The Bridal Hunt (8 page)

I hopped up and tried to get away from the conceited little brat, but she latched onto my leg.

Good Lord! What is with me and clingy people lately!

"Don't leave me, Willy! I'm scared!" she wailed.

I dragged my leg, a blubbering Candy still attached, over to an embarrassed Kirch.

"You broke her, you bought her." I pointed at him and then her, motioning for him to collect his woman.

The giant beside us broke out into
loud, raucous laughter, grabbing me up in a bear hug that dislodged Candy, dumping her at Kirch's feet as the laughter in the behemoth beastie’s chest jiggled my body, practically rattling my brains.

"Quit it! I'm gonna throw up!"

The two males talked to each other rapidly, heatedly on Kirch’s end, gesturing between me and Candy as Kirch got more and more upset, voice getting rough and growling.

He finally picked up a wailing Candy and took off with her, heading towards the hut houses at the other end of the village, looking back to glare at the other male.

The giant snow beast carrying me started walking off with me still clasped to him, my back to his chest, my legs dangling as he headed for a larger hut at the edge of the village.

"Where are we going? Where are you taking me?" I demanded, panic starting to creep into my voice as he got closer and closer to the front door.

"Home," he said simply, voice rumbling, carting me across a wide expanse of bluish colored lawn, opening up a huge wooden door and walking inside.

He closed the door and set me down, heading over to an enormous bed, rummaging through the furs he had piled up on top of it.

I ran for the door and gripped the handle, yanking on it hard as I tried to open the door.

It wouldn't budge.

I should have tried a window first!
I thought wildly, eyes searching the room quickly.

They're too far away, damn it!

I yanked, pushed and pulled uselessly at the door until I heard footsteps approaching me from behind.

I swung around and plastered my back to the door, watching him closely as he smiled at me a little, his
upper canines peeking, shining sharp and white as he suddenly reached forward with lightning quick speed and pulled me towards him by my jacket.

He wrapped a fur around my shoulders, wrapping me up tightly in the shockingly green and pink fur blanket as he picked me up and clutched me to his chest.

He leaned in and ran his nose along my neck, inhaling deeply as he gently hugged me to him.

"Meanie Veck's mate now,"

"What?! Veck? Are you Veck?" I asked incredulously, trying to pull away from him so I could look at him.

He nodded his head 'yes' and smiled at me.

Veck is extremely pleased with himself right now...

"Why? You don't even know me?" I shrieked, voice shrill and ear piercing.

"Meanie not afraid of Veck," he said proudly.

"I'm terrified," I blurted, worried about where this might be going.

He shook his head 'no' and chuckled, jiggling me, something very long, very thick and very hard poking me in the hip.

My eyes widened, alarmed, and I stared at him slack jawed.

He purred, nuzzling my cheek bone.

I flinched and pulled back, slapping at him when he went to try it again.

His happy purr rumbled up from deep within his belly and he chuckled a little.

"Stop that! What's the matter with you? No means no! And
that
better be a baton you're wearing! Because I won't be having any snow beast monkey sex with you tonight or any other night!" I yelped, panicking.

"See?" he said happily, "Meanie not afraid of Veck."

He grinned, a huge happy grin.

"No! I'm..."

"Meanie smart," he said thoughtfully. "Beautiful," he sighed after a moment, nuzzling my neck affectionately. "Veck likes Meanie spirit. Big spirit, little body."

He grinned at me, moving one of his hands so I could see it, the other still holding me up, making his hand big on the spirit part and little, pinching his fingers together to indicate size, on the small part.

I gave him a disbelieving look.

Is it sick that I'm kind of flattered by the flattery?

He thinks I'm little... and beautiful...
I thought, feeling a little spark at his compliments.

Even if he is a bride swindling snow monster. Well... I haven't seen
him
swindle a bride, not him per se, but the other's did...

I have to admit, he really seems to believe what he says... He's looking at me like a love sick puppy.

Erm...

Hmmm... Maybe I could use this to my advantage,
I mused as I peeked at him. All the while, he studied me intently.

Granted, it could just be pretty words from a desperate beastie, lookin' to get a little somethin' somethin', but I think he means it.

It's something about the way he says it...

"Meanie stay with Veck," he rumbled in that deep rusty voice of his as he carried me over to a handmade table, two large chairs situated around it comfortably.

He sat down in one with me still in his lap and grew pensive after a moment. "Meanie be Veck's mate, Meanie no need to run, Veck protect you."

"I don't want to be a mate, that's why I ran in the first place... and Kirch said something about eating me if I pis
sed him off..." I mumbled the last part, "but mostly, I ran from the crazy, bridal, kidnap, wedding scenario," I admitted, watching him closely for a reaction.

"Meanie wears Veck's
fur, Veck waits for sex," he declared decisively, nodding his head, waiting patiently for my answer.

"You'd wait?" I asked suspiciously. "This isn't some kind of trick?"

"Mmm, hmm," he murmured, completely serious.

"I swear... if you're just saying that, just to get me too agree..."

"No. Meanie Veck's mate. Veck wait. Veck likes to wake up." He laughed at his own joke.

