The mist made the road even more difficult to follow, but Wilfred, the crusty, white-haired driver, continued on their way to the DeCercy Castle of Perjure. Lady Cairistiona de Gramercy was staring sorrowfully out the carriage window. Her handmaid, Toireasa, sat next to her, quietly ongoing with her stitching. She wondered how long her mistress would continue the way she was. She barely ate or spoke, ever since the mysterious disappearance of her sister, Lady Naomi. Cairistiona had been very close to her older sister and still believed the kidnapping was her fault. For she had been the one that begged her sister to go out riding without the accompany of her father. She had been the one who was too frightened and ignorant to fight against the scoundrels that had chased the two.
The two young ladies were on their way to Cairistiona’s betrothed, Nicholas de Cartere, for safety and a treaty marriage. A ransom letter had been sent to Cairistiona and Naomi’s father, Lord Maurice de Gramercy, plainly stating the bastard would come for Cairistiona before long. This frightened Lord Maurice, so in desperation for his daughter’s life, he sent her as far from Eaglebrook Castle as possible. For Cairistiona it was all a horrible nightmare she wished she could escape from. She just wanted her sister back, she could barely stand being sent away like this, away from the only other family she had. Her younger brother, Rudolf, her mother, Felicity, her father, and all the people she loved, and who loved her. She was headed to the arms of a stranger who would change her life forever.
Horse neighs broke the silence of the journey. But they didn’t come from the carriage horses, but from an unknown source. It was too foggy to see who it was.
“Just stay put my lady. Who goes there?” Wilfred called out into the bleakness of the night and the tangible mist. The horses came closer, without answering the driver’s shouts. Three figures came out through of the fog. One of the three stepped forward, he wore a long black cloak and his shoulder length ebony hair tied back from his dark face. His face was mysteriously handsome in the moonlight, almost as beautiful as the emeralds of his eyes shone with full masculine dominance and power.
“Good evening, my lady, sir. Would you mind revealing your name, my lady?” His deep voice made Cairistiona shiver. She sat mutely, praying they would leave. “I asked you a question, woman!” His voice became more demanding.
“My lady doesn’t need to answer any of your questions. We’ll continue our journey, my lady.” Wilfred growled, sneering at the man. He just sneered back.
“She will answer my question, or I’ll slit one of your throats.”
“She’s Lady Cairistiona de Gramercy of Eaglebrook. Now please let us be.” Toireasa pleaded, fear pronounced through her thin voice.
“Can she not speak for herself? I asked her.” The man shouted, jerking the reins of his horse and trotted up to the stagecoach. He jerked the carriage door open leaning in to reach her. Cairistiona moved back quickly, to escape to the other side. She wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed her about her slender waist and pulled her out of the carriage. One of his other men was pulling Toireasa out as well.
“Now as I was saying before, what is your name, woman?” The man pulled Cairistiona closer. But she ignored his question and pushed forcefully against his chest. A rumbled of laughter formed deep in his chest, as his grasp on her tightened. “I’ll ask once more.” He nodded to the men that held Toireasa, they pushed a silver dagger against her white throat. “What is your name wench?”
“Don’t kill me please. Please.” Toireasa cried, sending a pleading look to Cairistiona.
“If she answers my question, I won’t hurt you.” He smirked over at the other men. Cairistiona bit her lower lip and finally rose her chin.
“I’m Lady Cairistiona de Gramercy, and I do not appreciate theses threats. Unhand her and let us on our way.”
“Well, the little dove can speak. Well Lady de Gramercy, I’ll be generous and let your driver return to your castle but only to thank your father for his beautiful daughter. Blind-fold the ladies and send the old man on his way.” The dark stranger told the men.
Cairistiona began her struggle, refusing to remain still as her captor attempted to bound her. Finally the green-eyed wolf grasped her chin firmly between his fingers. “If you do not stop this little fight of yours, I will be forced to throw you over my saddle like a sack of grain, my lady dove.”
