Free Born of Stone by Missy Jane Page A

bad.”
    He frowned and looked down her body. “Sore? From last night?”
    She nodded slowly. “And this morning,” she said with a laugh. What had begun as a low ache had turned into an inferno after their last bout of sex, but she hadn’t wanted to worry him. She’d done a good job of hiding it before but had forgotten when he kissed her. “It’s not so bad. I’m okay.”
    He didn’t seem to believe her and set her back onto the furs before jumping to his feet. Then he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He set her down only long enough to wrap her up in a blanket then he carried her to the door.
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “To the bath. I have a soothing ointment that will help your soreness but I want to clean you again first.”
    “Again? So soon?”
    He chuckled, then carried her out the door and down the hall.

Chapter Six
    Nel growled low in his throat and stared straight ahead, dutifully ignoring the redheaded Kevan between his legs. She was talented to be sure, but it was somewhat hard to remain aroused when he was tied down and being held against his will. Perhaps other men enjoyed these games, but he wasn’t one of them. The worst part was knowing he was neglecting his duties and others were suffering because of it.
    The woman released a feminine growl of annoyance and sat up to glare at him. She wiped one slender arm across her mouth and huffed out a breath.
    “What is it, sister? Will he still not come for you?”
    The redhead looked to the doorway where a red-clad Kevan stood watching. She was also nicely built. Tall in the way of all Kevans and big-breasted. Nel was certain he had even bedded her before. But where most of the women of Keva had brown or green eyes, this one stared at him through orbs of deep blue. He might have even thought them beautiful if they’d been within the face of anyone else. This bitch was the one who had ensnared him.
    “Iva, he isn’t even half hard yet and I’ve been going at him for nearly an hour. My jaw is getting tired.”
    Iva laughed and stepped into the room. She approached the bed slowly, swinging hips that would have enticed him in any other context. He glared at her and barely fought the urge to spit once she was within range.
    “Ooh, look at all that anger. You’re being such a bad boy for my dear Kalypso, I might have to spank you.”
    Kalypso clapped her hands. “Oh let me, please?”
    “We shall see. For now, let’s leave him be a moment. You can refresh yourself and get something to eat. Perhaps later he will allow you to ride him.”
    “Let me go, Iva. No good can come of this,” Nel said through gritted teeth.
    She tilted her head to study him. “No, I think not. My friends aren’t quite finished in the north. They still need some time and you, my dear one, would only get in their way.”
    She reached out a hand to stroke the side of his face and he ducked away with a growl. “I’m not your dear one, you witch.”
    Her grin melted into a look of pure hatred so strong he nearly flinched.
    “I know you’re not, bastard. I, like many of my sisters, know how you like to hop from one bed to another.”
    “And always with the truth on my lips. If I bedded you and moved on you cannot say I gave you false promises. That is not my way.”
    She shrugged and stepped away. “Perhaps not. But I wasn’t done with you.”
    Then she spun on her heel and strode from the room with her head held high. He glanced around and found himself alone. Kalypso had snuck out too.
    Now what? He was trapped in the bed of an angry Kevan and far away from the territory he was assigned to protect. Every instinct within him ached to get away. He had heard the warning bells just as a net of some unknown material dropped over his head. He knew the village was under attack while he fought off his captors, but a pinch to the neck had rendered him helpless.
    He winced when he turned his head and felt the sore on the side of his neck. Had it been a