"Are you implying I'd maim you in you
r sleep?" My brows quirked up at him questioningly.

"Yes," he teased.

"You
could
just take me home," I said slyly, slipping it in there, even though I already know the answer.

"No."

"Awe, come on... you're not like all the others," I cajoled, "I can already tell you're different. You have a heart mushed in there somewhere," I poked him in the chest, "Use it and let me loose."

"Portal closed," he admitted, studying the table, tracing the wood with his free hand.

I froze.

"It closed," I whispered in a small voice, my shoulders slumping in defeat at the news.

His hand patted me gently on the back at the distress in my voice.

"No cry, Meanie."

"I'm not crying. I'm... wait!" I practically jumped up in his lap. "When will it open up again?" I asked hopefully.

He shrugged, but wouldn't meet my eyes.

The look on his face said it all.

Liar, Liar, pants on fire! Beastie has a tell.

Oh, I'll get him to tell!

"Would you have taken me there anyways if it was open?"

"No," he said honestly, completely unabashed with his admission.

"I could pay you..."

"No."

"I could give you whatever it is you want..."

He gave me a
very
pointed look.

Okay, never mind...
he just said I could mate him without
that
particular occurrence...

"What are my options here?" I sighed resignedly.

I am so fucked!

Gah!

I'm stuck here!

I. Am. Stuck.

And if I go with someone else... I'll be fucked in more ways than one...

Oh, the decisions!

"Mate Veck or Lo denaii males claim Meanie. Meanie go to Lo denaii mating hunt in woods," he said eyeing me skeptically, like he thought I might
actually
consider option number two.

Like friggin' hell!

Hmmm... Gee... let's think about this... shall we...

A hunt for me in the woods... being chased by a bunch of horny beast men...
no idea who’ll catch me and keep me… and I’ll be stuck with them forever…

Or one who claims, emphasis on the ‘claims’, that he'll wait.

"Well, Veck, where do I sign up and where do I sleep?" I wiggled my hand free so we could shake on it.

He grinned at me and placed
his hand in mine, pulling me into him, so he could cuddle me close.

"Meanie," he murmured
on a sigh.

"
Mina
," I corrected, elbowing him.

H
e just chuckled and grunted.

Ugh!

Oh, I can already tell...
this union is going to be just...
joyous
.

Chapter 7

I shivered when I woke up
, cold and miserable, teeth chattering as I tried to get comfortable in the chair.

"Stupid... stubborn..." I eyed Veck, sleeping peacefully in his huge bed, plenty of room for like five people, human people.

He looks so warm and cozy...

Makes me wanna slap him, just because.

You could be warm too,
the little Mina on my left shoulder cajoled, shivering right alongside me.

But that's just what he wants
, the little Mina on my right shoulder piped up,
then he's going to make his move.

If he was going to make a move though, wouldn't he have done so by now?

"You think too loud," Veck grumbled, rolling over to watch me.

"I do not," I lied.

"Meanie think
loudly
." He emphasized the loud part.

"Ohhhh, uh, sorry," I apologize
d sheepishly, "I didn't realize I was talking out loud."

"Come to bed, mate," he prodded.

"Uhhhh, I'm okay right here."

"Meanie has to sleep with Veck. Meanie needs to
smell
like Veck, yes? Veck not claim Meanie, not sleep with Veck, males can tell."

"They can?" I squawked, clutching my jacket tighter around me.

"Yes," he said simply and pushed some of his furs aside."Come, sleep."

I slowly sidled up to the bed, biting my lip.

"What will they do if I don't smell like you?" I asked worriedly.

He shrugged and gave me his back.

"Might try to claim Meanie, might not..."

"It's Mina.
Mina
," I grumbled and climbed into the bed. "You better not be lying to me, Veck, or I swear I'll find a way and I'll shave your ass bald,
literally."

He chuckled and adjusted his head.

"Veck's mate's feisty." He chortled.

I nudged him warningly.

"And don't you forget it."

He burs
t out laughing, shaking the bed, his huge, white haired, brawny shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

I smiled a little at that.

He settled down after a minute and I waited, stiff as a board, wide awake.

Does he mean what he says...?

Only time will tell, right?

So... I waited, tense, stiff, biting the insides of my cheeks, a jumbled up pile of knots, the mental clock in my head ticking relentlessly as my wait grew longer and longer.

A considerable amount of time passed and I rolled over a little, letting out a quiet sigh, relieved.

I yawned, my eyelids growing heavy, giving in, succumbing to the pull of a comfy, warm bed and a night's rest, Veck's soft snore oddly comforting as I let the sand man have his way.

Well
, I thought, drifting off to sleep,
it's been a fucked up journey to abominable, bridal camp hell and right now it seems I'm stuck.

Hopefully not permanently.

But until then... It looks like I should be counting my blessings.

I turned enough to glance at the back of Veck's head, then his chest, relaxing when he let out a soft snore.

Time to look for the rainbow in this shit storm, Mina. Maybe there'll be a way home at the end of it...

At least I didn't end up mated to Kirch, right?

Could have been way worse...

****

I woke up smashed against a white furry chest, my bladder full to bursting, borderline about to pop.