Her fight ended at the thought of riding in such a degrading and uncomfortable position. The ride with the handsome thief seemed to take an eternity. He held Cairistiona sealed against his hard lean frame atop his black stallion. She knew she couldn’t escape with her hands tied and being blindfolded. Her cries would not be heard by anyone besides the other two men, and Toireasa. For Toireasa’s sake she must cooperate with this man until her father sent someone to rescue them.
“Where are you taking us?” Cairistiona muttered, searching for a weakness in the blindfold.
“Men, we’ll stop for the night. Stop for a suitable camp-site.” The man ignored her question. Then he purred deeply in her ear, “You shall see.”
He slid off the back of his powerful stallion, then carefully lifted her carefully off the beast by her waist. He set her down on the ground, then pulled her to him by the ropes that bit perniciously into the soft flesh of her hands. He suddenly jerked her forward harshly, causing her foot to slip against a loose stone. Cairistiona fell forward, only to be pulled tightly against the stranger’s muscular chest.
‘God, she’s so soft.’ Kevin Richardson thought to himself, as he brushed her deep bittersweet chocolate mane of hair away from her face. ‘She looks too delicate to touch, like an exotic little bird.’ He gently touched her tanned, yet soft pink cheek. Cairistiona felt his cold, gloved hand touch her cheek and whimpered. He immediately released her, and cursed softly at the fierce lust her petite frame caused him. She shivered as a crisp breeze whipped by, rustling her the elegant skirt of the smooth scarlet gown around her.
“Come this way, Cairistiona.” Her captor demanded from a distance.
“Come which way? You forget, I’m blind-folded.” She hissed, frustrated trying to steady her footing on the rocky earth. Suddenly she found herself lifted off the ground and carried as though she weighed not even a feather. “What’s the meaning of this? Put me to my feet this instant, I only meant for you to remove my blind-fold.”
“I suppose I could remove it. Very well, but the ropes remain on until I am convinced my little vixen won’t attempt fleeing.” Kevin said, setting her down gingerly, and untying the blindfold over her eyes, caressing her cheek again. He watched her face as her eyelashes fluttered open and stare up into his deep emerald eyes with a fierce chestnut glare. Her intense chocolate eyes widened as his face bent closer. He cupped her chin in an ungloved palm and pushed his lips against her deep pink mouth. She refused to respond, leaving her lips pursed together. He smirked at her defiance, and gently grazed her lips with his tongue. She breathed softly from her nose rebelliously, until he released her chin, and cupped one hand under her breast through the layers of her gown, and with the other wrapped around her tiny waist. Cairistiona gasped aloud and tried to jerk away at the crude treatment. Kevin took his chance and slipped a plundering tongue between her surprised lips, seeking the honey-sweet treasures of her velvety mouth. Cairistiona felt her unrestrained temper flare abruptly, causing her to swing her leather clad foot into her abductor’s shin. Kevin immediately released her and stepped back, watching the nymph’s face as she regained her senses. The kick had done little to harm him, but he wanted to test her stubborn streak to the limit.
“You, you beast. Don’t ever touch me again. Don’t ever try to kiss me ever again. You are a rude, conceited, arrogant, ill-mannered, wolf!” Cairistiona shouted, furiously, backing up until she bumped into a large oak tree. She watched him as the hard line of his mouth twisted upwards in a faint smirk. She crumbled to the ground, shivering as sobs built up in her throat. Kevin stared at her and for a moment could sense her fear of him. He shook off the wave of compassion he felt for her and rejoined his men to discuss the plan once more. Toireasa stumbled over to her mistress and sat down, shakily whimpering to contain her cries.
“My lady, I am so frightened. What are we to do?” The fragile child of sixteen cried, burying her face against her lady’s shoulder. Cairistiona kissed Toireasa’s bundled cornflower hair, fighting back the tears that wanted to spill onto her cheeks. One of Kevin’s men, a mocha-skinned, leaner man with short dark walnut hair combed back reveling the his balding head, trudged up to the two ladies and pulled a shiny, metal dagger out of his belt. Both girls gasped and pressed back away from him.
