Of Blood And Snow - Paranormal Romance Serial Ebook

Chapter 24

Scarlet steadied her horse with a gentle hand against its neck. It tossed its black head and snorted. She was growing impatient too, but Corazon had assured her that the sixth garrison wasn’t far now. They had left the safety of the forest behind at dusk and headed out down the valleys towards the garrison that would bring them to the front line of this new war. The hills had grown in stature from those she knew back at the fourth garrison. Down here, they towered above her, their tops bare and rocky.

The night was drawing on and her eyes kept heading skyward, towards the east where the sun would rise. It was still a few hours off, but it was taking far longer than she had expected to reach the safety of the garrison and she was beginning to worry that the sun would rise before they made it there.

Corazon geed on his horse and moved on ahead of her. He settled beside General Violet and began speaking to her. Scarlet noticed that he had avoided coming up alongside General Constantine. In fact, he had avoided him totally since his arrival at the fourth garrison.

Her senses sparked and she looked across to see that some of the humans had broken rank and come up beside her. Several were mounted. One of them was Jacob. He looked across at her, dark eyes penetrating hers and bringing back memories of her torture. She frowned at him, stifling her troubled emotions so he wouldn’t see how much they still shook her. He moved his horse closer.

There was a whinny and suddenly Troy was between her and Jacob, blocking the man’s path. His horse threw its head back and the flash of white down its head shone bright in the low moonlight.

“Steady girl,” Troy said in a hushed voice and then turned his attention to Jacob. She couldn’t see the look that Troy gave him, but it must have been dark and full of meaning because the human moved away from her, he and his companions dropping back into line with the rest.

Troy looked at her.

“Thank you,” Scarlet said and reached across to touch his hand. She was surprised when he reached out to her too, meeting her halfway and capturing her fingers in his. It was comforting.

“I will not let them near you,” he said with so much emotion that she was forced to lower her gaze out of embarrassment. “Neither will Corazon.”

She nodded her thanks and took her hand back. Troy remained close to her, his presence giving her a warm sense of safety that chased away her fears. Corazon looked back over his shoulder at her and she smiled at him when he looked worried. Obviously, he had felt her fear too.

He turned his horse around and came back to her, falling into line on the opposite side of her to Troy. She smiled inside, amused at being so tightly sandwiched between the two men, as though someone would dare attack her when she was among so many of her kin.

“Look, Scarlet,” Corazon said and pointed into the distance.

She looked there. Tiny yellow flickers in the darkness pinpointed the sixth garrison. It wasn’t far now. The hills continued on just past it and then gradually lowered towards the ground. The garrison was at the valley mouth. A good strategic position for it. When the vampires from the other territory attacked, they would be forced into the valley and have less room for manoeuvre. Getting past the garrison to surround them would be impossible. Her heart lifted at that thought. There was a chance they could win this.

The ride to the garrison passed quickly and soon she was following Corazon through the open gates and into the courtyard. She looked around her, noticing that this garrison was far larger than her own. There were a lot of low stone buildings near the walls, sheltered beneath them. The central courtyard was expansive and clear. In the middle of it stood rows of soldiers, all saluting them as they rode in. She recognised some of them as members of the twenty-first company.

Corazon stopped his horse and she rode up beside him and then came to a halt. Troy stopped next to her. The generals were in front of them.

Quick footsteps alerted her to the presence of someone she wished she didn’t have to see again. She kept her face forwards as Captain Daliel moved along the front line of his men and then turned his back on them.

“It is an honour to welcome you to sixth garrison,” he said with a stiff bow in the generals’ direction. “Thank you for bringing this war.”

“Captain Daliel,” General Constantine said in a dark voice. “War is always something to be thankful for. May it give you opportunity to prove the worth of yourself and your men. We are grateful for your hospitality.”

Scarlet didn’t think war was something to be thankful for. A glance at Troy and Corazon revealed that they didn’t think so either. Their hard set frowns told her that.

“Quarters have been arranged for the companies, although space is limited. The day watches have been given temporary quarters at the rear of the garrison,” he said and there was a growl from the werewolves. Clearly, they didn’t like the way Captain Daliel had said that, as though they didn’t belong with the rest of their company. It was obvious that those not affected by the day should use the tents, but he could have said it in a way that didn’t make them sound unworthy. “The humans can set up camp at the rear of the garrison also.”

