How The Warrior Fell (Falling Warriors series Book 1) (53 page)

“Tyronian, what are you doing in here?” Namoriee asked nervously, gripping the handle to her door tighter.

He smiled, and something about that smile instantly put Namoriee on alert.

“Close the door, Namoriee.”

Closing the door was the last thing she wanted to do.

“I’m really tired, maybe you can—”

“I said close the door, Namoriee.”

Namoriee’s breath shuddered out of her, and she swallowed nervously. Something in his eyes told her that even though she didn’t want to shut the door, it would be better if she did. She shut the door. “Lock it,” he said, never taking his eyes off her.

Namorie exhaled shakily, but did as he asked and locked the door. He grinned, pleasure flashing in his eyes. Then he crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

No way,
she thought to herself.

It was bad enough she was alone in a room with this beautiful man; there was no way she was going to get close enough for him to touch her. His presence did weird things to her body. He made her lose her head, and his touch heated her nerve endings like fire, at the same time her heart froze like ice. The last time he touched Namoriee, he did things to her body that equally exhilarated and terrified her. So no, she was not going to him.

At least not all the way.

“Why are you here?” Namoriee asked when she came to a stop in the middle of her small hut. It was close enough that she could get away with following his order, but not close enough for him to reach her. His amused look told her that he knew she did that deliberately.

“You know why I’m here, Namoriee.”

If it was anyone else, she wouldn’t have a clue. But this was Tyronian, and he’d been telling Namoriee what was going to happen for a long time. He was correct: she did know what he was doing here. She was just hoping that he forgot. Unwillingly, the memory of that night so long ago flashed behind her eyes.

It was the night she knew her life would never be the same again . . .

FLASHBACK: Two winters ago.

The rain was merciless.

The wind was howling loudly as thunder and lightning flashed across the sky. It was the only way the Gods knew how to express their displeasure to the mere mortals below.

Namoriee shivered as she ducked her head down against the strong currents, trying to hold her heavy cloak of animal leather against her body tightly as it tried to fly away. Several of her fellow village people quickly ran past, looking for respite after securing the various animals and food they had to safety.

"Girl! What are you doing out here?"

Namoriee lifted her head up at the call and met the brown eyes of Tristan as he marched his way towards her. Blinking the water away from her eyes, Namoriee tilted her head to look into the displeased face of her Lady Chief's brother and second in line as he grabbed her arm.

"You shouldn't be out here!" he yelled, trying to be heard over the heavy downpour.

Namoriee eyed the grip he had on her arm, unhappy, but she knew better than to comment "I was instructed to check on the horses. Qubec is due to give foal any day now, and I need to make sure that the storm isn't causing her stress," she yelled to him over the howling wind.

Tristan frowned, tugging on her arm again. He started to lead her back in the direction of her hut. "I'll send someone to check on her. You shouldn't be out here. Tyronian—"

Namoriee flushed in embarrassment, knowing where he was going with this. She yanked her arm out of his grasp, much to Tristan's surprise. "He is not my concern, nor should I be his. Qubec was instructed to my care, and I will be the one to see it so," she said in annoyance, glaring up at Tristan. "S-sir," she stuttered weakly when he gave her a disapproving stare. She had forgotten her place and spoke out of turn.

"Namoriee, as your—"

Whatever Tristan was going to order was swiftly cut off as another flash of lighting lit the sky, only this time it struck one of the many trees surrounding their village. Namoriee’s eyes widened when it quickly caught fire, splintering in half and falling from its host with an almighty crash.

"For the love of the Gods!" Tristan cursed, giving her a quick glance before he shot off to the still burning tree, calling over his shoulder as he did so.

"Go home, Namoriee!"

She watched for a moment, still slightly bewildered at her luck. She sent a quick ‘thank you’ to the Gods before she hunkered down and continued on her way. Hopefully Tristan was too busy with the burning tree to see that she wasn’t heading in the direction of her hut.

The sound of high-pitched whinnies concerned Namoriee greatly.

She hurried her pace to the small mare barn that Qubec was stalled in. It was a simple three twelve-by-twelve stall barn that Izayges sometimes used to house the pregnant mares so that they could foal away from the pasture that the tribe kept their horses in.

Qubec was the only mare that the Izayges were expecting to foal, but many were hoping that, come spring time, there would be at least four more colts to roam their land. It would be the first time that Namoiree would get to witness a horse give birth, which made her even more determined to make sure Qubec was taken care of properly.

The wind made it difficult for Namoriee to slide open the door. It whistled through the small gap and pushed hay and straw that was left on the ground in a small whirlwind. She tugged with more strength, and inch by inch the door opened until, finally, she was able to open it enough to slip through and push the door close with a loud bang.

“Gods, that was hard.” She sighed as she slumped against the door in relief. The shrill whinny broke through her thoughts and, remembering why she was there in the first place, she quickly walked to the only stall lit.

Qubec was still whinnying in fear when Namoriee approached her. The white of the mare’s eyes showed how distressed she was. Quickly unlatching the stall door, she let herself inside, taking care to hold her hands up in a nonthreatening manner. The last thing she wanted to do was spook Qubec.

