The Battle Lord Saga 02 - Her Battle Lord's Desire (19 page)

anymore.”

“That’s a shame. He was a good kid. A promising soldier. How are the men adapting to

being in the compound?”

The physician waited until Yulen had gotten his coffee and a slice of the sweet bread that

had been freshly baked, and they had taken a seat at a nearby table.

“Amazingly, the men are getting along well. One or two minor skirmishes, nothing to get

alarmed about,” he insisted when Yulen gave him an insistent stare. “You can’t undo generations

of hate and distrust in just a few months, but I gotta admit, you’ve accomplished miracles.”

“And Atty.”

“You’re right. You and Atty. By the way, how’s it going with the new treaty?”

Yulen drained his mug. “Better than I expected. Twoson has taken over as head of the

Council, and he’s convinced the others about the practicality of most of my suggestions.”

“How much longer do you think we’ll be staying, then? Any idea?”

“No. None. I don’t want to rush anything with these people. There’s too much at stake.

Anyway, there’s the other Mutah compounds I want to learn about. With everyone’s help here in

Wallis, they’ll be able to pave the way for me to extend the treaty to the others.”

“Battle Lady about!”

The call rang out, surprising everyone with the announcement. Moreso the inhabitants of

the compound, who had never heard the cry before.

MaGrath looked at his friend. “It’s only past nine. She’s back already?”

The same question seemed to be going around the compound. Atty normally took most of

the day to return with her kill. Yulen jumped to his feet and began to run to the far end of the

compound where she would be heading. His first thought was that something had gone wrong.

Either something had gone wrong, or someone had gotten hurt. There was no other possible

reason for her to return after just a few hours into the hunt. Not unless...

Stepping outside the compound wall, Yulen paused in the doorway, straining his eyes to

see where she would emerge from the undergrowth. He glanced up at the sentry, who pointed in

the direction she was coming from. Around him others were gathering to check out what was

going on. From the whispers he could overhear, Yulen could tell that, to them, her early return

was not normal.

There was a movement in the bushes, and Atty emerged alone and empty-handed. A

quick scan let him know she was uninjured, and he let out the breath he’d been holding.

Looking up at the sentry, she stopped just short of the clearing. “I need two horses, at

least thirty feet of good, heavy rope, and four strong men,” she called out loudly to everyone

watching.

“What’s wrong? Are you in need of help? Are you hurt?” the sentry questioned.

At his elbow, Yulen caught Paxton’s eyes. The lieutenant nodded and immediately

vanished to fetch the required materials.

“Yes and no,” she replied. “Hurry!”

It was Paxton and three of his subordinates who came running around the corner of the

compound and followed Atty back into the forest. Once they vanished from sight, Yulen went

back inside the compound to wait for her return.

“What was that all about?” MaGrath wondered aloud.

“No telling, but it’s going to take two horses and four men to solve whatever problem

she’s encountered.” Another cup of coffee nestled in his hands. “Atty promised to show me

around the compound later and point out places of interest. Care to come with us?”

“Thanks. I would enjoy that. In the meantime, I’m heading over to their little apothecary

to speak with the man who’s their doctor. I’m dying to see what medicines he uses. Trade a few

secrets, if not a few ingredients.”

Yulen chuckled. “Have fun, Liam. I’ll send for you when we’re ready. I’ll be back at my

desk as soon as I get another cup of this stuff inside me.”

“Watch the caffeine, Yulen. Too much, and you’ll have one helluva headache.”

Waving him on, the Battle Lord went back for his second refill before heading for work.

It was less than an two hours later when a shout arose, followed by a roar from the crowd

that had remained at the compound walls. Yulen broke his attention away from his paperwork

when the call went out again.

“Battle Lady about!”

This time most of Wallis had migrated to the east wall to see why Atty had returned so

soon. They didn’t have long to wait.

“Oh, good heavens! What
is
that?”

Yulen glanced over at Mastin standing beside him. “It looks like an elk.”

“An elk? The damn thing looks to weigh half a ton!”

Grinning, the Battle Lord nodded. “Yep. Which is why she needed two horses and four

strong men.”

He stepped through the doorway and began to make his way toward the knot of men

emerging from the forest. The enormous bull elk had been lashed to a travois between the horses,

but it was evident it had been slow going through the underbrush. All four soldiers accompanying

it were doing their best to keep the beast centered on the makeshift carrier. Atty trailed along

behind. Yulen noticed it had taken six arrows to bring it down—two to the left eye, one to the

right, one inside the mouth, and two in the neck. He could only guess what it must have taken for

her to pull off the shots, or what she had been put through that forced her to use so many arrows.

“Everyone’s wondering why you’re back so soon,” he told her. She was flushed with the

conquest, and he found himself wishing he could pull her into his arms and smother her with

kisses before carrying her back to their tent and having lusty sex with her. Instead, he gripped his

sword at his side and forced an amused smile on his face.

“Yeah, well, tell them I got lucky. It practically ran me over before I managed to get off

the first shot.” She was breathing heavily, and Yulen realized she was still pumped full of

adrenalin. Without warning, he could envision her beneath him, soaked in sweat and breathing

just as heavily as he slid his heavy length into her tight, wet channel. As they pounded each other,

striving for that perfect plateau. And later when their bodies melted back into the quilts after the

sexual shock and strain of their releases. His dick immediately became rock hard. Willing himself

to calm down didn’t help. Yulen shook his head.

“Are you okay?” she asked him, suddenly concerned. Their eyes locked, and they were

rocked by the bolt of burning lust that passed between them. Atty had started to reach out to

him, but the raw hunger she saw on his face seared her, and she drew back instinctively. The ache

she’d managed to temper during the hunt blossomed, quickly growing in intensity. She began to

burn internally, until the rest of her strength crumbled from the heat. Her knees grew weak.

