The Stolen Valkyrie: Broken Bonds (Part One) (Fantasy Erotic Romance Novelette)

The Stolen Valkyrie: Broken Bonds

Part
One

Ana Meadows

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.

Published by Forbidden Fruit Press

All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.

***

A taste of things to come:

Tani’s awed gaze remained on his face. He looked at Asta once again, “Perhaps an innocent one could teach a rebellious Grand Mistress a thing or two about disobedience and pleasing her Master.”

Asta had never seen him this passionate. Johan was normally a peacekeeper, wisely advising his clan on various matters instead of letting his emotions get the best of him. Gazing upon him now, she grew aroused in spite of her hurt pride. With hands still thrust into their hair, he turned them toward Asta, which perfectly aligned the females’ mouths for his pleasure.

***

Chapter One

D
efiantly jabbing a finger in her bond mate’s chest, Asta proudly raised her chin, “Ye know I, Asta Najihn, am a superior hunter to most men. Why must I stay here, Johan?”

Squaring broad shoulders, Johan adjusted the bow slung across his back. Lowering his gaze to the offensive finger at his birthmark, which appeared to be a phoenix spreading its wings across his chest, Johan’s tone held patience but his expression said otherwise, “Ye must stop this defiance. Address me as
Master
Johan and learn your place as my wife,
Mistress
Asta
Gojicia-Zajihn
. The sooner that ye adopt Zajihn as your clan name and drop Najihn, the faster your fellow clanswomen will respect our bond.”

Her teeth clenched but she lowered her finger from his chest. Controlling her fiery nature was always on his mind. Asta loudly declared, “I am the last of the Najihn Clan,
Master Johan
. Why would ye rob me of that title? All women of Clan Zajihn know that I am your bonded Mistress.”

She wanted to stomp her foot in the dry dirt when a familiar expression settled onto his face. Knowing a childish foot stomping would not benefit her in Clan Zajihn’s eyes, she made her mind up to do something that would.

With chin held high, she proudly promised, “I will defend Clan Zajihn while ye are away. Tell the guard I will relieve him.”

Johan’s patience almost fled. His father had spoken of willful women across vast waters from long ago times when felines were cocooned and thought to be gods. As a child, Johan had thought the legends of women rulers preposterous. He now frequently wondered if Asta was not a direct descendent of one such ruler. Her feline grace certainly spoke of such.

He growled, “Ye will finish your wifely duties and help prepare the village for tonight like a
Grand
Mistress
should.”

Furious over his denial of her obvious equality to men, Asta spun around and stomped off toward the women. Taking a deep breath, Johan turned to join the warriors who awaited the hunt. He had never met a woman so bent on rebelling against him. Asta was his perfect Mistress, revered by all the clan, but she needed something that escaped him. Frowning, Johan signaled for his men to follow while reflecting on how he could make her happy.

Mayhap a babe will slow her down.

When he looked her way again, Asta’s back was to him. A couple of the clansmen, with joyous mates wishing them well, glimpsed at her with curiosity too. Lately, she seemed even more defiant than usual.

Even though everyone adored her, any clansperson could see that she was forever restless where duties fitting a Mistress, not to mention one of such high status, were concerned. The men disentangled themselves from their partners and joined their Chief. None of them dared mention anything regarding their Grand Mistress’ behavior to Johan.

Back at the garden, the clanswomen respectfully averted their eyes and acted as if all was well between their Chief and Grand Mistress. It was not the first time nor would it be the last time that the couple loudly discussed traditional roles. Long ago, the women had grown accustomed to Mistress Asta’s defiant spirit.

Some had even attempted to mimic her fiery nature. Many warriors had towered over their mates, demanding due respect. Within months, those same females would normally grow large with a babe.

The women knew she could fight with the strength of a man, was a superb hunter, and held no hesitation when going up against an errant male. Tani, Asta’s only friend who was waiting to be paired with a bond mate, settled onto her knees beside Asta and whispered, “I know ye are going to leave after we finish. Please do not be foolish, Grand Mistress. Ye know ye will anger him.”

“Pshhh! Let him be mad for a change. I am tired of being angry for the both of us.” With a sideway nudge at Tani, Asta added, “I told ye to stop calling me Grand Mistress.”

Asta felt safe with Tani. She could show her belligerence. Her friend would understand. Every day, Asta watched the warriors go have fun on their hunts while the women did drudgery work within the village. Since Johan had chosen her as his Grand Mistress, knowing that denying the bond with a Chief was unheard of, she had rapidly entrusted Tani with her opinions.

Trying to understand Asta was no easy task. Tani watched the dry earth soak up a bit of their meager supply while whispering, “Come and help me get more water.”

Away from the ears of their fellow clanswomen, Tani tried again, “Asta, I know ye care deeply for our Grand Chief Johan. Why must ye test him so?”

Dipping the clay pot into the stream, Asta sighed as she reflected on her relationship with Johan over the years, “I do care but…” She turned her face away, hiding her pensiveness, “He is slow to understand some things about me.”

“Have ye not spoken of such things with him?”

