Falling Warriors Series Collection (Books 1, 2 & 1.5) Read online

  She felt his shoulder tense beneath her hand. Her voice was hollow when she continued.

  “To be forced to spend the rest of your life as nothing more than an object. Tied to a man who cares so little about you, he would feel no remorse for killing everything inside you.” Leawyn looked up then, her eyes meeting his.

  “Would you accept your fate?”

  She saw a flash of something akin to anger in his eyes. Was he feeling protective of her? She couldn’t tell, but she thought it was a possibility.

  “No,” Tristan answered her finally, his voice soft. He kept their eyes locked while he uttered the words that drove the spear through the little hope she had left within her.

  “But you will, Leawyn.”

  The music around them ended, and they stopped dancing with their eyes still locked onto each other, holding a silent conversation with their souls.

  It was when Leawyn felt the hand on her shoulder pulling her away from him that her first tear fell. She felt Tristan’s gaze on her back as Xavier led her away to his horse and lifted her up onto the saddle. He climbed on behind her and kicked the horse into action.

  The sound of the tribe cheering after them echoed loudly in Leawyn’s ears as she rode away from the only life she had ever known.

  They rode for what seemed like hours until, finally, Xavier pulled his horse to a stop. He landed on his feet lightly when he jumped down from his tall stallion’s back and turned to her. He grasped Leawyn around her waist and pull her off until her feet touched the ground. She took in their surroundings.

  There was a hut facing towards a small river, the water shimmering in the moonlight, reflecting the ripples of fish and other lake creatures as they swam. Beech-fir and foliage surrounded them, with trees towering high over their heads, creating a beautiful canopy.

  “Where are we?” she asked, staring at the crudely made hut in interest.

  “I had my men build this for us,” Xavier answered without looking at her, too busy unsaddling his horse. “The ride to our village is too long. We’ll stay here until the rest of my tribe reaches us. Together, we will all travel back to Izayges.”

  He lifted his saddle off his horse and threw it over a low-hanging branch.

  “Why must we wait for the others? Why not just ride on?”

  Xavier paused, leveling her with a look that made her heart pound. “You know why,” he said quietly.

  Leawyn looked away from him. Yes, she knew exactly why.

  To consummate their marriage and claim her as his wife.

  “Go inside and light the candles there. I will be in shortly.”

  Leawyn exhaled shakily, her legs trembling as she walked towards the hut to do as he bid. Her hand was on the rope that served as a door handle when his next words stopped her dead.

  “There’s nowhere to run, Leawyn. That door is the only way out. You can’t escape me.”

  Leawyn closed her eyes; his meaning was clear. This was going to happen, and nothing she could do would stop him. Swallowing against the bile and fear choking her, Leawyn gathered her strength and wrenched open the door—sealing her fate.

  Leawyn sat on the large bed staring down at her hands. She was still wearing her wedding gown, and her hair still had the small braids woven through it in the style of an Izayges.

  She raised her head at the sound of the wooden door opening, standing when her husband’s hulking frame came through. He stared at her as he closed the door behind him, the sound loud in the otherwise quiet room.

  They squared off; the only sounds were the crackling of the fire Leawyn had lit and her shallow breathing. She trembled when he took slow, measured steps towards her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. He stopped within a breath away from her. She stared at the door behind his massive shoulders, avoiding his gaze.

  It was when he reached up to untie the knot holding her dress together that she tried to run from him.

  Leawyn screamed when Xavier wrapped his beefy arm around her waist and hoisted her up. Her legs kicked out wildly as she struggled in his grasp.

  He threw her over his shoulder and onto the bed so that she landed on her back. He was on top of her in seconds, wedging himself in-between her legs. She lashed out at him, bucking her hips to try and dislodge him, aiming her dainty fists for his face.

  Xavier reached up and grabbed her hands in his, holding them high above her head so it made her back arch. She shrieked again, struggling against his hold and sobbing.

  “Enough!” Xavier barked, jolting her hard enough to make her head slam back onto the pillow. He glared down at her.

  “You will accept this, Leawyn,” he growled menacingly as he used his other hand to untie the knot and jerk her dress down her body, exposing her breasts.

  She cried, shaking her head, fruitlessly struggling against him. She let out another loud sob when his hand trailed down her hip until it reached the underside of her thigh.

  He grabbed a fistful of her dress and pushed it up so the material bunched around her waist.

  “No!” she sobbed, trembling with her fear. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him pleadingly. “Please don’t do this! Please! I’m not ready!”

  Xavier snarled down at her, eyes furious. “You are my wife. You will accept this, and I will take you,” he promised, his voice laced with steel. “You knew this would happen.”

  Leawyn cried. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared up at him fearfully. He traced one of her tears before dipping his head and catching it with his tongue. He turned, burying his face in her neck, inhaling the scent of her. He tilted his head, so his lips brushed her ear with every word he whispered.

  “I can tie you down if you would prefer, or we can do this the easy way – willingly.”

  She choked around her sobs, her tiny form quivering. She felt his arousal through his breeches when it brushed against her thigh.

