Page 57 of Condemned

Chapter Twenty-One

Riding with the girlin front of him seemed the best choice to Takk. They were all crazy over her and he could imagine what would happen if he allowed Kondio, Timin, or Zo to have her. Sex on a florse might be difficult but they’d have tried. He planned to make good time over the mountains. Efficient time. The army had only honed his inclination for control of minutia.

Life was too messy without planning.

Three days over, then into Omage, then home, and that last leg was another two days. Less than a week, allowing for interruptions, and they’d be home.

The manacles would be a bad idea in the mountains, freezing metal could peel off skin, so he’d left them off her—besides, she could pick their lock. Watching her closely would work as well for the next few days.

The road through this forest was getting overgrown. It was little more than a track. He surveyed the surroundings they passed. With the war on and martial law, bandits had become few. Of course if anyone dared to try robbing his band, they’d get a big surprise. He loosened his pistol in its belt holster, checked the hilt of his sword. All as they should be.

The laz rifle in the scabbard behind his right leg was within reach. Of her as well as him, but she’d not dare grab his weapons. Takk smiled. If she did, he’d give her a surprise.

And how awful was it that his mind magicked up a vision of him bending her over a log and paddling her ass?

He sniffed, which only made the nose plugs suck deeper into his nostrils.

In an attempt to ignore the rising hard-on, he adjusted the braids at his back, his belt buckle, and then, furtively, his pants.

If he hadn’t bought the packet of nose plugs he’d be smelling her. Avalon seemed oblivious to her effect. Tactical ACME nose plugs. They were supposed to be good against chemical gas attacks. The ridiculous Old Earth brand name had made him wonder if these would work. They did. He hadn’t smelled anything at the baths, or since then.

He’d be happy to get rid of her. A disruptive influence, yes. And Zo thought she’d heal his soldiers, make them forget the war? Whatever healing she might accomplish had three days left to go.

“Why are you the only one who refuses to fuck me?”

The unexpected question derailed his thoughts.

“What?”

“You heard me, sir.”

The sir was slurred and definitely insubordinate. Takk gritted his teeth.

“Because you’re just a slutty bitch in heat and a huleon. I don’t fuck those.”

“So you’re a racist, and you think this efsana condition I have is somehow voluntary? Yes, I remember the words that were said. Though things got vague last night.”

She stopped talking and wriggled on the saddle. In heat still then. Or uncomfortable remembering what she’d done? He didn’t care to find out which. Did not care, full stop.

“I didn’t ask for this,” she added quietly.

They both ducked to avoid a branch hanging low over the track and he grabbed her arm when she slipped sideways. Then let her go fast.

“I know you didn’t.” He did know, it was just... “You fucked up my soldiers. They’re obsessed.”

“Is that so bad?” Avalon sighed. “Yeah, I am too, with them. And I don’t know what to do.”

“You won’t have any worries soon. You’re going to be sold to Omage.”

She let out a derisory sound. “You think I will stay there? If you do that?”

“I know so.”

The security at most mauleon temples was pretty thorough. You didn’t leave until they said so, whether you were a devotee or a slave. His brother-in-law had worked at one. Omage had a reputation for being strict, though he’d never visited it.

“I’ll get over this efsana thing and be gone from there.”

“It’s baked into your genes. You’ll attract males repeatedly until one, or several, claim you. You’re a slutty bitch whether or not you want to be.”