Page 58 of Mastering their Maiden

But I stayed put and tracked Aria’s movements as she raced across the village. I was fighting this battle to save our tribe, yes, but it was also to save the village.

To save her.

And that meant saving her from herself.

She made a beeline toward the Elders’ cottages, just as I knew she would. Several of them fled in that direction when it became clear their new alliance was nothing but a farce. Blood was blood, bone was bone. In the end, it didn’t matter who it came from, the Skepna sought it like they sought water. They’d turned on the Elders as soon as they got through the gate, overwhelmed by bloodlust, all agreements forgotten.

Currently, there were two Skepna bearing down on the cottages. Smaller beasts, but violent and vicious nonetheless. They ripped doors off the huts searching for people to tear apart, sending the remaining Elders sprinting into the dark. There were a few women and some men huddled around the final cottage, guarded by Elder Micah and one other man, who were still trying to reason with the monsters like they were errant children having a fit.

I gripped my spear and started off toward where Aria stood behind them, her bow raised. She fired a shot and one Skepna fell to the ground, but no sooner had she finished the kill than Elder Micah was on her. She parried the swing of his sword with her bow, but I wasn’t going to wait and watch her make the kill. I told her I would keep her safe.

And I was going to keep my promise.

Micah lunged at her again, but Aria dodged him. I caught the bloodthirsty look in her eyes when she ripped an arrow out of the quiver and drove it into his thigh. Micah bellowed in pain and fell to the dirt while Aria stood over him.

“Where is he?” she shouted, unaware the other Skepna had given up its fight. It looked up at the sound of her voice, then stalked in her direction. Her back was turned, her attention focused solely on Micah. She screamed and demanded to know where he was, unaware of the danger coming toward her.

I took off in a sprint toward the cottages, drawing my arm back and launching my weapon at the Skepna. The tip pierced the monster’s calf, stopping it long enough that I was able to jump in and finish the beast off with the short sword I carried.

But the second it fell, I had to immediately turn and grab hold of Aria. She had her dagger out and was swinging it at Micah, and when I grabbed her, she fought me like her life depended on it.

“Where is he? He killed my parents! You’re murderers, all of you!”

I knew who she was asking for. Elder Hoval. The man who’d killed her friend. Who’d murdered her family. Who concocted this bullshit plan to destroy our tribe after tormenting the women of this village for years. Decades.

My girl wanted her vengeance. I wanted it for her.

But it was too late for that.

Just behind one of the cottages, there was a body on the ground. Graying dark hair, robes covered in dirt. Motionless.

Elder Hoval was dead.

I felt a pang of anger, but realized maybe it was better this way. Aria would argue, but killing Hoval wouldn’t change a thing. It would not bring her parents to life; it would not erase the damage he’d done or ease the pain he inflicted. Landing the blow would offer her satisfaction, perhaps, but not peace.

Her anger shifted away from Micah and onto me as I held her, and though she could have easily driven the dagger in her hand into my arm or leg, or grabbed an arrow to inflict injury, all her tiny hands did was shove at my arm. She didn’t even try to scratch.

“Get off me. I’m going to kill him. I’m going—”

“It’s over.”

“It’s not over until that bastard—”

“Aria.”

I pressed my cheek against hers, using enough pressure to turn her gaze to the body on the ground. She went still in my arms. Tense, but so still. Her stomach didn’t even move with breath for a few heartbeats, until finally she exhaled roughly, and her muscles went slack. I set her on her feet, keeping one arm banded around her waist.

“I told you he’d die for it.”

Of course, I meant he’d die by my hand, but this was good enough.

On the ground Micah turned, his own posture going stiff at the sight of his fellow Elder on the ground. The women behind him were whimpering, looking around as the sounds of battle started to fade. A few Kavari soldiers jogged over, and I gestured toward Micah with my spear.

“Get this one tied up.” The Elder glared but put up no fight when they seized his arms and began to drag him away. “And round up any of the other bastards still standing. We’ll deal with them in the morning.”

The women who’d been cowering behind Micah paled when I looked at them. These were the same ones who’d stood behind the Elders all these years, sneering down on the other women while reaping the benefits of the Elders’ oppression. They cowered now, looking to us for protection when they’d spit on my tribe not even a week ago.

Another thing we’d deal with later. The girl in my arms was priority now.

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