  “Either way, I will claim you, Leawyn.” He nipped her ear lightly, ignoring when she tried to jerk away from him. “And I’ll enjoy every minute of it.”

  Leawyn let out a low moan; the sound resembled what a wounded animal would make. She jerked in his grasp, her one last attempt to try and escape.

  To protect one of the only parts of herself she had left.

  But it was futile.

  “Do I need to grab my rope?” Xavier growled, his patience wearing thin. “Choice is yours.”

  “Willingly,” Leawyn whispered numbly.

  “Good girl,” Xavier praised before his lips claimed her own in a possessive kiss. He reached up and ripped her dress completely off with one hand, while the other jerked down his pants.

  Leawyn had just one moment to close her eyes before he gripped her thighs with both his hands and wrenched her legs apart, spreading her wide open so he could nestle between her.

  “Mine,” he hissed out. He slammed his hips forward with a brutal thrust that made her screech in pain as he tore through her virginal barrier with a swiftness that brought tears to her eyes and made her body seize in agony.

  He groaned when she clawed at his shoulders, her nails leaving little crescent marks on his skin. He pulled out halfway, and Leawyn winced at the feeling before he slammed his pelvis forward and entered her once again, each thrust more powerful than the last.

  “Please!” she blubbered in pain, the burn of him breaking her innocence only intensified with each movement of his hips.

  Leawyn tried desperately to leave his grip, pushing against his shoulders and arching her back to try and crawl away from him, but it was no use. He simply reached up and grasped her hands, pinning them down onto the bed again with one hand while the other held her thigh closer to his body.

  “The more you fight, the more painful I’ll make it,” Xavier snarled down at her, his eyes alight with his lust. He continued his merciless pace, pulling out and slamming back in with quick succession. The sounds of his flesh slapping against hers echoed around them.

  “Please…” Leawyn sobbed her last attempt to
reach out to whatever humanity Xavier had left.

  He paused, and before she could hope for much, he pulled back and simply flipped her over, forcing her onto her stomach. He gripped her around her neck and forced her face down onto the pillow, holding her still while he wrapped his arm underneath her stomach and arched her hips up so she was on her knees. Taking her like the animal he was.

  “I gave you a choice,” Xavier hissed into her ear, then he thrust into her so hard and deep, she felt as if a hot dagger pierced her.

  The pillow masked her screams and caught the tears that ran down her cheeks as the flight left her completely. She lay beneath him, defeated.

  * * *

  Later that night, Leawyn lay stiffly in bed with Xavier’s arm thrown possessively over her waist. Even in sleep, he controlled her.

  Possessed her.

  There was no going back after tonight, no escaping him.

  She was his.

  Forever.

  Leawyn cried.

  She cried for the freedom she lost, and the life she was forced to have.

  She cried for her home, and she cried for the pain he made her feel.

  But most of all, she cried because when she closed her eyes, she saw the hazel ones that belonged to the one she would miss the most.

  The sun shone bright above, making the ocean’s blue and green hues to sparkle from the reflective rays. The sound of seagulls squawking high overhead did nothing to diminish the tinkling sound of a child’s joyous laughter as she chased after the waves.

  Her blonde hair glowed bright when it caught the sun. The imprints of her feet marked the sand before the waves playfully drew them away, continuing the never-ending game of catch.

  Leawyn giggled to herself and stared down at her feet as she squished her toes into the wet sand until they were buried. She watched in fascination as the water came and rinsed the sand away.

  She should be back at her village with her caretaker, who was probably very upset with her for sneaking off, but Leawyn wanted to play, not do chores.

  Growing tired of her game, she walked over to the dry part of sand and flopped down onto her back. She watched the seagulls overhead that gracefully glided with the wind and occasionally dropped down into the water to catch fish.

  Before she even realized she was tired, she fell asleep right there on the sand.

  It was quiet when she woke.

  She could no longer hear the seagulls squawking overhead, and the beach wasn’t as warm because the sun had long since set.

  Leawyn shot up with a gasp, looking around in panic. She scrambled to her feet, wiping the sand off her hands by using her long skirt.

  Brees was going to be so mad at her!

  She gathered up her skirts and ran as quickly as her six-year-old legs could take her towards the hill that would lead back to her village. Leawyn’s panic grew; everything was dark. Without a torch, it was hard to navigate.

  It wasn’t long that she was horribly lost.

  Sliding down a rock slick with moss, she pulled her knees to her chest and began to cry.

  “Why are you crying?”

  She jerked violently sideways, her wide, blue eyes opening to see the pale face of a boy with a mop of curly brown hair standing a few steps in front of her.

  He couldn’t have been more than a few years older than her, standing at about four feet tall, he stared at her with curiosity and concern.

  “I ran away from Brees, and now I don’t know my way back.” Leawyn sniffled, using the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. The boy’s lips pursed as he took a step forward and knelt in front of her.

  “Why did you run away?”

  She sniffled again, her crystal eyes puddled as she answered. “I wanted to play, but she wouldn’t let me.”

  “Why couldn’t you play?”

  “Papa doesn’t like it when I play,” Leawyn whispered sadly.

