The Bladed Tiger's Empress, page 13
part #1 of Claiming Her Empire Series
She felt him watching every step she took, and she knew she had become acutely aware of his movements as well. All it took was for their eyes to meet and suddenly she was pinned against a tree, overcome by passion. ‘Making up for lost time’ is what he had called it.
Marilla also wasn’t incredibly excited about exiting the forest, though it was filled with irritating bugs and the humidity frizzed her hair and made her skin sticky, she couldn’t imagine being apart from Hayden now that she hadn’t been since becoming a fugitive. He had been training her each day and night as well as pleasuring her. She shot arrows until blisters formed on her forearms and fingers, flung her dagger against Hayden’s sword until the clang of metal made her arm vibrate profusely. She always woke up sore inside and out.
She had been built soft but now she held muscle cultivated from training, just like Hayden. She wasn’t muscular, but was now well-formed, powerful even.
Hayden couldn’t be prouder of the woman she had become. Part of him wished she would go back to rule. He wanted everyone to see her as she was now. From a caterpillar to a butterfly, she had burst from her cocoon. She had morphed from a timid princess into a warrior. He would like to parade her in front of her father who had sheltered her as if she were fragile, her illegitimate husband, and all the idiot soldiers that hunted her and chased her from her home. He would say, “Marilla has returned. She is stronger than everyone and now fights for her country as fiercely as I do. Here she is, your empress who bleeds for her kingdom more than any monarch before her.” She was the strongest person he knew, moving past her father’s death, picking up a sword and fighting for her life and the lives of all those she cared for, including her subjects who would spit in her face if they knew who she was.
He watched her as she walked, hiking strongly with well-muscled legs rippling with each step. She no longer needed to stop for air, lungs heaving with the effort, she was used to the activity now. Used to running.
She stopped at a reservoir much like the first they had come across. The pool of water was clear and cold from an underground spring though this one spouted from a landing above the gathered water, moving into a stream as it overflowed down the rocks. The waterfall it created echoed through the trees, shading a small cave just inside the stream of water. Hayden watched as his princess knelt in her filthy brown dress next to the clear pool and submerged their shared camel bag.
She lifted the bag to her lips, some of the moisture dripping onto her chin as she took some of the fresh, clean liquid into her mouth. “We should camp here,” Hayden found himself saying.
She looked up from the water, wiping her pink lips free of the dew drops. “We have several hours of daylight left, are you sure?”
He swallowed. “We’ll likely arrive at the temple tomorrow, so can I just enjoy you tonight?”
Marilla’s eyes brightened at his stuttered words and with the waterfall acting as her backdrop, Hayden wished he could paint so he could capture such a spectacular sight forever. “Very well then,” she said, the corners of her mouth pulling into a full and joyous smile.
Hayden returned it, stepping forward to pull her into a tight embrace, his lips finding hers. Perhaps it was selfishness that made him choose there to camp, or maybe it was how beautiful she looked next to the waterfall. He didn’t know what the future held for either of them, but for now she was in his arms and she was his.
They set up camp. Marilla had become an expert at creating fire and gathering foliage as a bed. Survival skills he was ashamed she had to learn, but happy she had. If ever he weren’t around to protect her, she could now protect herself. Maybe not against everything, but she at least stood a chance against the elements. He wouldn’t let his mind consider anything more dire than that. He couldn’t bear the thought.
Hayden wandered into the water to catch their dinner and Marilla undressed, his breath caught as he watched her drop her dress and walk towards the waterfall. She stepped slowly into the water, letting it climb up her calves then thighs and wash away the dirt.
He felt himself harden watching her step under the rushing waterfall, the painful ache returning to his manhood as the water flowed through her hair, forming rivers down her back, goosebumps rising along her flesh. Her plump rear stood in full view as she scrubbed the dirt and sweat from her skin.