“It’s okay, sweet ladies, I’m not going to hurt you. Just hold out your hands and I’ll cut the ropes.” The women held out their bound hands, and the man sliced the cord off. Cairistiona noticed a small tattoo marking on his left wrist, the marking of a prisoner. She quivered a little, wondering if his leader had similar markings. “There you are, my ladies.”
“Thank you. If I may ask what is your name?” Cairistiona whispered, as the man pulled two chunks of bread from his small waist satchel.
“Alexandro, my lady.” He whispered back, hand each woman a hunk of bread. Toireasa’s eyes met his for a moment and he gave her a kind smile. She smiled back hesitantly and bit into the loaf and chewed it furiously, taking her fear out on the cold bread. Cairistiona broke small pieces and silently chewed, staring at her dark captor as he spoke to his men secretively. ‘Was he the man that kidnapped Naomi? What is he going to do with us?’ she questioned silently, wishing she had the courage to find out the answers.
“Well, my lady, I’m sure you’re weary from the travels. I suggest you get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us.” Kevin stated, then added rather harshly, “Oh, and I recommend that you don’t try to run, or else it could be particularly ugly, my lady.” He watched her tremble at his last sentence. He tossed a filthy wool blanket to her, glancing at her for only a second. He continued his work, ignoring her as he built a fire across from her.
“My lady,” Toireasa whimpered softly, “What’s going to happen to us?” Cairistiona could sense the fear in her voice and hugged her close. She looked disgustedly at the soiled wool that would serve as their only cover for the night and gently placed it around Toireasa and herself. It smelt of horse sweat and dust, making Cairistiona sneeze abruptly.
“We will be alright, Toireasa, I promise. I won’t let anything happen to us. Father will send someone to rescue us.” She comforted as quietly as possible, even as their dark kidnaper watched her in silent amusement. She shuddered feeling his heated gazed rake across her body. She leaned back against the tree and kissed Toireasa’s forehead softly, allowing the young girl to rest her head in her lap to sleep.
Cairistiona woke to the howling of a wolf in the distance, making her sit up from her uncomfortable slump against the rough bark of the tree. She stretched her legs as well as she could without awakening Toireasa still sleeping in her lap. She gazed around trying to distinguish her surroundings in the dim light the dying campfire gave off. Suddenly she met a pair of emerald orbs from across the glowing embers. Her captor sat watching her, smirking when she jerked her gaze away to listen to the wolf again.
“He’s calling to his mate. Begging her to return to him.” He explained, poking the nearly dead fire with a stick.
“I didn’t think wolves thought in terms of, well, a life long commitment…” Cairistiona murmured, listening to the soulful bays as the wolf began to quiet.
“Oh yes, the dominate two wolves in the pack mate for life. It sounds as though he’s just…”
“Giving up on her.” Cairistiona finished for him, gazing once more towards the wolf’s direction before facing him again. “You have yet to reveal your name, or does a beast like you roam the world without a name?”
“My lady, I would hold the vicious tongue of yours, or I may very likely cut it out. I will not take any insolence from any man, or woman for that matter. So keep that witty tongue of yours silent.”
“You have yet to answer my question…” Her voice sounded a bit more submissive, making him hold back a snicker.
“Why so curious, my little dove? Names are of little importance outside of your walled in life at the castle. People care very little for arrogant names in the real world.” Kevin smirked, watching her become clearly irritated but fight back her annoyance, maintain the obedience in her voice.
“Please, I would just like to know what it is I am supposed to address you by…” Cairistiona was quite careful not to meet his radiant eyes as she made herself sound meek and childlike.
“Kevin will do I suppose. Get some more sleep, little one. We have to begin travel at dawn.”
“Where are you taking me?” Cairistiona asked timidly.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow, sleep now, little dove.”
The Wolf Tamer
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