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  Her heartbeat raged out of control and her lungs were on fire. Everything around her blurred as she ran. The sound of stampeding hooves closed in at her back. She squealed and forced herself to increase speed. The skin stretching along her thighs and the constant jarring of her tummy caused immense pain but she forced herself to run through it. Then suddenly the thundering hooves stopped. She wanted to look over her shoulder to see if the Barbarians had backed off but she couldn’t afford to pause. The safety of the trees stood only mere feet away. Just as she swung a branch aside and lunged into the brush, she was grabbed from behind and hefted into the air.

  She screamed and nearly fainted from fright. “Let me go,” she shouted, flailing her arms and legs. “Please!” She kicked his knee so hard it buckled and he stumbled. She didn’t regret it until he threw her upside down over his shoulder and restrained her legs with his arm. Her hair tumbled forward. If he wasn’t so tall it would’ve dragged along the ground. She pummeled his back but it probably felt no harsher than tick bites.

  The fur hide poked into the cuts on her belly and thighs but she was too scared to feel any pain. How idiotic to think she might have gotten away with outrunning a Barbarian. “You have no right to take me! I don’t belong to you.”

  “You’re my,” he bellowed, his voice an echoing roar inside the headpiece, “possession now.”

  Gut-wrenching fear stopped her heart.

  Chapter Five

  Wisteria barely breathed and remained totally still while being lowered and placed into another man’s arms. In fact she hadn’t moved at all during the long trek to the feared Barbarian camp. He’d had his arms wrapped so tightly around her rib cage while en route, her chest couldn’t fully expand within the limited space to breathe. She couldn’t move even if she’d tried. But she hadn’t tried. She knew better. From the rock-hardness of his chest, flexed arms and heavy breathing, she realized the extent of his anger. Maybe she should have thought about the ramifications of fleeing before trying to outrun him.

  “Where shall I take her?” the man holding her asked.

  She looked into the face of a boar and sucked in a mouthful of air to repress a scream.

  “Hold her until I return.”

  She glanced at the beast in the bison mask and froze as he dismounted his horse and walked toward a large hut made of animal hides. He disappeared behind the flap and she glanced around the area, her gaze slicing through the scenery while searching for a way out. The huge camp was well hidden within the forest walls. Tall trees bordered the entire perimeter except for a wide path leading into the meadow.

  The remaining men tied their horses to trees. As each was secured, the tribesmen settled inside individual huts smaller than the huge Barbarian’s.

  Only a few people, one woman and two men, both wearing boar headgear, sat around a fire that burned within a deep underground pit. A dark pot hung over the fire from some type of frame with black bars. The woman was weaving strips of leather together and didn’t miss a stitch when she looked up. Her lids narrowed when she gazed at Wisteria as if curious about her presence but she didn’t appear shocked that a strange woman had been carried into their camp.

  The woman had long black hair that shimmered in the firelight. A piece of white fur resembling a rabbit’s foot hung from a leather strap in her hair. Wisteria didn’t mean to stare but the woman was very stunning. When their eyes met, Wisteria dropped her gaze to the ground.

  “Put me down. Please,” Wisteria begged to the man holding her like an infant. “I…I won’t run. I…I promise.”

  “She’s right, Tyran. Put her down.”

  Tyran? The Barbarians had names?

  “The chieftain fears she’ll escape,” he replied, his voice a dull echo inside the mask. “She attempted it once already.”

  “She tried to escape from the chieftain?” The woman glanced as if Wisteria were maddened. “Stupid, stupid woman.”

  Wisteria didn’t need to be reminded of her actions. Her ribs still ached from the Barbarian holding her so tightly.

  “Tie her to the stake,” the lady said, nudging her head beyond the fire.

  Wisteria’s heart lurched. She gulped and glanced over her shoulder. A thick, charred tree stood tall above the ground. Leather straps were tied around the trunk from top to bottom. Piles of ashes lay around the base in a bed of stones.

  Human ashes.

  “Pl-please, no,” Wisteria nearly cried, frantically wrapping her arms around Tyran’s shoulders and neck and interlocking her hands. “The chieftain said to hold me.”

