He’d been careful not to allow them the sight of his power, just how far he’d gone. They didn’t see the sacrifices, the blood. It didn’t matter why the Omega screamed. All they saw were her many cuts and bruises, her straggling hair and exhausted eyes. How he’d dragged her behind Kal until the fool beast decided he liked the sniveling female.
He needed to be more cautious and now he’d lost his chance to speak with Tor’en about the way the Omega affected him. Perhaps only the day, but knowing the grizzled old mage, it would be several more before Er’it could pry more than monosyllabic answers from him.
With a growling sigh, Er’it shoved the tent flap aside, ready to offer a small peace. He could do that and not give ground to the slip of a woman who seemed to be ruling him by his cock.
She wasn’t there. Every trace of her gone, from the ruined gown to the remaining food.
His growl became a roar as he shoved back through the opening, scanning the milling groups for the sight of tawny gold skin and the most perfect shade of gleaming russet.
A scream sent his feet pounding against the dry dirt, racing through the crowd. Mindless of who he pushed and shoved, he had to find the source before…
Er’it refused to think of what might be happening. Made his legs pump faster as another scream shattered the valley.
Chapter 10 Aida
She knew it was foolish to leave the relative safety of the small structure, but the boy had told her they had to take down the tents. Sharpish. Whatever that had meant. Despite being so exhausted, sore in ways she never thought possible, and clothed in only Er’it’s long shirt from the day before, she’d scurried away. So many bustling youths, each of them grunting under the strain of their burdens, she hadn’t wanted to get in their way or call attention to herself, so she’d wandered along the bent and twisted tree line to where several horses stood caged by thick ropes. There she’d found Kal.
Kept far away from the other animals, Kal nibbled at the brittle leaves of the tree someone had tied him to before his head swung around so fast it scared her. More so at the thought she’d started him. She’d heard Otaso’s dogs fighting before, and on one occasion saw one sneak up on another to steal a well gnawed bone. The attack had been twice as vicious as usual, both the defeated and victor well marked and bloody by the end.
“I-I’m sorry,” Aida whispered, hating that her voice trembled so.
Kal snorted at her, ambling to the end of his tether. When Aida remained frozen, he stretched his neck as far as he could, thick lips smacking at her.
“I have nothing!” Aida gasped, covering her mouth with her fingers as she jumped from one horrible conclusion to the next.
Kal’s head ducked low, and he snorted again, pawing at the crumbling dirt. As if in a shrug, his hide twitched, and he strained further, making the thick rope creak and groan. Dark eyes lazy, soft, he made little nods at her.
“I do not understand what you wish now.”
Frustrated with her lack of movement, Kal stepped back towards the tree. Whipping his head around, two swift bites of massive teeth ended the rope’s life. Now free, feathered hooves prancing in a seeming happy display, he trotted over to Aida. Followed her as she shuffled back, snorting once again before shoving his nose into the center of her belly. Careful of his horns, he nodded his head, scratching his nose against her. Almost lifting Aida from her feet as he found he could drag his nose from belly to sternum in one go.
“Please stop,” Aida hissed, tugging at the tunic to keep her legs covered as much as they could be. Each jerk of Kal’s head sending the hem flying upwards, flashing her bare thighs to whomever might pass by. “He’ll be furious with me. It will be all my fault, no matter that you did it.”
Kal’s response was vicious snort. Head swooped down over her shoulder, he pushed at her back until Aida was flush against the beast’s massive chest. Her squeak of dismay when his hooves shifted far too close to her unshod feet quieted as she heard voices coming closer.
“Oh, no,” Aida whimpered, tucking herself closer against Kal and edging along his far side. Careful to keep a hand on his downy hide so as not to startle him, she hid in his shadow against the tree. If anyone were to see her dressed so, it would be just like before. She couldn’t walk behind Kal on her tether again, no matter that he kept his steps slow. The raw wounds Maruk called blisters still decorated her feet, each step more painful than the last.
“The fucking beast is loose again,” a man said, the rusty sound of his voice unfamiliar. Not Ath’asho then, not that she thought he would speak of Er’it’s mount so.
“Just leave him, Lael. We’ll give him a wide berth and it’ll be fine.”
“Until he charges one of ’em.”
“Seems occupied at the moment. Wonder why he freed himself.” The other man’s voice grew as he drew closer, the crunching of heavy boots loud to Aida’s ears. “Easy now, Kal. Just going to have a look around, all right?”
Kal made that dreadful rumbling sound, the beginning of a storm. His head lowered, brandishing the spiraling horns atop his head while his tail snapped in warning.
“All right, boy! No need to get in a huff.” The man hurried back, feet scuffing along the ground.
“Well isn’t this a surprise,” the first man said