The fish were forgotten as he waded through the water to reach her. His hand reached out and stroked up her rounded rump to the sensitive skin along her ribs, and she shuddered beneath his touch. His overcoat was sitting by the fire so only his loose undershirt and trousers were on, already soaked and sticking to his skin, accentuating every muscle he had as he pulled her into his chest. She leaned into him, her wet hair sticking to his shirt that clung possessively against his chest. He turned her head to the side and claimed her mouth beneath the pounding water. It was cold, yet he felt hot holding his princess to him.
She turned to him, ducking her head so the water didn’t flow directly into her face. She pushed up his soaked shirt so she could gaze at the distinct lines of his abdomen and chest. She sank slightly into the water and pressed her lips to his exposed stomach, licking the water from him as she sank lower. She undid his trousers and he slipped free from them, his manhood springing towards her.
She looked up at him, his hair hanging in tendrils around his face, water dripping onto his cheeks and from his nose as he breathed deeply. She stood again, pressing herself against him. Wet on wet. She reached, hooking one of her hands behind his head and pulled him down to kiss her. His soft, wet lips drew hers apart with his tongue working between them, coaxing them apart farther and she was more than happy to open up to him fully. She wrapped one leg around him, locking him against her until he spun her slowly, breaking the kiss and pressing her against the cave opening thinly veiled by the waterfall that still pounded down on his shoulders.
She gripped the jagged, wet stones as he pressed against her opening with his perfectly fitted organ. The rod that was made especially for her. She shuddered with anticipation, looking over her shoulder as he entered her from behind, his hand pressed against the base of her neck and holding her in place hunched over the rocks of the cave. She cried out as he bumped the barrier deep inside her and her voice echoed through the small crevice of rock, mixing with the echoing sound of pounding water.
He withdrew slowly then thrust deep again, pressing firmly into her as her legs weakened against him. His hips smacked against hers as he thrust a few more times then she felt his lips against her shoulder, his breath against her ear. He gently cleared her wet hair from blocking her ear, swinging it around to rest on the other side of her head.
“My princess,” he whispered to her, and she shuddered.
“My tiger,” she answered him, and he separated from her only long enough to spin her and lift her into his arms, crushing her between him and the wall of the cave. He plunged into her again, and she kept her arms forcefully locked around his neck since her legs were useless, helping him hold her steady as he thrust into her with continuous, long strokes of his hips.
She felt him strike deep within her, the pressure building strongly, her core tightening and then her whole body tightened around him as release tore through her and then him. Her head lolled back against the rocks, eyes closed tight and mouth parted as she moaned his name, feeling the rippling of his muscles as he too tightened then relaxed.
They sat like that for a moment, out of breath in each other’s arms before he finally tore himself from inside her, forcing their bodies to part. She feared her legs wouldn’t work when he sat her down, but luckily she held her balance though her heart felt full enough to float. As Hayden panted against her forehead, pressing his lips to her wet skin in an innocent touch of affection, Marilla felt beautiful. She felt his longing, his need for her in everything he did. Knew how to recognize his desperate desire and how it shined for her body and her soul. He truly was her tiger.
“Come out from behind the water!” A gruff voice intercepted her thoughts as Hayden secured his trousers, and instantly Marilla felt the bubble that had made her feel sky high pop.
Hayden and Marilla’s eyes met, his jaw rigid as he shifted his hard body to block hers. “Stay here,” he instructed as she submerged herself farther into the water to cover herself.
“Who is it?” she whispered.
The warriors from the temple was Hayden’s guess, they had probably seen their fire from a distance and came to investigate. He cursed himself for that. He knew better than to make a fire this close to a settlement, it was just asking to be discovered. He knew better but had been distracted by the opportunity to spend one more night alone with his princess.
Hayden stepped from behind the waterfall to see two young warriors, one holding his overcoat and swords captive while the other picked up Marilla’s dress. Hayden’s nostrils flared as rage melted through him.
“The lady too,” the warrior that held Marilla’s clothes instructed. He and his companion both pointed their swords at Hayden.