  It got quiet between them, the boy lost in his thoughts, and Leawyn wishing she would have listened to her caretaker.

  Her small shoulders shook as the beach carried a strong breeze. She jumped when a cloak was suddenly draped over her. Leawyn looked up at the boy as he stood, pulling her along with him.

  “I will take you home.”

  “Wake up, Leawyn,” the boy whispered in her ear.

  She blinked open her eyes, looking up at him drowsily. “Your village is just up the hill.” He nodded his head forward, gently setting Leawyn down onto her feet.

  She smiled as she caught sight of her lit-up village, instantly feeling relieved. She was quick to run off, but just before she reached the top of the hill, she stopped to look over her shoulder when the boy did not follow.

  “Are you not coming?” Leawyn asked, confused.

  The boy silently shook his head. “This is not my home.”

  “But why—”

  “You should go. I can hear them looking for you,” the boy said calmly. Leawyn tilted her small head and listened. Her eyes widened when she heard he was right; they were looking for her.

  “Go,” the boy urged when the voices grew louder.

  Leawyn nodded before she turned on her heel and once again started her way up to her village. She paused, whipping around with her mouth open, ready to ask him his name. She shut it abruptly.

  No one was there.

  The boy was gone.

  Leawyn searched a moment more to see where he might have gone, but after not finding him, she shrugged and continued up the hill.

  It never occurred to her to ask how the boy knew her name when she never told him.

  The following morning, Leawyn lay frozen, staring at the ceiling of the hut. Xavier moved against her, the sounds of his groans of pleasure filling the silence. Her body moved with his movements, the thrusts quick, hard, and unrelenting as he held her legs captive, hooked around his forearms.

  Leawyn tried desperately to hold in her winces of pain at his rough treatment. Her hands clenched around the bed furs beneath her, knuckles turning white with how tightly she held them. Her body, still unused to the act of pleasure, was ablaze with pain. Every time Xavier thrust inside of her, it felt as if a heated dagger was spearing her insides with brutal intensity. She squeezed her eyes shut. Tears of pain escaped from behind her closed eyelids, leaving a trail down her cheek.

  Xavier’s new wife cried out when he tightened his grip around her, pulling her forward sharply to meet his thrusts. He looked down at her, taking in her wide, frightened eyes. Her long hair was sprawled out on top of the pillow, and her back arched as he buried himself deep within her.

  She was beautiful in his eyes, and he had no plans of ever letting her go.

  Finally, he stilled, his body shuddering with his release. He collapsed on top of Leawyn, still completely astonished at the amount of pleasure her young, supple body provided. He groaned, still feeling his climax. The feeling of her untouched body clenching around him as it forced itself to accommodate him and his length. It drove him mad with lust.

  She was so tight and warm around him, it was almost painful.

  Xavier nuzzled his wife’s neck, smirking when she shivered in reaction but otherwise did not pull away from him.

  “You are learning,” he commented smugly, kissing her neck.

  She stiffened further when he moved his lips across her jaw. She jerked her head away with a glare when he went to capture her lips with his own. He stared down at her, his eyes boring into hers in warning. He dipped his head to capture her lips again.

  He reached out and grabbed her jaw in one hand, a fistful of her hair in the other. He leveled his furious glare with her own as he tilted her head up.

  “Why do you turn from me?” he asked in his deep, raspy voice. “Why do you deny me the touch of your lips, knowing they belong to me?”

  Leawyn’s eyes flashed. “They’ll never belong to you,” she hissed between clenched teeth as she struggled to release the pressure of his hand from her hair.

  His expression became da
ngerous at her words. Did she not know that everything she was belonged to him now? She was his wife. His to own and possess.

  His lips curled with his snarl as he shoved her down harder against the bed. He caught her wrists when she went to hit him, pinning them above her head.

  “Everything you are belongs to me, Leawyn. You’ll do well to remember that,” he told her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, ignoring her flinch when his hands touched her cheek, squeezing them together so that they puckered.

  “Now be a good girl,” he warned, dipping his head down to her lips.

  This time, when he went to kiss her, she did not pull away.

  Xavier pushed away from her quickly, uncaring of his nudity as he walked across the room to dress.

  “Clean yourself up. We’re leaving.” And without a backward glance at her, he left.

  Leawyn lay on the bed for a moment longer before she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position. Taking a moment to collect herself, she stood up, whimpering at the pain between her thighs. Looking down, she saw her thighs were smeared with blood. She looked away, unable to bear the sight.

  Gingerly, she made her way across the room until she stopped at the large basin of water there. Cupping her hands together, she plunged them into the cold liquid and splashed the glistening drops against her face. She dipped her hands into the water again and paused when she saw her reflection.

  With a shaking hand, she fingered the bruises on her chin, the black and blue marks of fingerprints contrasting against her pale skin. Her hand trailed down, tracing her fingertips over the bruises on her neck.

  Leawyn bit her lip, blinking away her tears so she could continue the survey of her body. She gave a muffled sob when her hands skimmed over her hips. Looking down, she noticed the cluster of bruises there, too. Bruises in the shape of fingerprints.

  His fingerprints.

  His mark.