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“Why would Vampires be hunting Maeve?”
“I do not know.” Neo drinks the cup of water on the table before speaking again. “We have to draw them away from her.” He looks at me. “Good luck, Milady.”
He leaves pulling the door closed behind him. Milady? I am a peasant the same as he. I am worse than a peasant. I am a Payne. A witch. A sorceress. Moments later, we hear strange riders passing over us. I am in Christian’s arms shaking all over. Why would the Bloodtakers want me? I have never met one, but my mother told us about them. They are ancient beings that feed on human blood. They want me because they fear me.
“They hunt us because mankind uses us to hunt them. They must have picked up my energy when I healed you. Mother warned me about using too much power. They will not stop until they find me and kill me.”
“You forget, Maeve.” Christian says pulling me to my feet. “I hunt Bloodtakers.”
The Butcher’s eyes give me a peek of the slasher living inside him.
“I hunt anything that needs to die. Blood sucking leeches do not scare me.”
“Do you suppose the church sent them?”
“The church would never align themselves with Bloodtakers. They hate them more than witches.” He whispers. “Do not worry about them, I can protect you from whatever comes along. We will stay here until they are gone and change course to throw them off.”
“I have heard what they do to people.”
“You have also heard what I do to people.” Christian reminds me. “And demons like them.”
“I cannot heal again with them around. I am invisible to them as long as I do not cast.”
“We must think of our child. No matter what happens, never cast again. If someone puts me low, you will let me stay down. This child is special. It will walk in both worlds and maybe bring them together one day. Our babe is God’s will.”
“We will protect it with our lives, Christian.” I say desperately as we hold each other tightly. “I love you so very much.”
“Maeve, my treasure.” He holds me like he will never let me go. “I will make you my wife for eternity. I am forever in your service.”
Christian kisses me hard after he pledges himself to me.
“Are you certain this is what you want? They will come after you.”
“Do I want to be with my wife and child? Yes, I do. Let them come. We will be long gone, or I will meet them with my sword.”
“I am afraid that if you leave, I will never see you again.”
“As long as I am breathing, I will come back to you, Maeve. Never doubt my love for you. I want to be with you and raise our children in peace. I do not want you to think me a Butcher anymore.”
“You are the best man that I have ever known, Christian Beaumont. You are good to me and I am honored to accept your hand in marriage. I will proudly bear your children.”
“Maeve, my love.” He undresses us impatiently and pushes me back on the bed. It sags under our weight but holds firm. “Get on top so that I can look at you while I am inside you. Take down your hair.”
I let down my wild hair and Christian sits me on his cock. The Bloodtakers are forgotten. The Cardinal is forgotten. This time is for us. It is ours.
“Let them search.” He whispers. “Let them come.”
After two days, he creeps out for water and to search for any stray Bloodtakers. I dump the pot and sit out in the open breathing in the green smells of the woods. Why would anyone want to live in a crowded town when they can be here? I lay back, close my eyes, and wait. Christian tracks them for hours. I was worried before he left. When he returns after dawn, I am in tears. There is no sign of them, but he told me that they most likely left scouts behind in case any survivors come back to camp. He found food and more supplies. We will be staying put for a while longer.
I stand guard over him as he sleeps the morning away into the afternoon. I eventually join him in rest. My senses are sharper than most. That’s how I know when someone is outside searching for the door. I move from the bed as quiet as a whisper, taking up my sword. I press my ear against the door for a better listen. I am jerked back just before a blade penetrates the door where my face was. I touch my cheek where the steel scratched me. My fingers come away red. My eyes meet Christian’s and something dark comes over him when he sees my blood smeared on my face. Christian Beaumont pushes me behind him before he kicks the door open swinging his blade. He saved my life again. The rush of fear that I get from almost dying is sickening. The rush of love that I get from his actions is exhilarating. The Bloodtaker looks like a man if not for the fangs. He faces Christian bravely even smiling at him.
“Give me the hag, and I will let you live.”
The Bloodtaker’s voice is that of a man when he makes his offer. Christian switches his sword to his other hand reaching for mine. I hand it to him and stand back by the tree. The demon looks at me with his black eyes and goes into a frenzy when it smells my blood. The Beaumont separates head from body and the fight is over. Until two more, drop from the sky. I watch on in fascination as Christian whirls and pivots their attack. He moves like the wind and I am, but a leaf caught up in its glory. Their bravery dies when they realize what they are up against. Even with their strength and speed, they are no competition for the Christian. Two are dead and the third pinned to the ground by two swords. He is bleeding from his mouth and laughing hysterically.
“Why are you hunting her when there are other witches to be had?”
“Kill me, Christian. I do not fear death.”
