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THE HUNT 2
Last Updated:
2025-02-01 17:06:42
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Bloodbound Destiny EVADNE’S DEATH
“Return to the ship,” Theodora ordered, and she and her soldiers retreated over the rise, footfalls receding and leaving behind just the wind in the woods and my stifled sobbing.“They’re gone,” Tristan muttered, and I withdrew from his arms. Abandoning my shield and sword, I hurried to my mother. My foot snagged on a pebble, and I tripped, tumbling on the ground. Sobbing, I crept ahead, nearing her.She was still breathing.Tristan placed a palm over my lips to stop my cry as she slid slowly to the ground, the arrow withdrawing from her chest. Gasping, I pushed my hands to the incision in her chest, leaning over her. My mother’s gaze locked into mine. “Andronika ?”“I’m here.” Blood streamed over my fingers, and saturated the front of her beautiful dress, her cane laying next to her on the grass. “I’m so sorry. That this occurred. For the things I said.” But the light was receding from her eyes, her chest stilling beneath my palms. “No!” I yelled. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!”T
Last Updated : 2025-02-01Bloodbound Destiny VENGEANCE
I abandoned Tristan's ride well before Moonlit pack, for the gelding continued attempting to bite me, and I knew that I had all the head start I needed. Then I rode my mare as fiercely as my rage rode me.Visions of how the confrontation might play out ran in my thoughts. Of the things I’d say to the Luna of Mystic Rune pack. Of the ways, I might murder her. Of the curses I may spew upon her after the act was done.A part of me, deep down, felt this wasn’t right. Knew that I was enabling the darker part of me to have the type of power that I could one day come to regret, but it was better than the alternative.Better than remembering the last things I’d said to my mother. Better than witnessing Theodora ’s arrow pierce through her chest. Far better than witnessing the light fade out of her eyes and knowing that it was because of me.The route reached the end of the sea, the northern strait stretched out before me, the sea steely blue and covered with whitecaps.I sought evidence of Th
Last Updated : 2025-02-03Bloodbound 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 : 2024-12-20Bloodbound Destiny A TEST OF FATE
Battle. Raid. Earn my wealth, I answered. I don’t need Carspey. Declan blew out a breath, then got to his feet. Let’s not quarrel. It’s been months since I’ve seen you. I glanced at the hand he held out, half of me wanting to keep arguing. We both knew I’d never make a decision that would harm my family, and that made all my arguments meaningless. So instead, I took my brother’s hand and let him haul me to my feet. Where does Alpha Orion plan to raid this summer? Before Declan could answer, the sound of hooves filled our ears. A gang of warriors on horseback came, and my gut tightened as I recognized my mate at their head, his countenance smug. My lord. Declan nodded at the huge guy who rode at Carspey ’s side, who must be Alpha Orion. I’d never seen him before, having never ventured more than a few hours from the Moonlit shadow pack and never to his stronghold at Mystic Rune pack.Tall and thick, he had dark brown hair and a beard laced with gray, his eyes lined
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Bloodbound Destiny THE INEVITABLE FIGHT
Exactly what do you wish to achieve? he asked Alpha Orion. You want proof she can’t fight? Here—” He swung at me. I fell back with a cry, tripping on a root and falling on my arse, dropping my weapon. There’s your proof. Send her back to her mate and the fish. That is not the proof I seek, Alpha Orion responded, and my stomach flipped with the worry that this would cost me far more than pride. I got to my feet to discover that the other warriors had my brother by the arms, holding him back. Carspey sniggered from beyond. To first blood, then? Tristan demanded. There was rage in his voice, the flames of his axe blazing with intensity. He didn’t want this fight, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it to prove his loyalty. To do otherwise risked terrible consequences, which I doubted he would be ready to incur for a lady he didn’t know. No. Alpha Orion dismounted and transferred the reins of his horse to another warrior before crossing his arms. To the death. My
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Bloodbound Destiny THE REVELATION
