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THE ARMED BUSH
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2025-01-05 18:53:44Related chapters
Bloodbound Destiny DIVERSION
Alpha Orion ’s face clouded and, turning his axe head up, he rammed the haft into Cunt’s mouth, gloating as the man choked and gagged, grabbing at his throat until eventually going motionless. No one talked as Alpha Orion straightened. “Ready the horses. We bike through the night to Vanda. Tristan cleared his throat.They cut the lines and scattered the horses. It will take some time to trace them down.” “We don’t have time,” Lyra remarked. “You heard him—every king in the Southern region is coming for her.” “We’ve lost a third of our men,” Tristan remarked. We should return to the Mystic Rune pack. Blood dribbled down Alpha Orion ’s face, and I found myself staring at what seemed like fragments of skull trapped in his beard. “No,” he said. The specter said that if Andronika isn’t able to give sacrifice on the first night of the full moon her thread will be cut short. And if she’s dead, I shall not realize my destiny. How many will die in the endeavor to
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Bloodbound Destiny THE BASE
The conversation was impossible as Tristan led me through the woods paths, my attention all for steering my horse, a small bay mare that Alpha Orion had picked for her mild temper, for I was not the most accomplished rider.We did not ride alone. Philomela ran at my horse’s heels, along with one of Alpha Orion ’s men.The king had requested the skald come with us to witness our trial and the warrior to carry the horses back to the main group, retreat was not an option.Given what the skald had told me about how her magic functioned, I didn’t understand why her presence was required, but Alpha Orion refused to accept my plea that the woman remain with the main group.The air grew colder as we climbed, patches of snow clinging to the shadows of the pine trees, the horses’ hooves crunching in the bed of needles and filling my nose with their aroma. Ahead, Hammar loomed.The mountain was truly hammer-shaped, the north, east, and west sides near-vertical cliffs, though Tristan reported
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Bloodbound Destiny TRUTH UNRAVEL
I’d imagined the tunnel would immediately rise in some staircase inside the rock, but what greeted us instead was a path that dug further into the mountain. Gouts of steam hissed from crevices in the floor, forcing us to time each step lest we be scalded. Tristan ’s axe shed a pool of light that reached only a half dozen feet, the darkness seeming to swallow the brilliance of the god-fire.“Do you think she’s spying for Alpha Orion ?” “Of course she is,” Tristan said.She’s the perfect spy, for everyone answers her questions in the hope of a mention in one of her songs. Even if they didn’t, she’s constantly lurking in the corners, watching and listening. You’d do well to heed your words around her.” On that, he could have a point, but…“I feel bad for her.”“Why? She’s given everything.”“There’s something sad about her. I shook my head, unable to provide a rationale for the feeling. Besides, Philomela, and whether or not she was spying for Alpha Orion , was hardly my main concer
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Bloodbound Destiny FIGHTING THE IMMORTAL 1
Great shuddering shrieks emanating from every direction and none. Voices beyond number, their shouts full of sadness and pain and anger. Drums not of this world took the place of cries, the quick pace accented by sounds of footfalls. Not boots or shoes or even the slam of bare feet, but the scratch of… bones against a stone.And they were growing closer.“Run!” I gasped, but Tristan had already hooked his hand around my wrist, forcing me upward.Terror chased away my fatigue and I took the steps three at a time, shield thumping against my back. The steps ended, and Tristan cut right down a narrow tunnel, taking me with him.Then he slid to a stop.I slammed with him, his chain mail biting into my forehead as my skull rebounded off his shoulder.Stunned, I gazed past him.Part of me wishes I hadn’t.Four skeletal beings rushed toward us, their shapes lit by a peculiar green light. Scraps of leather and armor hung from their emaciated frames, frightening war cries booming out of thei
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Bloodbound Destiny FIGHTING THE IMMORTAL 2