Hayden held out his hand. “Allow me to deliver her clothing and she will come out. A lady has to keep her modesty.”
“Didn’t seem too worried about that with you,” sniffed the other.
Hayden’s eyes flashed, his jaw clenching until his teeth ached. “I am Hayden, general of the late emperor. We were on our way to the temple.”
“To seek refuge?” The warrior tossed Marilla’s dress to him. “We know who you are, and we suspect the princess is with you,” he said, nodding towards the waterfall. They couldn’t see her past the heavy stream of pounding water, but they had apparently heard news of her disappearance.
Question was, what story had they heard, and were they on the emperor’s side or Marilla’s?
10
Safe Haven
Marilla sniffed against the chill that settled in her bones. Her dress clung to her, still soaked from the waterfall. The two man-children probably younger than she, escorted her and Hayden towards the temple. It was almost comical watching them point their swords at Hayden who was near two heads taller than them and held the mass of both of them combined. Her Bladed Tiger didn’t resist however, alerting Marilla that he had a plan or knew that when they reached the temple they wouldn’t be harmed, so she held back though the dagger she carried felt heavy against her ankle each time their captors got a bit too close with their blades.
As they approached the temple moments before twilight set in, Marilla had a strong sense of déjà vu. The temple was constructed near exactly like the castle with stone walls erected all around the Aztec style arches and buildings. It was built to be safe, a fortress of sorts just like the castle. She wasn’t expecting the wave of claustrophobia that tightened her gut and made her light-headed when she slipped through the arch that was probably the only opening in or out of the temple.
The temple was constructed to keep residents in as much as it was to keep outsiders out… just like the castle.
The temple was bustling with activity. On one side modestly dressed women sifted through a garden with vines of gourd tangled above it, on the other children sparred in hand to hand combat though everyone carried a weapon. Marilla noticed a sincere sword or dagger fastened to every man, woman, or child’s belts. They didn’t bother to conceal like Marilla did though there was no concealing her bow that usually was slung over her shoulder, but now was held captive by their escorts.
“Shouldn’t children be using wooden swords?” she whispered to Hayden when two young boys created sparks as their weapons clashed.
“Not here,” Hayden grunted low in his throat like a growl. “Here they believe the best way to learn is trial and error.”
“Even if it could kill them?” Marilla gasped.
“Especially if it could kill them,” he informed.
“What better way to learn to respect the power of a weapon than to learn how much it hurts to be cut and to bleed from one?” one of their escorts asked rhetorically. “It also helps children understand mercy. Through understanding the pain they are inflicting, they learn when to concede.”
“Pain is a powerful teacher,” Hayden agreed.
“Hayden!” Marilla heard someone call from across the courtyard. Hayden quickly shifted in front of her, blocking her view with his massive back, but she did see two large figures charging towards their group. She peeked around him as they approached, two men roughly identical in size and shape from the same training Hayden had endured ran forward, skidding to a stop before the larger man. They looked like mini versions of Hayden though still much larger than Marilla herself. They each had dark hair, a darker shade than Hayden’s and one held hazel eyes and the other deep brown. The two could be twins with only slight differences in their facial shape and eye color.
“Hayden! We thought we’d never see you again,” exclaimed one cheerfully.
“Especially considering you killed the emperor and all,” said the other sarcastically though Marilla flinched under the accusation. So that was how Frederick had risen so quickly. He had blamed the whole thing on Hayden.
“Lies,” Hayden snorted.
“Perhaps, but Emperor Frederick sure did sound convincing,” the first speaker piped up with a tone that sounded mischievous. “Killed the emperor for daring to marry Princess Marilla off to some nobleman instead of you, then kidnapped the princess away from her husband.”
“I believed it,” teased the second speaker. “Your love for Princess Marilla has always been well known through all seven king—”
Hayden interrupted him with a quick jab to the gut, sending the younger man toppling onto the ground and revealing the blushing Marilla.