The laughter slipped away from Tristan’s eyes. “I wish fate had been kinder to you, Andronika .” Without warning, he attacked. Gone were the halfhearted swats and facile parries, and in their stead came hard blows that drove me staggering. I thought I knew how to fight. What it would be like to be in real combat. Nothing could have prepared me for the awareness that no matter how hard I swung, how quickly I parried, the end was coming for me. My shield burned, smoke and heat searing my eyes, but I didn’t dare drop it. Angie attacked again. I attempted to defend, but his axe got hold of my sword and wrenched it from my fingers, sending it spinning into the trees. This was it. This was the moment. Yet Tristan paused, backing back instead of rushing in for the kill. A killer, certainly. But not a murderer. “Get it over with,” Alpha Orion yelled. “You’ve dragged this out long enough. Kill her!” I was terrified. So dreadfully scared that when I drew in breath after desperate b
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
Latest chapter
Bloodbound Destiny VENGEANCE
I abandoned Tristan's ride well before Moonlit pack, for the gelding continued attempting to bite me, and I knew that I had all the head start I needed. Then I rode my mare as fiercely as my rage rode me.Visions of how the confrontation might play out ran in my thoughts. Of the things I’d say to the Luna of Mystic Rune pack. Of the ways, I might murder her. Of the curses I may spew upon her after the act was done.A part of me, deep down, felt this wasn’t right. Knew that I was enabling the darker part of me to have the type of power that I could one day come to regret, but it was better than the alternative.Better than remembering the last things I’d said to my mother. Better than witnessing Theodora ’s arrow pierce through her chest. Far better than witnessing the light fade out of her eyes and knowing that it was because of me.The route reached the end of the sea, the northern strait stretched out before me, the sea steely blue and covered with whitecaps.I sought evidence of Th
Bloodbound Destiny EVADNE’S DEATH
“Return to the ship,” Theodora ordered, and she and her soldiers retreated over the rise, footfalls receding and leaving behind just the wind in the woods and my stifled sobbing.“They’re gone,” Tristan muttered, and I withdrew from his arms. Abandoning my shield and sword, I hurried to my mother. My foot snagged on a pebble, and I tripped, tumbling on the ground. Sobbing, I crept ahead, nearing her.She was still breathing.Tristan placed a palm over my lips to stop my cry as she slid slowly to the ground, the arrow withdrawing from her chest. Gasping, I pushed my hands to the incision in her chest, leaning over her. My mother’s gaze locked into mine. “Andronika ?”“I’m here.” Blood streamed over my fingers, and saturated the front of her beautiful dress, her cane laying next to her on the grass. “I’m so sorry. That this occurred. For the things I said.” But the light was receding from her eyes, her chest stilling beneath my palms. “No!” I yelled. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!”T
Bloodbound Destiny THE HUNT 2
Tristan stood, dragging me up with him and then leading me back to the horses. “Do you honestly think your mother won’t tell her everything she wishes to know?”I bit my lip, tears threatening. “That’s not what I asked.” “Theodora ‘s a killer,” Tristan responded. “But she’s loyal to Maximus and won’t go against his orders.”“Tristan…” Tears flowed down my cheeks since I was the reason Theodora was here. I was the reason my mother was in danger. “Will Theodora hurt her?”“I don’t know.” Tristan kicked a rock. “This…I don’t know what he plans, just that if we go after them, we’ll be giving him exactly what he wants.”I’d informed my mother that I was over with her. It’s time you make your path in the world. A lie, because I refused to forsake her.Catching my horse’s reins, I swung onto the mare’s back. “Are you coming with me, or do I need to do this alone?”Tristan swung onto his saddle. “Where you go, I go, Born-inFire. Even if it’s to the gates of the Underworld.”I dug in my heel
Bloodbound Destiny THE HUNT 1
Unease trickled into my chest.“What is it?”Or who?“Theodora .” Tristan spat in the dirt.“We need to go.”Alpha Orion had mentioned the name Theodora while we were at Vadan, but I had no clue who she was. “Is she one of Alpha Maximus’s warriors?”“His hunteress. Who he sends to locate those who don’t desire to be found.” His throat twitched as he swallowed. “She’s a child of Ullr.”My gut knotted, for I knew Ullr’s children had bows with magical arrows that never missed their aim. “Who is she hunting?”Tristan tilted his head to meet my gaze, the muscles in his jaw so rigid they strained against his suntanned skin.“No,” I gasped. “That makes no sense. Everyone believes that I’m in Tendon.”“There is no other reason for her to be here, Andronika . We need to go. Get a head start before she finds our trail.”The horror humming in my blood informed me that he was right, except there was only one location to dock a ship of that size on this sea. Moonlit pack. My house.Ignoring Trist
Bloodbound Destiny THE LAST PART OF THE PROPHECY