Well, I’m not one of them.” I peered into his eyes, which mirrored the fire of his axe. His quick breath was hot across my cheeks, his fingers still grasping me hard, my mail-clad breasts touching his chest.“And before you start arguing, allow me to remind you that I don’t give a damn about what you think when what you think is complete nonsense.”Tristan heaved out a laugh.If the gods decide you are not an alpha kingmaker, Born-in-Fire, you should become a skald. People would gather from all around to hear the poetry of your words. Philomela would be out of a job.”My cheeks reddened.You are ridiculous, Tristan .A smirk forced its way onto his face. “Perhaps later. I doubt it was the last we’ve seen of the orcs, and while meeting my end with my lips pushed against your backside would not be the worst death, I don’t think it will earn me a spot in the underworld.”My skin was flaming, but I managed to get out, “I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first backside licker to enter the underw
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Bloodbound Destiny MEET ANDRONIKA
To make sure I would be a wonderful wife to my mate, my mother imparted numerous skills to me. How to cook and keep the home. She would have been better off guiding me in the restraint required not to stab the said mate when he proved himself a short-witted drunkard with an acid tongue.My temper was under extreme testing today. "What are you doing? Carspey asked, bending over my shoulder and his breath stinging mead. “Cleaning the catch.” Huffing out an angry breath, Carspey yanked the knife from my fingers, nearly slicing open my palm. I don’t like the way you do it.” His lip twisted. “The way you are doing it is wrong. Pack members complain.” That was true, but it wasn’t complaints about fish. My lovely mate was a child of the gods, having the moon goddess gifted him a drop of Njord blood at his conception, which gave him immense power over the creatures of the sea. Instead of utilizing it to care for our pack, he used it to deny other pack fishermen of any catch even as
Last Updated : 2024-12-19Bloodbound Destiny FATE MEETING
Instead of a splash, her skin prickles in a way it hasn’t done in a long time and my ears filled with a loud curse. I turned to see a man standing waist-deep in the sea, rubbing at his cheek. Which I’d struck with the fish.“Was the fish hurt?” I asked, thinking I’d murdered it in my haste to save it. “Did it swim away?” The man ceased massaging his face and gave me an unbelieving stare. “What about me?” I stopped looking for the fish and gave him a closer look, my face instantly heated.I feel a strange attraction to the man.Even with an impact-reddened cheek, he was dangerously handsome. Tall and broad of shoulder, he appeared to be only a few years older than my twenty years.His black hair was shaved on the sides, the rest pulled back in a short tail behind his tattooed skull. He was all high cheekbones and carved lines, and while most guys wore beards, he bore scars of not shaving for several days.He wore no shirt, and water flowed down a nude torso corded with thick muscle
Last Updated : 2024-12-19Bloodbound Destiny OPEN DIVORCE
It took me hours to finish with the catch. I loaded the trolley for Carspey before selecting two choice fish for my mother. By that time, the excitement of my experience with the warrior had vanished, replaced with the sobering reality that Carspey lived, that I was his mate and that I had enraged him. Wind whistled down the mountains, carrying with it the smell of melting snow, and I breathed, grateful to be away from the stink of fish and intestines and my guilt, though a fair quantity of all three still clung to my garments. Pine needles crunched beneath my boots, filling my nose with their strong aroma and alleviating the tightness in my shoulders. It was fine. It would all be alright. This wasn’t the first time I’d battled with Carspey, and it wouldn’t be the last. I’d survived a year with him already and I’d withstand another. And another.But I wanted to accomplish more than just survive. I wanted my days to be more than the time I needed to endure. I wante
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
Latest chapter
Bloodbound Destiny FIGHTING THE IMMORTAL 2
