I caught the flash of the surprise that slashed across his dark, painted features before he abandoned the chain and his hold on my waist, he reared back and caught my wrists before my nails reached their target.
I took that opportunity to slide off the slowing horse.
Doing this, he was forced to let go or come down with me. I hit feet first, pain shooting through my ankles and up my calves and I dropped because of it, rolled, found my feet again and started to run.
The horse came back at me but this time, I was prepared. When I glanced back and saw him this close, I ducked under his arm. Him and his horse shot passed me and I instantly changed directions and ran the other way.
I seemed to be making some headway and I heard no horse but was stopped when a steely arm wrapped around my waist, lifted me off my feet and whirled me around.
Shit, he was off his horse. And shit again, he could run without sound.
I bucked violently then kicked my feet out even more violently.
His arm loosened, my feet hit stone and I tried to run but he caught me up again. I whirled in his hold and lunged in the small space, bracing against a foot I planted behind me, I shoved with all my weight.
His torso rocked back, his arm loosened again, I took three quick, giant steps back then he lunged. There was more of him than me and it was more powerful. He tackled me and I landed on my back, him on top of me.
Grunting, straining and struggling, I fought, pushed, kicked, scratched and bit.
I was no match.
Not even close.
Subduing me with his body, one arm and his heavy legs, his other hand came up and he hooked his chain to my necklace.
Damn it all to hell, I knew what that meant.
My back arched and I screamed with all my might the frustrated rage that surged through my system.
But even chained to him, knowing it was a fight I’d never win, I didn’t give up.
My hand went to his waist, I found the hilt of the knife and pulled it free, whipping it back but he disarmed me before I could take that first slash. Then his own hand went to the other knife, pulled it out and tossed it away.
Damn.
I still didn’t give up. I kept fighting.
Nails, teeth, screams, punches, bucking, kicking… nothing worked.
He succeeded in positioning himself, hips between my legs then he yanked the edges of the material covering me aside so roughly, both sides tore away from my necklace, leaving me fully exposed My back arched again as I screeched, “No! ” right in his face and didn’t give up.
His hands caught my wrists, yanking them over my head, one hand transferring both of my wrists to be imprisoned in just one of his big hands, his other hand went down between our bodies.
“Please, no!” I cried as I kept struggling, his hand worked at his hides and I knew what he was doing, I felt him hard against me.
“Please, please, please, no.”
His head came up, his eyes caught mine, the whites so white against the black of his paint, his hand at my wrists squeezed hard, causing pain, my back to the stone causing more, I gave him the only fight I had left.
I glared at him.
He held my glare for long moments.
Then, his eyes never leaving mine, he whispered, “Lahnahsahna.”
Then his head bent, he shoved his face in my neck and he violated me.
* * * * *
The second he entered me, I didn’t see it, my eyes had squeezed closed, but a flash of lightning rent the dark night.
Chapter Three
The Rite
I was bloody and naked before him on the massive steed, his arm around me, his big, hard, heated body all I could feel at my back, the horse moving all I could feel under me.
But I felt something else. I felt the aches in my muscles, the pains on my skin, both seemed to cover every inch of my body, inside and out.
And I felt something else, something so hideous I refused to feel it.
So I didn’t. I blanked out everything as I watched the lights, fires and tents of the Daxshee get ever closer and I concentrated on whatever horrors that were next for me.
He was going to parade me naked through his village, through his people, through his warriors, through those awful spectators, hunted, beaten, shamed and naked.
I closed my eyes.
How was I going to bear it?
