own brothers while in a red haze.
“For sanctuary,” Tyal answered. “Our clan means to hurt our bondmates. We are here to ask for protection.”
Einar’s dark eyes narrowed. Even from a distance, I could tell he was studying our bondmates. I hugged Briar a little tighter, reconsidering every decision we’d made thus far. I didn’t like the chance of them taking my beloved away.
“You will speak with our clan leader. Remove your weapons now,” he demanded.
Tyal looked over his shoulder at me, and I felt his unease. I dipped my chin once. Should we need to, we would fight our way out. But we chose this clan for a reason. The risk was necessary to keep our bondmates safe.
Slowly, I straightened, keeping a hand on Briar’s back so he would keep his head down. I removed my sword and tossed it toward Einar’s feet. Tyal did the same. I felt naked without it, but I could do damage with my fists alone. Hopefully, it was enough.
“Get down. We walk from here,” Einar snapped.
Again, we followed orders. He still had his bow in his hands. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe he’d missed his first shot. It was a warning. He would not miss again.
I helped Briar down but kept him in my arms instead of allowing him to walk. Tyal did the same. If Einar demanded we release them, we would no longer be so compliant. No one would take my bondmate from me.
He studied us again before jerking his chin in the direction of the clan. Tyal took the lead, marching forward with the woman in his arms. I followed him. Einar took up the rear. I didn’t like him at my back, but he could just as easily kill me if he were in front of me. I had no room to argue for the time being.
As it was still early, the clan was mostly still and quiet. A group of guards stopped when we exited the trees and fell in around us when Einar stepped into view. He barked at them to bring us to the clan leader and none argued with him. They led us through the neat lines of tents to the village center, where a delicious smell hung in the air and a massive fire blazed. Briar’swhimper made me hesitate. I glanced over my shoulder at Einar, tipping my head toward the fire.
“We rode all night. He is cold. Can we take a minute to let him warm up?”
Einar’s gaze dropped to Briar for a moment before looking at me again. “Wait here.”
I let out a breath, edging a little closer to the fire so Briar could get warm. I wished I’d thought to layer him. I was so focused on putting distance between us and the clan that I didn’t think of it. And it wasn’t safe to stop long enough to pull something out of my bag for him to wear. We had to keep moving.
Einar came back with his clan leader beside him, and another male following close behind. The younger one looked suspicious, eyes narrowing on Tyal and the woman in his arms. The clan leader was calmer, with an air of authority that didn’t require violence to uphold. I heard other clans followed their leaders out of respect, not fear. It wasn’t something I was used to.
I couldn’t put my fist against my chest in proper greeting with Briar in my arms, but I bowed my head to show my respect. Tyal did the same before speaking for us.
“We’re here to ask for help. Our clan leader threatened our bondmates. It was not safe for us to stay.”
The younger male glared at him, gesturing to the woman in his arms. “If you are here for their protection, why does she look like she’s been beaten recently?”
Tyal glared back, baring his teeth in warning. I knew it had hurt him to stay away from the woman while she was with another. Having someone point out his failure to protect her would only make him angry.