Well, I’m not one of them.” I peered into his eyes, which mirrored the fire of his axe. His quick breath was hot across my cheeks, his fingers still grasping me hard, my mail-clad breasts touching his chest.“And before you start arguing, allow me to remind you that I don’t give a damn about what you think when what you think is complete nonsense.”Tristan heaved out a laugh.If the gods decide you are not an alpha kingmaker, Born-in-Fire, you should become a skald. People would gather from all around to hear the poetry of your words. Philomela would be out of a job.”My cheeks reddened.You are ridiculous, Tristan .A smirk forced its way onto his face. “Perhaps later. I doubt it was the last we’ve seen of the orcs, and while meeting my end with my lips pushed against your backside would not be the worst death, I don’t think it will earn me a spot in the underworld.”My skin was flaming, but I managed to get out, “I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first backside licker to enter the underw
Bloodbound Destiny FIGHTING THE IMMORTAL 1
Great shuddering shrieks emanating from every direction and none. Voices beyond number, their shouts full of sadness and pain and anger. Drums not of this world took the place of cries, the quick pace accented by sounds of footfalls. Not boots or shoes or even the slam of bare feet, but the scratch of… bones against a stone.And they were growing closer.“Run!” I gasped, but Tristan had already hooked his hand around my wrist, forcing me upward.Terror chased away my fatigue and I took the steps three at a time, shield thumping against my back. The steps ended, and Tristan cut right down a narrow tunnel, taking me with him.Then he slid to a stop.I slammed with him, his chain mail biting into my forehead as my skull rebounded off his shoulder.Stunned, I gazed past him.Part of me wishes I hadn’t.Four skeletal beings rushed toward us, their shapes lit by a peculiar green light. Scraps of leather and armor hung from their emaciated frames, frightening war cries booming out of thei
Bloodbound Destiny TRUTH UNRAVEL
I’d imagined the tunnel would immediately rise in some staircase inside the rock, but what greeted us instead was a path that dug further into the mountain. Gouts of steam hissed from crevices in the floor, forcing us to time each step lest we be scalded. Tristan ’s axe shed a pool of light that reached only a half dozen feet, the darkness seeming to swallow the brilliance of the god-fire.“Do you think she’s spying for Alpha Orion ?” “Of course she is,” Tristan said.She’s the perfect spy, for everyone answers her questions in the hope of a mention in one of her songs. Even if they didn’t, she’s constantly lurking in the corners, watching and listening. You’d do well to heed your words around her.” On that, he could have a point, but…“I feel bad for her.”“Why? She’s given everything.”“There’s something sad about her. I shook my head, unable to provide a rationale for the feeling. Besides, Philomela, and whether or not she was spying for Alpha Orion , was hardly my main concer
Bloodbound Destiny THE BASE
The conversation was impossible as Tristan led me through the woods paths, my attention all for steering my horse, a small bay mare that Alpha Orion had picked for her mild temper, for I was not the most accomplished rider.We did not ride alone. Philomela ran at my horse’s heels, along with one of Alpha Orion ’s men.The king had requested the skald come with us to witness our trial and the warrior to carry the horses back to the main group, retreat was not an option.Given what the skald had told me about how her magic functioned, I didn’t understand why her presence was required, but Alpha Orion refused to accept my plea that the woman remain with the main group.The air grew colder as we climbed, patches of snow clinging to the shadows of the pine trees, the horses’ hooves crunching in the bed of needles and filling my nose with their aroma. Ahead, Hammar loomed.The mountain was truly hammer-shaped, the north, east, and west sides near-vertical cliffs, though Tristan reported
Bloodbound Destiny DIVERSION
Alpha Orion ’s face clouded and, turning his axe head up, he rammed the haft into Cunt’s mouth, gloating as the man choked and gagged, grabbing at his throat until eventually going motionless. No one talked as Alpha Orion straightened. “Ready the horses. We bike through the night to Vanda. Tristan cleared his throat.They cut the lines and scattered the horses. It will take some time to trace them down.” “We don’t have time,” Lyra remarked. “You heard him—every king in the Southern region is coming for her.” “We’ve lost a third of our men,” Tristan remarked. We should return to the Mystic Rune pack. Blood dribbled down Alpha Orion ’s face, and I found myself staring at what seemed like fragments of skull trapped in his beard. “No,” he said. The specter said that if Andronika isn’t able to give sacrifice on the first night of the full moon her thread will be cut short. And if she’s dead, I shall not realize my destiny. How many will die in the endeavor to