Asta knew Tani meant well but since her friend was young and lacked a partner, thought her ignorant on the matter of bonding and mating. Shaking her head dismissively, Asta answered, “Worry not for us, my friend. All will be well. Now, help me finish so that I may have a moment to myself.”

Ignoring Tani’s loud sigh of defeat, Asta rose and began collecting the colorful crumbly minerals near the water’s edge. A celebratory monthly feast was scheduled to welcome two males who had just entered adulthood. They would officially become warriors after tonight. One of them had his eye on Tani.

Glancing over, Asta tried to draw her into conversation about him, “Nikoli made enough arrows to kill a herd.”

Tani shrugged, playing it off, “’Tis his right. He enjoys the work.”

Asta studied her, “He will bring ye back something. I’m sure of it.”

Tani lowered her head but not before Asta saw her blush. Smiling, Asta nudged her with an elbow, “I will speak with Johan,
Master Johan,
if ye want.”

Tani shook her head. In truth, mating scared her. She had seen many clanswomen die in childbirth. She and Nikoli spoke often. He seemed to want to bond faster than she did. Tani still did not know how she felt about him. She knew, of all the warriors, he was the most handsome and kind.

Thinking along those lines, Tani’s face heated. Asta asked, “Will ye mark him tonight?”

Tani’s gaze fell to the colorful minerals in her hand. Marking Nikoli with the sign of the phoenix could wait until next month. She shook her head and breathed, “Next moon phase, I might.”

“Why do ye wait?”

Tani stood and asked, “Why do ye rush me?”

Asta stood as well, “Mating is a grand thing to be a part of, Tani.”

“Is that why ye test Grand Chief Johan so?”

Tani gasped, slapping a colorful hand to her mouth. Asta made a face. Tani had a way of getting the best of her at times. Asta dropped the subject and said, “We must get back.”

The two women hurried to deposit their multi-colored goods before moving onto the next task. As they worked, Asta’s mind strayed to how she felt tracking and bringing down an animal. The exhilaration of selecting just the right animal, stalking it, and presenting the food for the clan held no comparison to that of women’s work.

Her movements were rushed as she pounded the colorful minerals into powder before handing the dust off to Tani. Her gaze strayed to the guard post while her mind cursed her dumb luck in being born female.

Asta was a beauty, with high cheekbones and a heart-shaped face. Her only true fear was fast moving water but only because she had seen too many floods sweep livestock and people alike to their deaths. Easily bored with menial tasks, she frequently slipped away in secret to keep self and skills sharp. Having witnessed too many women grow soft and demure after a bond mate ceremony, Asta vowed she would never grow content in such a fashion.

Her eyes darted upward. It was a perfect day for hunting. Anticipation roared through her blood, driving her restlessness mad. She brought the post down on the ochre hard, grunting as the chunk disintegrated. The woman in charge of replacing it thrust another piece under, fast as lightning, and yanked her hand back. Her gaze rose when Asta grunted louder as the piston hit home.

Working quickly alongside Tani, she was surprised when her friend’s hand stilled her motion. Tani’s pointed look spoke volumes but Asta was not listening. Her mind had turned predator, chasing phantom prey.

Tani tugged at her arm. Asta held the heavy pole off, blinking as she asked, “What is it, Tani?”

The girl whispered, “Go now or ye will crush some fingers. I will tell the other women that ye had to gather herbs near the grove of trees.”

Asta’s eyes flew to the woman who now wielded the pole. Darting back to Tani, she nodded and quickly left Tani’s side. Ignoring the mumblings of the other women, she headed for her secret stash of weapons. Ducking around the side of the hut, which she shared with Johan, Asta reached behind the thicket and snagged the small woven parcel. She happily increased her pace, moving toward an area away from the men, as anticipation flooded through her.

She kept up the rapid pace until a huge boulder came into view. Kneeling behind it, she grinned as a huge antelope bent to pull at a tuft of dry grass. Fitting her arrow to bow, she rose in time to see the animal dart away. Reflexes sent her onto her feet and jumping the boulder. With hair streaming wildly behind her, she chased the beast until it ran into the river rapids.

The fast-moving water made her back away. Looking left and right, a yelp tore from her throat. A wild boar, grunting as it charged, was closing in on her. Fleeing to the nearest tree, she shimmied up it and held on tight to the thick trunk. The boar rammed the tree again and again, sending vibrations through her entire body.

Waiting for the boar to tire itself out, her gaze lifted to the sky and noted the sun’s location. Darkness was closing in fast. Throwing caution to the wind, she carefully snaked onto a thick branch, wrapped her legs around it, and started to aim. The boar’s head smashed into the trunk again, sending her off the branch to hang upside down.

She smoothly twisted with the momentum, releasing the arrow straight at the beast’s head. The howling screeches of pain were music to her ears. Swiftly loading another arrow while dangling upside down, she tracked the beast’s backward movement and landed the next shot into its thick neck.

The raging beast finally turned away and ran. Asta maneuvered down as fast as possible, wishing she could track the animal and wait for death so she could bring back her own ceremonial kill. As the day grew even murkier, she headed back but knew she would arrive late for the evening’s ceremony.