“No, I do not imagine you do, demon. We have that in common. I am worse than death. I am something to be feared.” He sticks the point of one sword into the smiling demon’s eye-socket. “The first thing we have to do is wipe that annoying grin off your pretty face.”
The blood-taker screams, when Christian pushes his sword deeper into his skull. It echoes in the still wood.
“Why are you hunting her? Stop crying and tell me.”
“She is healing Christians and he wants her.” He moans in agony.
“Who wants her?”
The Prince’s angry demand is followed by his fist smashing into the creatures face.
“One of us. That is all I know.”
The Bloodtaker laughs. His laugh becomes a bloody gurgle when Christian pushes his sword through the back of his head.
“You are a mere man. How did you take not one of us, but three? Why are my wounds not healing?”
“I am Christian Beaumont.” The Prince smiles. “I imagine you have heard of me.”
“The death dealer of Beaumont?” He recoils like a wounded animal. “The stories are true.”
“How many more of you are out there?”
“Filthy Christian. I will never give up my tribe to—”
The blood-taker screams when Christian gauges his eye out of his head.
“There are three guarding the camp, the others have pushed on.”
“Where did they go?”
“I do not know.”
The Bloodtaker cries. He screams again when Christian slices his ear from his head. I turn away but only for a moment. My curiosity pulls my eyes back to the gruesome sight.
“They went east where it was said she lives.”
“How many in all?”
“Ten of our best.”
He’s holding his mangled eye and pleading with the other.
“I told you what I know, Beaumont. Allow me to take my dead and return to my master.”
“That is a fair request.” Christian says letting the demon get to his feet. “I will send you to your master with my own sword. Your master is God.”
The body falls back and the head lands behind it. He looks for me and reaches out his hand. I run to him and we hold each other.
“I have to bury them and get rid of this blood. Wash in the stream. It is safe now.”
He is a warrior like no other. It makes me sad when he unhooks the talons that I have dug into him. I do not want to let go.
“I have to get them in the ground as soon as possible, Maeve. There will be time to hold you later. Wash and get supper started. Your man will be hungry when he returns.”
Christian’s lips are soft against mine when he kisses me goodbye. I boil chunks of ham and wild onions with the roots he brought back from camp. The smell makes my stomach growl. I take a sit-down bath in the running river and wait for Christian. I touch my middle and think about the child growing here. A Beaumont Prince or Princess. And, a Payne witch. But, mostly a Beaumont bastard. My family died for this child and I will too.
My mother and sister could not cast as far as me. They had intelligence and a gift for herbs that come with being a Payne, but they could not put their energy into air the way that I can. Mother could speak to the gifted with her mind, but she could not control them. Beth-Ann could heal, but she used things that grew from the ground to do so. She knew every plant you point to. My curse is the power to heal flesh and bone with a light within me. I cannot use even the smallest bit of healing right now. Not even for the mosquito bites that chase me inside. I am wearing a hole in the dirt floor waiting for him to return. When the room tightens around me, I go for a walk.
I pause when I hear shuffling in the leaves followed by the flap of large, young wings. I get a rush of excitement when I see a nose poke through the tree line. I look left and right before I reach out my hand.
“You followed me, you silly boy.” I chastise my pup. “You should not be here.”
My baby dragon stands thirty hands with a wing span that is twice as wide. My Juniper is a lovely creature with his rounded snout and big, black eyes that understand more than one might think. He is covered with green-gold scales that catch the sun when he moves. His long, long tail is longer than the rest of him. A tail that has knocked me off my feet a time or two when I refused him something he wants to eat. Which is anything that fits into his greedy mouth. In many ways, Juniper is a child.
“I know you missed me, but you should not have come. It is not safe for you here.”
His steps are light, and he is quiet for one so large. He senses something new and approaches to appease his curiosity. It is my belly that hold his interest. The baby dragon knows there is a new life growing there. The Butcher was telling the truth. I cover my mouth so that I do not cry. Juniper rubs his head against me gently. His eyes are bright with understanding. He will soon have a babe to play with. I laugh when he jumps around flapping his wings. We have been friends for so long that I know him as well as I know myself. I laugh harder when he accidently knocks me over. The poor thing is horrified for doing so and quickly pounces to my rescue.
“Maeve!” A sharp voice cries. “I have the beast in my sights. Do not move!”
The Christian has his arrow aimed at my dragon with deadly precision. I jump between them.
“No!” I scream. “He is not what you think.”
“Move away from the dragon before he kills us both.”
Juniper is not so playful anymore when he hisses at the Prince. I wrap my arms around his long neck to restrain him.
“Put down your bow.” I demand. “Juniper would never hurt me.”
“Dragons are dangerous.” His voice trembles with fear and awe. “They eat people.”