  No one acknowledged her plea as she was carried to the tree and set on her feet. Tyran gripped her wrist while he crouched and prepared a lower strap, presumably for her ankles. And she swore the cinders were still smoldering from the last person burned alive. Despite heat traveling through her soles, her blood turned cold. If she didn’t flee now she may not get another chance.

  Whenever Tyran released her wrist to bind her legs, she’d run. The big Barbarian wasn’t present and with her life in danger she could outrun the others. Or try to. What choice did she have?

  Beads of sweat pooled along her brows and she fisted her hands. Her heartbeat accelerated while anticipating the moment Tyran would loosen his grip, giving her a chance to break free. Just then the chieftain stepped from his hut.

  “Tyran,” he shouted. “What are you doing?”

  Wisteria inwardly cringed at the roaring of his voice. Tyran squeezed her wrist while slowly rising to his feet. He stepped behind her as if using her as a shield as the chieftain approached, his stride long and shoulders stiff. “Jade told me to tie her up, sir.”

  “You disobeyed me?” The chieftain halted and turned on the woman. “Who gave you the authority to issue orders?”

  She cautiously set her weaving aside and stood, wringing her hands. Her gaze lowered to the ground. “Tyran informed me she’d tried to escape. I assumed she’d try again.”

  “When have we ever acted on assumptions?”

  “Never, sir.”

  His shoulders rose then slightly dropped. “Return to your craft,” he said, lowering his voice, the edge almost nonexistent.

  Wisteria gulped as he approached. At her back, Tyran’s breathing increased to an audible level. She couldn’t tell who was more frightened, him or her.

  The Barbarian stopped directly in front of her body. Despite him tilting her face upward by the chin, she couldn’t see his eyes inside the headpiece.

  Suddenly he averted his attention over her head toward the trees.

  “Chieftain,” someone shouted. “Look!”

  “I see it,” he responded, drawing a large blade from its sheath at his side.

  Tyran’s grip tightened around Wisteria’s wrist as she reluctantly turned and glanced over her shoulder. A man from the flesh-eating tribe wearing a pelt with human teeth strung around his hair wandered into the camp. His face was tilted toward the ground and he walked slowly, as if he’d been poisoned or drugged and had fallen into a stupor.

  “Stay away from it,” the chieftain ordered. He cautiously approached the Flesh Eater, stopping an arm’s reach away. It halted, its gaze still lowered. The chieftain lifted its chin with the tip of his blade. “Who sent you?” he asked.

  “Who sent you?” the man repeated.

  “His neck is covered in scales,” the chieftain shouted. “It’s another mutant.”

  “His neck is covered in scales,” the man mocked. “It’s another mutant.”

  A mutant? What’s a mutant?

  Wisteria gulped as the chieftain lifted the blade. With a quick overhand plunge he stabbed it into the man’s heart then quickly yanked it free from his chest. Green liquid spurted from the wound but the Flesh Eater made not a sound as he fell backward to the ground.

  Green liquid? Had his blood been tainted by poison?

  Wisteria clamped her mouth shut to prevent screaming and squeezed her eyes closed. Too soon she sensed the chieftain’s presence towering nearby
and she was overcome by acute shivers.

  “Tyran, take the woman to my hut.” The order was addressed in a normal, authoritative tone. “Never mind. Dissect what you need from the mutant for your analysis then bury the rest.”

  Wisteria’s eyes popped open.

  “Jade?” the chieftain continued. The woman jumped up. “Bring yarrow leaves for her wounds.”

  Yarrow leaves? Overwhelmed with relief, Wisteria inhaled sharply but before she released the air, the chieftain swept her off her feet into his arms.

  He carried her toward his hut, her body bouncing during each long stride. Once inside he laid her on a fur hide. She skittered to her bottom and backed up against the farthest wall. On the opposite side sat a small in-ground fire pit surrounded by large rocks to contain the flames. A thin stream of gray smoke floated from a pile of red embers and filtered through a large hole cut in the roof. Despite the warmth, she still shivered. Rubbing gooseflesh from her arms, she glared at the Barbarian.