The unharmed one gasped when he saw her. “Princess?” he dared to ask.
Gathering her courage, she sucked a deep breath into her lungs, puffing out her chest and her chin rose automatically as she said smoothly, “Yes, and Hayden is my savior, not my kidnapper.” She could have sworn Hayden blushed at that.
The man who still lay grunting on the ground huffed a laugh, “We know there’s no one more loyal than this man. He wouldn’t take you away without a very good reason.”
His near identical friend snorted. “I don’t know about that, Blythe. Love can be a powerful drug.”
The two younger men who had escorted them into the temple cleared their throats and their larger seniors turned to them. “We were trying to escort them to the commander,” said one hesitantly. Marilla watched as they shuffled uncomfortably, desperately trying to hold their ground under the stares of the larger men, like hyenas caught in a stare down with lions.
Blythe stood and clapped one of the younger men on the back. “Consider yourselves relieved from duty; we can escort them.”
The two men exchanged glances, disappointment clear in their expressions. Perhaps there was some reward they would be missing out on by surrendering their captives, but regardless they nodded, handed back their stolen weapons and scurried off. Marilla turned to their new captors, sizing them up discretely and finding she preferred the smaller men who were less of a threat. “You guys hungry?” Blythe’s companion asked.
Maybe she was happy with this guard change after all.
Marilla nodded enthusiastically before Hayden laid his hand gently onto her mid-back and said, “We do need to commune with the commander first. You know how he is?”
“She is,” Blythe corrected.
“She?” Hayden asked, surprised.
“Grandpa retired.”
“He hates it when you call him that, Vince,” Blythe grumbled.
“He’s ancient,” Vince said defensively. “What else should I call him?”
“His name maybe?” Blythe bickered. “You’re going to get us whipped again if he hears you calling him your grandpa.”
“Well he’s not my grandpa,” Vince grumbled.
“He’s not a grandpa period, and he could still whip your—”
“I see some things never change,” Hayden interrupted dryly in reference to their endless squabbling. “Who is the commander now?”
“Kayda,” both men said in union, and Marilla caught Hayden flinch.
Some of the mischief returned to Blythe’s expression as he said, “Yep, that Kayda.”
“Who’s Kayda?” Marilla asked, looking up at Hayden as he practically smacked his forehead with his palm.
“Hayden’s old sparring buddy,” Vince chuckled, averting his smug gaze quickly when Hayden whipped around to face him with his fists clenched.
“Actually, she was,” Hayden snapped. “We competed for the highest status among the temple. We both graduated from training early because of it. I thought she became a mercenary; how did she wind up back here?”
“Heard Gramps was retiring and needed a replacement,” Vince explained.
“Stop calling him that,” scolded Blythe. “Just because he isn’t the commander anymore, doesn’t mean he doesn’t hold the power to murder you.”
“So, he just handed over the title?” Hayden asked, ignoring the bickering. “Or did she challenge him?”
“I gave it up,” came a cracked voice from behind Marilla. She turned to an elderly man leaning on a cane. He was hunched forward with his gray goatee shadowing his chest and wrinkled eyes stern. “Though that would have been quite a fight, wouldn’t it?”
“Liath,” Hayden placed a hand over his chest and dipped his whole torso to the man, Marilla had never seen him dip so low for anyone, not even her father. Marilla quickly curtsied following his lead.
The elderly man’s goatee pulled as he smiled at Marilla, extending a heavily wrinkled hand to her. She graciously took it and allowed him to kiss her knuckles, “Princess Marilla, I presume?”
“An honor to meet you,” Marilla confirmed, returning his smile sincerely.
Liath released Marilla’s hand and turned to Hayden, tapping his cane as he assessed him, hazy eyes gradually flickering up and down. “Hayden,” Liath greeted, his voice tighter than when he had addressed Marilla and from the corner of her eye, she saw Blythe and Vince take a step back.