"Easy girl, take it easy. You're alright,” Namoriee cooed, grabbing the rope halter and bringing her muzzle to her chest. She ran her fingers down through Qubec’s mane and nose, the coarse hairs tickling her fingertips a second before the silky softness took over.

Qubec snorted in fear, stomping on the ground and throwing her head against Namoriee’s hold.

Biting her lip, Namoriee eyed the mare nervously. If she didn’t calm Qubec down, she might abort the pregnancy and that was the last thing she wanted to happen.

Namoriee continued to coo at her for another fifteen minutes until Qubec gradually managed to calm down.

"There, all better, huh, girl?" she asked softly, continuing to stroke her nose.

Qubec snorted, almost as if in agreement. Namoriee smiled.

The barn door suddenly crashed open with a flash of lighting that caused Qubec to rear up in terror. Stumbling backwards The white of Qubec’s eyes was the only thing she saw a second before Qubec slammed into her shoulder, launching her clear across the stall. Her head made sickening crack as it slapped back against the wall., Namoriee narrowly avoided getting kicked in the face before Qubec charged forward.

Namoriee thought she heard her name being called before the black spots took control of her vision and she fell unconscious.

Namoriee slowly came to. She sat up, but immediately laid back down at the sharp pain the movement caused her head.

"You shouldn't try to get up. You hit your head pretty hard."

The deep voice startled Namoriee so much that she jumped. She turned her head quickly to locate where it came from. She gasped, partly because of the nausea her sudden jerk caused her, and partly because the Chief’s cousin, Tyronian, was glaring at her from a chair in the corner.

"What did you think you were doing, Namoriee?” he asked, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. His voice became deeper with his displeasure. "You shouldn't be out in a storm like this. You could have been killed!"

Namoriee licked her lips nervously, avoiding his eyes. Her shoulders tensed when she heard the chair creak as Tyronian stood. Moments later the bed caved to his weight as a gentle, but calloused hand cupped her chin and tilted her head up to meet his eyes. His eyes narrowed. She looked down.

"Look at me, Namoriee." Tyronian tightened his grip on her chin. "Look at me, Namoriee." He ordered firmly, nudging her chin until she had no choice but to obey him.

"Answer me."

She swallowed, her mouth dry with nerves. "I-I-I had to check on Qubec. She's with foal and I needed t-to make sure that she was o-o-kay." She managed to stutter out in a whisper. She tried to jerk her head away from him, but he tightened his grip.

"You will never again put yourself in danger like you did tonight. Do you understand?"

Namoriee flushed with indignation. "You can't demand something like that. I'm not your responsibility."

He ducked his head so that their eyes locked, very much crowding her. "That's where you're wrong, Namoriee." He growled, "Very wrong. Everything about you is my responsibility." Her breath caught as his fingers started a slow stroke up, rubbing against her pounding pulse point. She shuddered as goose bumps appeared across her body as his beard brushed against her sensitive skin.

"Please . . .” Namoriee whispered, though she wasn't sure what she was begging for.

His low chuckle in her ear caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up as it ghosted over her skin.

"Please what, Namoriee?"

She inhaled sharply, one of those dry breaths that came before tears. Her words were a stuttering mess as they tumbled out of her."Please don't, I just . . . you're Chief'sc. .c. .cousin and I . . . I'm just—"

Her words were halted, breath hitching, when Tyronian’s lips brushed herneck where his hand rested, the quick flick of his tongue against it making her body shudder.The bed rustled when he shifted back so that he could kiss her forehead, his lips staying against her skin when he spoke.

"When you're older," he said quietly. "You're not ready for me yet but . . . know that I'm going to take you, Namoriee. I'm going to take you and never let you go. Not yet, I'll wait. . . . but when you're older, you're going to be mine in every way possible. Whether you like it, or not."

Namoriee froze, her green eyes flying up to Tyronian’s blue in shock as he pulled away. The locked jaw and promise in his eyes were telling enough.

He was serious.

"Now go back to sleep." Tyronian headed back to the chair in the corner as Namoriee laid back down in a daze. The candlelight around her went out, a strange electricity humming through her as she closed her eyes.

His words chanted over and over in her mind like a mantra.

I'm going to take you Namoriee, you're going to be mine
.

When you're older.

Whether you like it or not.

Namoriee wasn't sure if her next shiver was of fear. . . . or anticipation.

Namoriee came out of her daze the minute she felt the heat of his hand reach for hers.

“No!” She cried, wrenching herself away and stumbling back. She shook her head, panic making her eyes wide. “You can’t make me. I don’t accept.”

Tyronian’s expression darkened, and she knew immediately that she had said the wrong thing. His eyes got this predatory gleam in them, and she knew she was in trouble when he started to stalk toward her.

"You knew this day would come. I've warned you. Whether you like it, or not. Remember?"

Namoriee could hear her breathing accelerate, the breaths coming out shallow and uneven as she stared up at him. She was retreating as Tyronian was advancing, his big, muscular body rippling with each step he took towards her.

"You don't know what you're doing. What you're asking," Namoriee said timidly. Tyronian’s lips pulled into a carnal smirk, his eyes glittering in dark amusement.