Eyes that threatened to consume her.
3
Bride by Right
He was the wildest thing Joselyn had ever seen. Standing well over six feet tall, he wore leather, studded armor over layers of rich pelted fur. A double-bitted axe hung belted at his side. His dark hair was pulled tightly into a bun, away from his bearded face.
He stared at her with such intensity that Joselyn wondered if she should be more afraid of him than the dragon standing behind him. His grip on her tightened ever so slightly. She had her answer. She planted her hands against his broad chest and began to thrash. “Put me down!”
The man merely stood there holding her, as though the monster at his back was of no concern to either of them.
“Are you hurt?” he asked in the trade tongue. His deep voice was cool and even.
Joselyn barely processed what he said, her attention fixed upon the dragon who was turning to face them. She gasped. Its face came into view, and the beast was all the more terrifying with its yellow eyes fixed upon her. Though smaller with its wings closed, it was easily the length of three stone cottages and as tall as two. Its skinny tail swayed back and forth. Three razor-sharp barbs whipped with it. A serpentine hiss passed through its monstrous teeth as it tasted the air with a forked red tongue.
“Please.” Joselyn whimpered.
The man set her feet down and let her go. The moment she was free, Joselyn bolted. She made it all of three strides before a wave of vertigo had her skidding to the ground. She barely caught herself with her hands. Those same heavy footsteps from before approached. Joselyn felt through the black gravel for a rock. She wouldn’t be trapped again.
His hand wrapped around her arm and Joselyn swung back. Her own hand crashed into the side of his face. The impact sent him groaning back on his heels.
Bleeding skies!
Joselyn’s hand throbbed, but she didn’t hesitate. She released the rock and turned to run deeper into the cave.
Cracks in the stone ceiling sent golden light pouring to the ground, illuminating her path as she went. The moss-covered walls grew closer together the deeper they stretched. She had no idea where she was going, only that she had to find somewhere small to hide. Behind her, she could hear footfalls in pursuit. Joselyn was already running as fast as she could.
Ahead, the path disappeared before a great stone wall. It sloped back slightly before reaching a plateau some twenty feet high. Her pursuer was nearly upon her now. Without slowing to search for a foothold, Joselyn threw herself upon the rock. Her hand caught a small crevice, and for a moment she clung to the wall. But seconds later she lost her grip and slid back to the ground. Behind her, the footfalls halted. Joselyn spun and backed into the wall.
The man stood panting. A trickle of blood trailed from his left temple into his beard. The dragon hadn’t followed. She could no longer see it around the twisting path that had narrowed nearly to a tunnel. That gave her some comfort, but now her attention was fixed upon the man before her. Joselyn had to tilt her head up to see his face. She knew there would be rage burning in his dark eyes. Violence. But . . .her brows drew together. There was no anger in his expression. The man stood with his palms open, extended in a placating gesture.
“Shh! It’s all right,” he said.
Is he concerned? For me?
“Don’t touch me!” she spat, and cast her gaze around for a way to escape. There was none. The savage man had her cornered.
“Don’t run,” he said, his voice thick with a guttural accent Joselyn didn’t recognize. “I won’t harm you.”
Had there been anywhere for her to run, Joselyn would be gone already. She was a caged animal, her nails scraping the wall behind her as she flexed her fingers to strike.
“What is your name?” the man asked. He lowered his arms and leaned backward, as though trying to lend her space without giving up ground.
Joselyn frowned, still panting. The man sighed and licked his lips. He spoke again. “I am Hollen the Soulless. Salig of Bedmeg of the Dokiri people. I—”
Joselyn lunged to the side, trying to dart around him. When he stuck his arms out to catch her, she ducked low and slipped past.
“Va kreesha!” The man swore when he grasped at empty air.
Just like that, he resumed the chase. Joselyn ran back the way she’d come, searching for an alternate route. She didn’t make it far. An arm swept around her and pulled her off the ground. She screamed, and the sound echoed off the craggy walls. She thrashed and kicked, but her blows didn’t phase him as he wrapped both arms about her waist and held her to him.
“Peace, woman!” he pleaded. He turned his face away from her flailing hands.
“Let me go!” she screamed, as he brought them both to the ground. He settled her on his lap, her back to his front. He caught her wrists and held them out. Joselyn bucked, trying to get back to her feet. It was no use. The man was too strong. She let out a pitiful cry.
“Shh! Easy! Easy!”
Eventually Joselyn stilled. She could not free herself. No man had ever laid his hands upon her. No man would have dared. Her father would have ordered him imprisoned or worse. Her virtue was a commodity worth far more than any one man’s life. Sitting here now, pressed against his knees, Joselyn was utterly helpless. She squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting her fate.
Nothing happened. A long moment passed, her breaths gradually slowing as the adrenaline subsided. What was happening? Who was this man? Why had the dragon carried her here? Fear twisted inside her as she remembered what she’d tried to recall in the sky. An old legend, one of great dragon-riding demons who stole unsuspecting maidens from the lands below their mountains, raped them, then fed them to their winged steeds.
“What do you want?” Joselyn whimpered. She strained away from the close contact.
The man’s grip around her wrists relaxed, though he didn’t release her. “I won’t hurt you.”
“Please, let me go!”
“If you keep running this direction, my mount will see you alone and devour you.” It might have been a threat except for his coaxing tone.
“I’ll not run—I swear it. Please release me.” She fixed her eyes down the shadowy tunnel ahead.
After a moment, his massive hands eased their grip. Joselyn snapped her arms forward and jumped from his lap. She landed on the ground in front of him, turned, and scrambled backward until she reached the edge of the tunnel. Walking her hands up the wall, Joselyn got to her feet and stared her attacker down.
He remained on his knees, staring back just as intently. He was so large, even on his knees. What could she do? Would he rise? Lunge at her? Command her to approach?
He said nothing. Did nothing.
“What do you want with me?” Joselyn asked.
“What’s your name?”
She didn’t answer.
“I’m Hollen the Soulless,” he said again.
“Why didn’t that beast attack?” she demanded. She itched to confirm her suspicion.
“He’s already eaten today.” A corner of his mouth twitched. “He’s broken to my will, and I didn’t want him to attack you.”
Joselyn’s mouth fell open. “A dragon cannot be tamed.”
“He doesn’t bear me upon his back out of good nature, I assure you.”