  “What will you do with me?” She’d never been secluded in such a small area with a man. And remembering the feel of Vulcan’s large, hard organ, she wondered if it’d be less painful to burn at the stake or be stabbed rather than be rutted against her will by this heartless Barbarian.

  “Whatever I choose,” he uttered.

  She didn’t like the sound of that. At all. Especially having just witnessed the Flesh Eater’s demise. “Why’d you take me from my home?”

  The flap opened and Jade entered, carrying a handful of leaves. “This should be plenty,” she said. “Shall I apply them now?”

  The Barbarian folded his arms across his chest and nodded once.

  Jade knelt beside the pelt, laid the leaves down then rested her hands on her thighs. “What is your name?”

  “Wisteria.”

  “These leaves will stop the bleeding and help the wounds heal. Lie down.”

  Wisteria couldn’t take her eyes off the chieftain, whose arrogant stance now blocked the doorway. Still unable to locate his eyes inside the mask, she sensed him glaring at her as she moved toward Jade and eased onto her back.

  Why were these Barbarians helping her? Was it their normal protocol to treat their victims respectfully before ripping their hearts out? Did they like to toy with their food before the kill?

  She laid an arm across her forehead. Just as Jade removed a chewed leaf from her mouth and placed it on Wisteria’s tummy, Wisteria shuddered.

  “I’m sorry,” Jade said. “Did I hurt you? The leaves are not intended to cause additional pain.”

  Wisteria shook her head. She knew the benefits of yarrow. Her clan used it often. She even credited it to saving Boar’s life. She and Ivy applied many leaves to his wounds when their father nearly clubbed him to death the day their older sister Lily was captured by the Mountain Slayers. If Shale hadn’t grabbed the club, Boar would be buried with their other siblings.

  It wasn’t Boar’s fault Lily was slaughtered. Lily wanted to learn how to spear fish so he’d taken her to the green lake. At the time he wasn’t aware it belonged to the slayers and that it was forbidden from the clan. There, they were overtaken by the mountain tribe. Boar was outnumbered and fled for help. By the time Wisteria’s clansmen arrived, the slayers had already shredded her sister to pieces. What remained lay in a puddle of blood for the Flesh Eaters to discover. The slayers hadn’t burned her remains, which meant they hadn’t considered her evil, but Wisteria wished they had. It seemed more humane than leaving her to be fed upon.

  Fortunately, before the cannibalistic tribe had a chance to find Lily, Wisteria’s father gathered her remains and performed a proper burial. It was the first time Wisteria ever witnessed him cry. Sadly he became bitter on that fateful day and lost compassion for his remaining children. They knew Lily had been his favorite.

  Wisteria closed her eyes after Jade finished laying warm, moist leaves on her tummy and began applying fresh ones on her legs.

  She swore the Barbarian beast groaned when the woman separated Wisteria’s thighs to treat a slash that traveled to the inside.

  “Who whipped you?” Jade asked.

  “I’d rather not discuss it.”

  “Her people,” the chieftain replied.

  Wisteria’s lashes fluttered open at the disgusted tone of his voice. Jade was reaching forward to place a leaf but retracted her hand and gazed into Wisteria’s eyes. “Your own people did this?” She glanced at the Barbarian over her shoulder. “How did you come about her rescue?”

  Rescue? The Barbarians never rescued anyone. They murdered people. As she’d seen with her own eyes moments ago.

  “I followed her screams,” the man said then he pushed the flap aside and stomped from the hut.

  Jade laid the final leaf on Wisteria’s thigh, patted it into place then stood. “Rest for a while. Before sunrise, Tyran and I will escort you to the lake so you may wash away the blood.”

  Wisteria nodded as the woman sauntered through the doorway into the night. As her footsteps faded in the distance, Wisteria inhaled a much-needed breath then glanced around the spacious area. The back wall consisted of solid rock. The other three were comprised of dark animal hides. A thin stream of water flowed along the rocks into a shallow pool where it swirled then drained through a thin channel to someplace outside. A small ax lay beside it along with a sharp, flat-bladed tool that looked as if it were made from flint. It wasn’t much longer than her fingers but it looked effective enough to fight off a monster-sized Barbarian, should the need arise.

