whisper in hushed voices of the Beast that lurked on the mountain above. Anja didn't know which was true, but she didn't want to draw a token. She wanted to marry Lucas. They would build a cottage on his family's farm, well away from the main house, and tend their own fields and herds. She would bear him children, and...
Lost in thought even as she hurried down the forest path, Anja barely noticed the rustling of leaves behind her. When two thick arms wrapped around her waist, she screamed and dropped her basket. Truffles scattered on the trail as her basket tumbled downhill.
"What's the hurry?" a deep voice said. Warm lips brushed against her neck, and thick stubble scratched against her soft skin.
Anja spun and slapped a broad, muscular chest as she pushed away. "Curse you, Lucas Salkar! You scared me!"
Her betrothed let out a deep belly laugh that made his wide shoulders shake with merriment. "My apologies, dearest." He leaned his longbow against a nearby tree. "I was only having a bit of fun. You're easier to stalk than a doe with fennel fever."
Lucas wore a coat and breeches of sturdy buckskin, but his muscular frame seemed to stretch the stitching when he moved. A quiver hung on one hip, and a brace of rabbits on the other, killed so neatly that Anja couldn't even see the bloody wounds where arrows had pierced them. Despite his size, he moved with a fluid grace, and he had a beautiful smile.
Anja felt a tingle of delight just looking at him. Every girl in Krall wanted Lucas Salkar, but his gaze had fallen on Anja. More than his gaze, in fact. Anja blushed at the memory of his hands beneath her woolen dress, but she hadn't given him everything yet. Until she was married or a Sending was held, she had to remain a virgin.
"I'm glad you're so easily amused," Anja said with a wry grin. "Now help me gather up these truffles. I want to get home."
"As you command, my lady."Lucas gave her a mocking little bow, then scampered around on nimble feet, gathering up the truffles and tossing them into the basket. Even in the fading light, Lucas had no problem finding the dark little clumps, and soon he handed back her basket with exaggerated deference.
Anja arched an eyebrow. "And the one you slipped in your pouch?"
Lucas's expression conveyed complete innocence and shock. "Why, if there's a truffle in my pouch, surely it must have fallen in by mistake, or perhaps my lady meant to surprise me with a generous gift?"
Anja rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh, just keep it. But since you're out here, might you escort a lady home?"
Lucas offered her an arm, and together they continued down the trail, past the farm and back into a swath of thick forest. Anja felt no need to hurry now, not with Lucas by her side. She leaned against him as they strolled, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Still, worry gnawed at Anja. "Lucas, do you think there will be a Sending this year?" she said softly.
He stiffened beside her. She knew he wanted to protect her, and this was an uncomfortable topic. He was silent for a long moment. "Yes," he said. "It's been too long."
Tears welled up in Anja's eyes, and she stopped and threw her arms around him. "Oh Lucas, what if I'm chosen? What then?"
He held her as she sobbed, stroking her curling dark hair with his thick, sure fingers. "Shh, little Anja. Twenty other girls could be chosen. Why should it be you?"
Anja knew he was right. If there was a Sending, it was unlikely that she would draw the token. For all she knew, it might snow tonight, and she would be safe. Her tears dried up and her breathing slowed, but she snuggled her head deeper into Lucas's broad chest. He felt warm and safe, and she didn't want to leave him yet.
Lucas bent to kiss the top of her head, then inhaled deeply. His lips found her ear, and he nibbled lightly at the lobe. Anja groaned. His mouth was warm and soft against her skin,
Lost in thought even as she hurried down the forest path, Anja barely noticed the rustling of leaves behind her. When two thick arms wrapped around her waist, she screamed and dropped her basket. Truffles scattered on the trail as her basket tumbled downhill.
"What's the hurry?" a deep voice said. Warm lips brushed against her neck, and thick stubble scratched against her soft skin.
Anja spun and slapped a broad, muscular chest as she pushed away. "Curse you, Lucas Salkar! You scared me!"
Her betrothed let out a deep belly laugh that made his wide shoulders shake with merriment. "My apologies, dearest." He leaned his longbow against a nearby tree. "I was only having a bit of fun. You're easier to stalk than a doe with fennel fever."
Lucas wore a coat and breeches of sturdy buckskin, but his muscular frame seemed to stretch the stitching when he moved. A quiver hung on one hip, and a brace of rabbits on the other, killed so neatly that Anja couldn't even see the bloody wounds where arrows had pierced them. Despite his size, he moved with a fluid grace, and he had a beautiful smile.
Anja felt a tingle of delight just looking at him. Every girl in Krall wanted Lucas Salkar, but his gaze had fallen on Anja. More than his gaze, in fact. Anja blushed at the memory of his hands beneath her woolen dress, but she hadn't given him everything yet. Until she was married or a Sending was held, she had to remain a virgin.
"I'm glad you're so easily amused," Anja said with a wry grin. "Now help me gather up these truffles. I want to get home."
"As you command, my lady."Lucas gave her a mocking little bow, then scampered around on nimble feet, gathering up the truffles and tossing them into the basket. Even in the fading light, Lucas had no problem finding the dark little clumps, and soon he handed back her basket with exaggerated deference.
Anja arched an eyebrow. "And the one you slipped in your pouch?"
Lucas's expression conveyed complete innocence and shock. "Why, if there's a truffle in my pouch, surely it must have fallen in by mistake, or perhaps my lady meant to surprise me with a generous gift?"
Anja rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh, just keep it. But since you're out here, might you escort a lady home?"
Lucas offered her an arm, and together they continued down the trail, past the farm and back into a swath of thick forest. Anja felt no need to hurry now, not with Lucas by her side. She leaned against him as they strolled, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Still, worry gnawed at Anja. "Lucas, do you think there will be a Sending this year?" she said softly.
He stiffened beside her. She knew he wanted to protect her, and this was an uncomfortable topic. He was silent for a long moment. "Yes," he said. "It's been too long."
Tears welled up in Anja's eyes, and she stopped and threw her arms around him. "Oh Lucas, what if I'm chosen? What then?"
He held her as she sobbed, stroking her curling dark hair with his thick, sure fingers. "Shh, little Anja. Twenty other girls could be chosen. Why should it be you?"
Anja knew he was right. If there was a Sending, it was unlikely that she would draw the token. For all she knew, it might snow tonight, and she would be safe. Her tears dried up and her breathing slowed, but she snuggled her head deeper into Lucas's broad chest. He felt warm and safe, and she didn't want to leave him yet.
Lucas bent to kiss the top of her head, then inhaled deeply. His lips found her ear, and he nibbled lightly at the lobe. Anja groaned. His mouth was warm and soft against her skin,
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