The Stolen Valkyrie: Broken Bonds (Part One) (Fantasy Erotic Romance Novelette) by Ana Meadows Page B

wait?”
     
    Tani stood and asked, “Why do ye rush me?”
     
    Asta stood as well, “Mating is a grand thing to be a part of, Tani.”
     
    “Is that why ye test Grand Chief Johan so?”
     
    Tani gasped, slapping a colorful hand to her mouth. Asta made a face. Tani had a way of getting the best of her at times. Asta dropped the subject and said, “We must get back.”
     
    The two women hurried to deposit their multi-colored goods before moving onto the next task. As they worked, Asta’s mind strayed to how she felt tracking and bringing down an animal. The exhilaration of selecting just the right animal, stalking it, and presenting the food for the clan held no comparison to that of women’s work.
     
    Her movements were rushed as she pounded the colorful minerals into powder before handing the dust off to Tani. Her gaze strayed to the guard post while her mind cursed her dumb luck in being born female.
     
    Asta was a beauty, with high cheekbones and a heart-shaped face. Her only true fear was fast moving water but only because she had seen too many floods sweep livestock and people alike to their deaths. Easily bored with menial tasks, she frequently slipped away in secret to keep self and skills sharp. Having witnessed too many women grow soft and demure after a bond mate ceremony, Asta vowed she would never grow content in such a fashion.
     
    Her eyes darted upward. It was a perfect day for hunting. Anticipation roared through her blood, driving her restlessness mad. She brought the post down on the ochre hard, grunting as the chunk disintegrated. The woman in charge of replacing it thrust another piece under, fast as lightning, and yanked her hand back. Her gaze rose when Asta grunted louder as the piston hit home.
     
    Working quickly alongside Tani, she was surprised when her friend’s hand stilled her motion. Tani’s pointed look spoke volumes but Asta was not listening. Her mind had turned predator, chasing phantom prey.
     
    Tani tugged at her arm. Asta held the heavy pole off, blinking as she asked, “What is it, Tani?”
     
    The girl whispered, “Go now or ye will crush some fingers. I will tell the other women that ye had to gather herbs near the grove of trees.”
     
    Asta’s eyes flew to the woman who now wielded the pole. Darting back to Tani, she nodded and quickly left Tani’s side. Ignoring the mumblings of the other women, she headed for her secret stash of weapons. Ducking around the side of the hut, which she shared with Johan, Asta reached behind the thicket and snagged the small woven parcel. She happily increased her pace, moving toward an area away from the men, as anticipation flooded through her.
     
    She kept up the rapid pace until a huge boulder came into view. Kneeling behind it, she grinned as a huge antelope bent to pull at a tuft of dry grass. Fitting her arrow to bow, she rose in time to see the animal dart away. Reflexes sent her onto her feet and jumping the boulder. With hair streaming wildly behind her, she chased the beast until it ran into the river rapids.
     
    The fast-moving water made her back away. Looking left and right, a yelp tore from her throat. A wild boar, grunting as it charged, was closing in on her. Fleeing to the nearest tree, she shimmied up it and held on tight to the thick trunk. The boar rammed the tree again and again, sending vibrations through her entire body.
     
    Waiting for the boar to tire itself out, her gaze lifted to the sky and noted the sun’s location. Darkness was closing in fast. Throwing caution to the wind, she carefully snaked onto a thick branch, wrapped her legs around it, and started to aim. The boar’s head smashed into the trunk again, sending her off the branch to hang upside down.
     
    She smoothly twisted with the momentum, releasing the arrow straight at the beast’s head. The howling screeches of pain were music to her ears. Swiftly loading another arrow while dangling upside down, she tracked the beast’s backward