  Everyone knew the Barbarians mastered weaponry and she was looking at proof of their skill. What would be said if she used his own weapon to slash him to pieces? If he came near her, that’s exactly what she’d try to do. Unlike her people who cowered when confronted, she’d fight.

  Had Sledge’s accusations of deceit truly convinced them she no longer belonged in their clan? Was that why they’d refused to help? No. She couldn’t think those types of thoughts. She was feeling sorry for herself, which affected her ability to think clearly. Everyone feared the Barbarians. Why would her people risk their lives to protect her? She wasn’t sure they would’ve helped had she not betrayed them. Even her father appeared frightened and might not have stood up for her mother had she been threatened.

  Were they even alive?

  Wisteria blinked away tears. She couldn’t bear anything happening to her mom or Ivy. Ivy had fought so hard for Wisteria’s life. Had anyone defended her?

  Stop it! You can’t think horrible thoughts right now.

  She had to do something. She couldn’t go on, blinded by her family’s fate.

  Deep voices echoed outside. She held her breath and listened as they drew near. She sprang across the hut, grabbed the weapon and returned to the hide. Lying down on her side, she pulled her knees to her tummy and clutched the handle.

  The flap swooshed open. She snapped her eyes shut, feigning sleep. She didn’t need to confirm it was him. She sensed his huge body along with his gaze assessing her as he neared, the bottom of his fur scuffing the ground.

  Don’t come any closer.

  She parted her lips and forced herself to breathe. One shaky breath after another expelled from her chest. Tightening her grip on the handle, she slightly rolled on top of the blade, concealing it from his view.

  I don’t know if I can do this. She couldn’t even kill bugs.

  What if the blade wouldn’t penetrate his thick furs? What if she failed to harm him at all? Would her shattered attempt provoke a quick death? He could easily snap her neck with a twist of his hands, which outshined a long, torturous punishment.

  His breaths echoed inside the headpiece as he squatted beside the pelt. She gulped and her heart jumped in her chest. Her eyelids twitched while she fought to keep them closed.

  Seconds seemed to drone on forever and she sensed him staring the entire time. As desperately as she wanted to plunge the blade into his guts she couldn’t gather the nerve.

  Finally he sto
od, offering her a reprieve. She peeked beneath her lashes. The instant he spun she leaped to her feet and pushed him with every morsel of strength she could gather. Other than a short stumble forward he barely moved. Her blood chilled but she didn’t look back as she tore from the hut.

  Two robust men stood near the fire in nothing but loincloths. Nauseated from panic, she glanced at the forest for an open route to flee.

  “Rocko, Grunt, seize her,” the chieftain shouted at her back.

  Her heartbeat raced. The hairs on her arms stood. And unless she moved, she’d be recaptured.

  She clutched the blade handle and dashed down the path toward the meadow. She had no place to hide but it was better than trying to rush past the two Barbarians and into the forest.

  Someone caught her by the arm and jerked her backward. She flayed the blade wildly through the air. It hit against something hard. Flesh! She heard a grunt and was immediately released.

  She wanted to retch but dropped the blade and ran through the long stretch of meadow toward the forest. In every direction stood a border of trees and she felt as if she was running in circles. She’d completely lost her sense of direction but knew the Barbarian camp sat to the right because the fire peeked through the leaves.

  With a long jump she breached the forest border and stumbled to her knees. Quickly she shot to her feet and ran, smacking branches aside until her legs nearly collapsed and her lungs begged for air. In the distance, just outside the tree line, she saw a large area glowing under the bright moon. The lake! She was close to home?

  With her tummy and chest burning, she charged toward the water, jumped across the stepping-stones and hid beneath the feather tree. She never knew the Barbarians resided so close to the lake. Which meant they also lived close to her camp. She shuddered at the thought.

  She dropped to her knees and dragged air into her lungs. Sweat beaded her brows and tears filled her eyes. Hugging herself, she sat down, listening to every single sound assailing her ears. The water kerplunked as fish or tortoises surfaced for air while crickets chirped all around her. Then someone called her name. She froze and backed into the tree trunk.