There was a murmur among the humans. Had they expected vampires to offer them accommodation? It was enough that they weren’t forcing the humans to sleep outside the garrison walls. She wished they were. She didn’t feel safe knowing that humans would be walking around the garrison while she was asleep and vulnerable.

It took her a moment to realise that Corazon and Troy had dismounted. She quickly followed suit and dropped down from her horse. Her foot slid on the damp stone floor and she squeaked. Corazon’s hands on her shoulders stopped her from falling on her backside. She leaned her back into him for a moment before standing up.

“Careful, Scarlet,” he whispered into her ear and she was reminded of that night on the wall all those months ago. The night that he had left her. The night he had first kissed her.

She turned sharply and looked at him, her eyes full of tears. He looked confused for a moment and then his expression melted into concern, as though he didn’t need to know what was wrong. Her being upset was enough to make him worry. He didn’t need an explanation to make him want to see that she was all right.

His fingers brushed her cheek, chasing away her tears and sending warmth to her heart.

“Captain Corazon.” Daliel’s voice startled her and she stepped away from Corazon, turning to look at him. He ran his eyes over her in a way that made her skin crawl and pushed the locks of his blond hair from his face. It was longer now, scruffy. She was thankful when he at last turned his attention to Corazon.

Scarlet stepped quietly towards Corazon, until she was almost behind him.

“General Violet has suggested that I surrender my quarters to you, as commanding captain of this attack. They are near the East Wall. One of my men will show you,” Daliel said with so much venom in his voice that Scarlet could feel the hatred seething inside him. General Violet had played a dangerous card by demanding Captain Daliel give Corazon his quarters. Surely, she had to know how much Daliel hated him? This would only add fuel to the fire. “First Lieutenant Troy’s quarters are beside them. The rest of seventh company’s quarters are further down towards my new quarters and my company’s quarters.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. Her quarters would be near to Daliel. She wished that General Violet hadn’t interfered. This was only going to make things worse. Now she had to worry about the humans and Daliel.

Corazon nodded. Captain Daliel gave her another appraising glance before walking off towards Captain Karin of the twelfth company. Scarlet looked back at Corazon.

“I will not let him near you,” he said. Those words were a comfort to her, but they wouldn’t keep her safe while she was away from him at her quarters.

“Sir, if you’ll follow me,” a young woman said.

“Company,” Corazon said and Scarlet fell into line with them, remembering her place.

Corazon and Troy led the way, following the young woman from the twenty-first. Scarlet’s heart became heavier the closer they got to the quarters designated to them. When Corazon and Troy were shown to their quarters and left her, she became anxious. She remained in line even when her heart said to go to Corazon or Troy, to remain close to them where she was safe. Her sense of duty prevailed. She was a corporal first and foremost. She didn’t deserve any special recognition.

The woman left them when they had reached their quarters. Scarlet led the way inside and looked around her as everyone settled themselves, choosing their bunk. It was as dank and grey as her quarters back home at the fourth garrison. She stepped outside, not caring where her bed was. When everyone was settled, she would find the one remaining empty bed and take that as her own. Aradne would probably save her one. She and Milton had been chosen to come with the company. They had left around a quarter of each company back at the garrisons and half of the werewolves. It was a clever tactic by Corazon. If the humans tried to betray them, they wouldn’t find the garrisons easy to take over.

Breathing in deeply, she tilted her head back and looked at the sky. The stars were fading. Dawn was coming.

She stared at them, lost in her thoughts, watching the sky gradually lighten.

“Corporal Scarlet,” an unfamiliar voice said. She brought her eyes down to see a man stood before her. The insignia on the arm of his black tunic said he was from the twenty-first.

“Yes?” she said with raised brows. It was far lighter out then she had expected. How long had she been staring at the sky?

“Captain Corazon requests your presence at his quarters. He said it was urgent.”

She held the smile inside and gave the man a confused look, trying to throw his suspicions off course. “But it’s so close to dawn.”

“He said it was urgent,” he repeated with a look that said he didn’t want to have to go back to Corazon and explain that she wouldn’t come.