Bloodbound Destiny THE ARMED BUSH
The women doled out bowls to everyone, and I sat apart while I ate my food and stewed over my circumstances. When I finished, I laid my bowl down and opened the ointment Lyra had given me.The contents were waxy and smelly, but though the smell was not terrible, I sealed it.“You need to use it because it will help.” I twitched at Tristan ’s voice, having not heard him approach out of the shadowed trees.He sat across the fire from me, picking up a stick and poking pensively at the embers before adding more wood. Then he looked up. “Well? Aren’t you going to put it on?”My fingers were stiff and would be worse come the morning, but for reasons I couldn’t explain, I set aside the jar.And was rewarded with a cry of exasperation from Tristan , who rose and circled the fire. “Give me the poultice.” Deeply aware that all eyes were on us, I handed over the tiny pot, cringing as he removed a large glob, the frugalness in me rejecting the excess.“You aren’t aware of the chests of silver
Bloodbound Destiny FAMILY MATTER
“Careful!” I tensed, frightened that the power might fracture his hand. But with absolute courage, he pushed his palm against the magic. Instead of resisting his touch, my magic allowed Tristan ’s palm to sink into it like water. I felt the moment he touched the pot itself, a soft pressure, whereas, with the blow of his axe, I’d felt nothing. The sensation traveled up my arm and down into my core, as though he touched not magic and metal, but my bare skin, and I shivered.“You get what you give,” he mumbled, then lifted his eyes from the magic to face mine. “Or perhaps more accurately, you give what you get.” The rest of the world slipped away as I considered his remarks, it felt for all the world like he was the first person to ever understand me. Except…that wasn’t quite it.My family understood me. My friends understood me. But there were things about me that they wanted to change, but Tristan appeared to accept the way I was. Seemed to foster the parts of my character that ev
Bloodbound Destiny PERILOUS JOURNEY
The mountain top is a sacred ground.” Tristan’s palm pressed into my ribs to hold me stable. “No weapons are allowed, as all deaths must be in sacrifice to the gods, which means some level of safety within Vanda’s borders.” I didn’t take much comfort in that. “How long will it take us to reach the mountain?” “Tomorrow we’ll reach the village at the base of the mountain, where we’ll leave the horses,” he continued. Then another half day’s climb.” A night out in the open. I swallowed hard.“I think we should ride faster.” By the time dusk arrived, the horses were laboring hard and my body hurt from bouncing up and down for hours on Tristan’s lap. Judging from his groans as he gently dismounted his horse, collapsing on his back in the dirt and shouting at the heavens that he’d lost the ability to sire offspring, he’d not fared much better. Yet it was the first time since we’d left Mystic Rune pack that anyone laughed, so I appreciated the release of tension even i
Bloodbound Destiny THE WARNING
Vanda was the sacred temple on the very summit of the mountain known as Hammar. Every nine years there was a gathering that attracted people from near and far to pay tribute to the gods and offer their sacrifices. I’d never been before, my parents had always declared that it was not a place for children, and this would be the first time it took place since I’d come of age.The great hall was in a bustle of activity, two dozen horses and several pack animals were mounted and loaded when I emerged in dry clothes and a heavy cloak. Lyra was guiding the procedure, the Luna of Mystic Rune pack no longer attired in a costly dress, but in warrior’s gear, including a mail shirt, and a long axe hanging from her belt. I had no question that she knew how to utilize it. Particularly when her opponent’s back was turned.“You will remain with the warriors I’m leaving behind to protect Mystic Rune pack,” Orion remarked to Owen. “You will be alpha in my absence. Send word across my domains call