“Only the ones who threaten their existence. Juniper is just a baby. Leave him alone.”
“A baby?” The Christian exclaims. “That thing is bigger than I am.”
“He cannot be more than four or five hundred years old. Dragons can live for thousands of years if they are left unbothered. This one is mine and no one is harming him.”
“You keep a dragon like some... some... pet? Have you taken leave of your senses?”
“No, I have not. We have been together for fifteen years. His mother was probably murdered shortly after he was born, and I have been caring for him since we met.”
“Will he kill me if I lower this bow?”
“He does not eat swine. Juniper prefers plants and fish and stealing the occasional chicken. He is playing with me, not killing me.” I kiss his scaly head. “You love me, right boy?”
He is still angry at the Beaumont, but he licks my face.
“Ewe, Juniper.” I complain. “Not the lips. Your breath stinks.”
I push his head away and the cheeky monster licks me again.
“Damn it, Juniper!” I yell, slapping the side of his head. “That’s it...”
Have you ever seen a woman jump on something twice her size? Neither has the Christian who watches on with his jaw hanging. We have been wrestling and fighting since I too was a child. Juniper is aware of my human fragility and he takes care. I jump on his back, and he runs around the clearing attempting to throw me off. My arms are locked, and his efforts to toss me are in vain. I scream with joy when he takes to the sky. The Beaumont drops his bow and chases after us yelling for me to come down. Juniper knows to fly below the treetops or risk being seen. I laugh as I watch the Prince running like the wind to keep up with us. Boy is he fast. I scream again when Juniper rolls over and flies upside down.
“Damn it, Maeve!” He yells. “You will get yourself killed!”
“Take me back Juniper before the Christian wets himself.”
We land softly beside the stream. It takes a few minutes for the Prince to break through the forest. He is red-faced and breathing hard when he stomps over to us.
“Do not ever do anything so foolish again!” He yells. “You could have been killed!”
There is a swoosh before Juniper’s tail catches him across his middle throwing him into the water. Oh, my. That is the last thing I expected him to do.
“Juniper!” I am trying hard not to laugh. “You devil!”
The Christian finds his footing and stands up soaking wet. As funny as the situation is, I cannot help noticing how arresting he is with his wet clothing clinging to his hard body. He has the look of man with murder on his mind. His lips twitch before he bursts into laughter. It is all that it takes for me to collapse into my own hoots of laughter. Juniper is watching the Christian suspiciously. He does not know many people. Only me in fact. I watch the Prince drag his strong legs through the rushing water toward me. I smile when he bends over and picks me up. He is both cold and warm.
“Wait, what are you doing?” I demand when he turns back to the water. “Stop. Put me down! Do not dare toss me in that water, Christian Beaumont.”
He stops at the water’s edge.
“You are no fun.”
His smile makes me smile. I wrap my arms around his neck when he kisses me. He tastes like life and a drink from a cold spring. Something nudges his bottom sending us both toppling into the stream. We go under.
“You beast!” I yell after the Christian stands me up. “I will skin you for this and make myself a pair of boots!”
Juniper turns and strikes the water with his tail dousing me again.
“Hey!” The Prince yells at him. “Do it again and I will roast you for our supper.”
Juniper’s tail swings again. He aims for the Prince’s family jewels. The quick Beaumont catches it in his hand and swings the baby dragon around in a circle as I watch open mouthed.
“Do not hurt him!” I cry in dismay.
Juniper goes flying, landing the water with a great splash. I jump in after him though the water is not very deep. He is an excellent swimmer, but I baby him as if he is my child. Sometimes it feels like it. Juniper jumps out before I reach him. He shakes off the water while glaring at the Christian.
“What?” The Prince does not back down. “Do you want more of that?”
Juniper concedes. He has been bested and he knows it. The Beaumont is the alpha male. The big baby lays down in the shade instead and immediately begins to snore.
“You did not have to be so rough with him.”
“Rough with him?” He exclaims in disbelief. “Your pet tried to geld me! He is lucky I do not take one of his teeth as a token.”
Juniper cracks one eye but it closes when he is satisfied the Butcher does not intend to do so.
“He is harmless.”
“That creature is as harmless as I am. It is spoiled and jealous and should not be kept as a pet. What if it kills someone?”
“Juniper has never killed a man who did not deserve it.” I am defensive. “Besides, he is not staying long. I am sending him home before we leave here.”
I lay down on the grass with him, leaning back against Junipers soft belly. It is a lovely day. I did not notice before. The Beaumont lays down with us resting his head in my lap.
“He may be the last of his kind.” His deep voice is sad and melodic when he strokes Juniper’s shimmering scales. “I never imagined I would ever see one. It is the second most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.”
I smile and put my fingers in his hair. He flatters me so.