Why didn’t you tell me? “ I…” His throat twitched as he swallowed. “It was a long time ago when I was still a boy, but I remember it clearly.”“You seem to remember everything about her very clearly and yet communicate none of it,” I snapped. “What did she say?”Tristan was silent, and sickness tortured my intestines. For what he might say.And the fact that he concealed it from me at all.“She went into these strange trances when she was being told something by Odin,” he eventually responded.“I was alone with her when she was suddenly seized by one. She informed me that the warrior Princess would unify the Southern region,but that tens of thousands would be left dead in your wake. That you’d tread upon the land like a disease, setting friend against friend, brother against brother, and that everyone would fear you.”His words sunk into my core, and I strained to breathe. “Whatever she saw terrified her,” he added. “I was young, and it sank into my mind that the warrior Princess woul
Bloodbound Destiny THE HARD CHOICE
Had it been a choice? Lyra’s words resonated in my brain, the concept that the gods did not select, just intuitively understood what decision a person would make, dominating my thoughts.I cuddled my mother to me, our foreheads touching. “To have your child chosen to hold a goddess’s blood is a privilege none would turn down, Mother. There is nothing to forgive.” “I thought it was just Freyja,” she muttered. And thought nothing of it when your father returned from Mystic Rune pack with tidings the seer had pronounced prophecy of a child of Hlin. Only longed for the day you would come into your power, yet what horror when you did, for it was not life your magic promised but war. I cursed you, my darling. Forgive me.”It was hard not to cringe at knowing that was how she perceived my power, yet still, I didn’t understand why she was begging the way she was.There is nothing to forgive. I am content.” She straightened and held me at arm’s length, gaze riveted on mine. “Don’t lie to me,
Bloodbound Destiny TRUTH UNRAVEL
“There is another one,” my mother interrupted. “We’ve never spoken to you of this, but Declan he was a sickly baby. The healers could do nothing, and informed us the humane decision would be to put him out for the cold and the wolves, but…I couldn’t do it.”It was the way of our people, I understood that. Had known mothers who carried frail kids that were in their arms one day and then gone the next, never spoken of again.But to think that my mother was commanded to do such a thing to my brother made my blood run cold. “It is well you didn’t, Mother, for they were wrong. He grew up strong.” Of the body, at least.“They weren’t wrong.” My mother’s throat twitched as she swallowed, and I glanced at Tristian. He was fast making his way through the pile, tattooed skin gleaming with perspiration, and not out of earshot. “What happened?” I asked.“I prayed to the gods to spare him,” my mother murmured. “Prayed to Freyja and Eir and all who’d listen, offering up sacrifices to show my devoti
Bloodbound Destiny ROAD TO DESTINY
Not allowing me to answer, Lyra declared, “Husband, Andronika must seek guidance from the gods.She requires seclusion for a night and a day to see what replies the gods will offer her.” She snapped her fingers. “Tristan, as Freyja has willed you to watch over Andronika on this journey, you shall attend her.”The men all blinked at her, and Lyra crossed her arms. “Well? You would have the gods wait? Orion, bring the mushrooms. Tristan, ensure Andronika has what she needs to face her challenge.And you”—she leveled a finger at the two visiting Alphas —“should be eating! We are gonna celebrate our partnership and our magnificent futures together. Bring in food! Mead! Music!”Everyone went to their commands, and I mumbled to Tristan, “Get what we need to ride the Moonlit pack tonight and meet me in my room.”Alpha Orion approached and offered me a cup full of pulverized mushrooms. “Drink deeply,” he advised. “I look forward to learning what the gods wish to show you in your visions.”“As
Bloodbound Destiny FOE TO FRIEND
My father isn’t just going to let you go roaming the countryside,Tristan whispered under his breath as he went with me back to the great hall.“Not with half the Alpha in the Southern region desiring to capture or kill you, and the other half on their way to Tendon to meet you. You’re too valuable to allow out of his eyes.He’ll simply have your mother hauled here to offer answers.” “No.” My voice was flat. “Bad enough that Declan and Eleanor chose to put themselves within reach by coming to Tendon, I won’t put my mother at risk as well.”“Then I fail to see a solution.” Tristan pulled to a halt, disregarding the way others on the streets gave us wide space. I had a more difficult time casting aside the scared expressions several of them gave me.“It is a full day’s ride to Moonlit pack and another back. Impossible to accomplish without your absence being noted.”I rubbed at my scarred palm, thinking hard. Then an idea occurred to me. “I need to find Philomela.”Tristan's eyes narrow