The sun was almost up, but it wasn’t just that which frightened the man. Corazon could be formidable when he was in a bad mood and he had a reputation for being harsh and cold. The man probably thought Corazon would punish him if he came back without her.

“I should go then. I know the way. Thank you,” she said and was walking away before he could say anything.

It was a long way to Corazon’s quarters and fear of the sun saw her almost running at one point. When she reached his door, she swiftly knocked and jigged about on the spot while she waited for him to answer. She looked up at the sky. Thin ribbons of morning cloud were tinted with pink and gold. Her senses screamed that the sun was coming. Panic set in. Maybe she had the wrong door.

She knocked again, more urgently this time, and didn’t stop.

It opened and she stood with her hand still raised.

A bare-chested Corazon looked down at her, a shirt held in one hand. His dark eyebrows rose.

“I did not expect you to knock,” he said and stepped to the side. She hurried inside and glared at the outside world as he closed the door. The sun was streaking across the courtyard. That was too close. If her heart had still beat, it would have been breaking out of her chest.

“I wasn’t sure it was your quarters. I didn’t want to just walk in. Besides, you’re my captain. How would it look if I just walked in and someone saw me?”

“True,” he said and pursed his lips. He placed his shirt down over the back of a chair.

“You wanted to see me?” she said.

The corner of his mouth tugged into a half smile that held a hint of seduction. “I did.”

She smiled too. “Anything in particular you wanted to discuss or was making me run halfway across the garrison purely a selfish act so you could see me?”

“I wanted to discuss your sleeping arrangements.” Corazon moved across the room to her and placed his hands on her waist, drawing her close to him. Her arms slid around his neck and she rolled her eyes closed when he kissed her. It was slow and sensual, stirring heady desire inside her that fogged her mind and made it impossible to think. She could only feel. It felt divine.

When he broke the kiss and pulled back, she was smiling wide and feeling a little giddy. She still wasn’t used to being kissed. Every touch of his lips to hers made her stomach flip and warm through.

“I’m listening,” she said and ran her hands down his shoulders to his arms.

“This is wrong of me... and it will place you in a position where you may find others criticising or talking about you... but I would prefer you to stay in my quarters, where I know you are safe.” He let go of her and paced a short distance away. His tone was troubled and spoke of his conflict. He didn’t want to expose her to rumours and snide remarks, but he wanted to keep her safe from harm. “If you would prefer, I can stay with Troy.”

She shook her head, instantly dismissing his suggestion. “I would rather you stayed with me. I don’t think Captain Daliel would try anything though.”

“I would not be so sure if I were you. He saw us tonight and I saw him. He wants you for his own, Scarlet. Do not underestimate how far he will go to achieve his desires. I fear that General Violet has only made his feelings towards me stronger. He wants you and he wants to hurt me, now more than ever. He could so easily do that when you’re in the company quarters.”

Suddenly her desire was gone, replaced by a chill that froze her heart. She had seen how vicious Daliel could be and knew instinctively how far he would go in order to spite Corazon. He wanted her for that reason alone. Back at the fourth garrison, Troy had kept her safe from harm. Now they were at a strange garrison where Daliel was commander. It would be all too easy for her to become lost and vulnerable to Daliel’s attentions and sadistic desire to hurt Corazon.

Corazon hadn’t asked her to come here because he wanted to be close to her. He had asked her because he wanted to make sure that she was safe from Daliel. It probably weighed heavy on his mind. If she were here, he would be able to rest easy knowing that she was locked away from Daliel.

The door lock clicked shut just as she thought that and she looked over her shoulder at Corazon. He turned and leaned back against it, making it clear that he wasn’t going to let her go anywhere. She smiled and walked over to him. Her fingers brushed his chest, tracing patterns across his stomach. She loved the silken feel of his skin and the way his muscles tensed beneath her touch.

“I’ll be careful, Corazon,” she whispered up at him. His eyes fell to her mouth, becoming hooded and dark with desire. “I won’t let anyone but you touch me... ever.”

He lowered his mouth towards hers and captured her lips with his own, kissing her into oblivion. His hands grasped her shoulders, holding her against his body and trapping her hands between them. She kissed him back as fervent desire stole over her, controlling her actions.

Here she was safe from anything.

In his arms.