Simultaneously, Yulen stumbled as he saw the undisguised desire in her gaze. She’d

unconsciously let down her defenses, and there was no longer any way she could hide her need

from him. Catching himself before he could fall, he put out a hand to steady himself, only to

encounter her hand. Their fingers clasped tightly, almost hurtfully, and the connection seared

them.

“Yul...”

She started to walk into his embrace, unmindful of the hundreds of eyes intently watching

them. Yulen found he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but feel his body

respond to hers as he realized she was letting him know she giving up her self-imposed exile and

finally relinquishing herself to him.

Their wait was over. He was free once more to cherish her body, and slake their sexual

thirst. Her invitation, though unspoken, was a white flag fluttering in the breeze.

He reached out with his free hand to draw her against him, when a dozen Mutah citizens

came running toward them to congratulate Atty on her kill, and to aid the soldiers in bringing the

elk the rest of the way into the compound. They swept her off her feet and hoisted her on their

shoulders as they marched her back into the compound. Atty glanced over her shoulder at him in

silent desperation.

Yulen stood back to watch, his body quivering with anticipation.
Soon
, an inner voice

whispered.
Soon.
Tonight.

The rejoicing began almost immediately as the women in the compound descended upon

the still-warm animal and began preparing it, detaching the head before skinning the rest of the

carcass. Several soldiers joined the Mutah men in digging a pit big enough to roast the elk.

When measured, the rack was over eight feet wide and bore more than twenty points. It

was presented with a flourish to Atty, which she declined. “It goes in the caste lodge,” she

instructed. Her eyes searched the courtyard, but Yulen had vanished. Her body tingled as she

realized the enormity of what she had done. No more doubts, no more fears. No more long,

aching nights.

She had made her decision, and, without realizing it until now, she had made her choice

very clear to her husband. She would give herself to him tonight. For the entire night. A night to

be filled with exquisite rapture and happiness. And then, for every night thereafter.

Closing her eyes, she groaned with anticipation. It was not yet noon. Somehow they had

to make it through the rest of the day.

But it was going to be damn hard.

Atty waited a good hour for Yulen to return. She knew he had work to do, and

understood how much he had to accomplish on this trip, but she wanted him nearby to bask in her

accomplishment. Yes, it was a selfish request. One she knew she had no right to ask. Yet...

Getting to her feet, she went in search of him, already knowing where he would be and what he

would be doing.

As expected, he was surrounded by a group of men engaged in a spirited discussion. She

stood on the perimeter of their huddle, listening. This was one area of expertise she readily

acquiesced to her husband. He was good at his job. There were evenings when she could sit at

the table in the main lodge and just listen for hours to him conversing with the men. The sound of

his well-modulated voice would soothe her, eventually lulling her into sleep and forcing him to

carry her upstairs to their bedroom to put her to bed.

But enough was enough. He had asked her to save him at varying times throughout their

visit and show him around the compound. At that moment she needed to be with him. She

needed to see him, touch him, glance into his eyes. She wanted his hands about her. She had to

feel his warmth and brush her cheek against his chest.

Barging through the crowd, she slapped both hands down on the papers spread out before

them, careful not to smudge the fresh ink.

“All work and no play makes Yulen a dull boy,” she announced firmly, giving her husband

a knowing stare. “I’m declaring the next hour or so as time off to give you a breath of fresh air

and a chance to clear your head so you can come back to this table with a new perspective and

renewed vigor. So, how about it, husband of mine? Want to take a walk around the compound

and let me play tour guide?”

Yulen gave the Council a rueful grimace. “You men have known Atty longer than I have.

What do you think my chances are of refusing her?”

Twoson snorted, grinning. “One hour?” he asked Atty, to double-check.

“Two.”

“All right. Two hours. We’ll be waiting. Oh, and, by the way, good kill, Atty.”

Atty watched as they left. She heard a soft chuckle beside her. Looking behind her, she

saw her reflection in his blue-gray eyes.

“Your timing, as always, is perfect, my Atrilan,” he murmured.

She shuddered involuntarily. He never used her full name except in their most private

moments. She received a second shock when he picked up her hand and turned it over, placing it

against his cheek.

“Tell me I wasn’t dreaming out in the field,” he whispered huskily. “I haven’t been able to

concentrate on what I’m suppose to be doing ever since that moment.” He pressed her palm

against his mouth and began doing things to the sensitive skin with his lips and tongue.

“I was...” She tried to swallow but found she had no spit. Her legs threatened to give

way as a slow tendril of desire curled itself into a little ball in the middle of her abdomen. “I was

going to show you the hunters lodge,” she finally managed to say, unable to break away from his

gaze.

“Tell me what I want to hear,” he demanded again, more softly than before. “Tell me

what I see in your eyes. Tell me, my love. Confession time.” A small smile tilted the corners of

his mouth when he felt her growing warmer. Like a small furnace, she was beginning to glow.

The sound of someone clearing his throat came from behind them. Yulen dropped his

head and swore silently. Looking over his shoulder, as he expected, Mastin was waiting to speak.

“Cole, you’re beginning to make this a bad habit,” the Battle Lord half-accused, half-threatened

him.

“Yes, sir,” Mastin automatically replied, undeterred by Yulen’s comment. “There’s a

small altercation over on the south side of the compound. The parties involved won’t budge

unless you act as their intermediary.”

“Can’t you handle it under my authority?”

Mastin shook his head. “They won’t listen to me, sir. Only you.”