Page 30 of Claiming Their Slave
She turned and forced a smile at the women who were currently sharing her bedroom with her, three young Banded females who’d come along with their mates, as well as her mother-in-law, Katrine. The other bedrooms in the house were being shared between the dozens of men who’d arrived to answer the call to arms, and those who couldn’t fit in the house were staying in the tents that had been erected in the clearing surrounding the house.
Since Katrine’s vision showed the army—presumably, a human army—showing up at this precise location, it seemed the humans must be tracking Jaxon specifically. She felt a surge of guilt, wondering if this whole predicament was at least partially her fault, because the humans in her village wouldn’t have known about Jaxon if not for him coming to buy her off the auction block.
Her stomach twisted at the thought of any harm coming to her mates. They had only claimed her once, yet she knew in her heart that she cared deeply for them. If it wasn’t love she felt for the pair of Banded brothers, she didn’t know what else to call the emotion. They had given her everything she’d always wanted, yet her future—and theirs—rested upon the outcome of an impending battle. What if all the strong men from the village came and they outnumbered the Banded?
She tried to push her worries away and ventured down to the kitchen. Katrine followed her and they silently began to prepare the evening meal—a massive pot of chicken stew, two dozen berry pies, and as many loaves of bread as they could shove into the oven.
Tomorrow. The army was set to converge on this hillside tomorrow. Ava gulped and blinked rapidly, not wanting to cry. She had to remain strong and set a good example for the other women, most of whom seemed more frightened than she was.
Had Katrine glimpsed a vision of the battle’s outcome? She cast a sidelong glance at her mother-in-law, but didn’t dare ask the question. She supposed if Katrine had had any such visions, she had shared them with her mates.
“Thank you again for the beautiful dresses, and the shoes, too,” Ava said to break the silence.
“You are most welcome, my dear. I wore those a long time ago and I’m glad they fit you, though I suspect once this battle is over, your mates will take you to a dressmaker for some newer clothing.”
“New clothing? The dresses you gave me are nicer than anything I’ve ever worn, and I’m truly grateful for your kindness.”
Katrine smiled and patted her on the back. “I am glad you like them, Ava. And I am glad my sons claimed you already. Jaxon is lucky I didn’t box his ears over that slave nonsense.”
Ava laughed and turned at the sound of heavy footsteps entering the kitchen. It was Jaxon, Wolfe, and both their fathers, all sweating from the exertion of training and preparing for battle.
“Dinner is almost ready,” she said. “I believe we’ve made enough for everyone, though one of you will have to carry the pot outside. Katrine and I thought it might be nice to eat on the log benches behind the garden.”
“Wonderful idea,” Jaxon said, and a short time later, he carried the huge pot outside while the rest of the women brought out the bread and berry pies, as well as the bowls and spoons.
All those who’d answered the call to arms gathered around for dinner. Ava handed each man a bowl and scooped a generous serving of the chicken stew, while Katrine handed them small loaves of bread and another Banded female passed out the servings of berry pie. Once everyone had gone through the line, Ava prepared herself a plate and joined her mates on a bench, squeezing between them.
“You’ve done an excellent job making our guests feel welcome these past few days, Ava,” Wolfe said.
“Yes, you have,” Jaxon said, “and we can’t thank you enough.”
“I only wish I were entertaining for a more pleasant reason.” Her mood grew somber. “The battle is tomorrow morning. I am trying not to worry, but I cannot help it. What if you are outnumbered?”
“Even if we are outnumbered, we are stronger than humans, and we are expecting them. The trenches we dug around the perimeter of our homestead have been covered with grass. Many of those in the first wave of battle will fall into the pits and die upon the spears sticking up inside,” Jaxon explained.
“My brother speaks the truth, little slave. You have no cause to worry yourself,” Wolfe said. “If the humans vastly outnumbered us and happened to catch us by surprise, that would be different. But we’re prepared and we will slaughter every last one of them. If they dare to attack our homes, we won’t think twice about killing them. Tomorrow, we will show no mercy to our enemies.” His tone turned colder as he spoke, and his eyes gleamed black with murderous intent.
Ava repressed a shudder and sent up a prayer to the Goddess to keep her mates safe. She dreaded the impending morning. She hoped the battle ended quickly and that the Banded were indeed victorious.
“You must promise us something, little human,” Jaxon said.
After swallowing her last bite of stew, she peered at her mate of the light. “What’s that?”
Wolfe squeezed her thigh, and her gaze traveled to him. “You must promise not to go near the windows or venture outside tomorrow morning. Not until the battle has ended and we clear all the women to leave our house, when the victory horn is blown.”
“I can’t even watch out the window?”
“Ava…” Jaxon said, his tone firm. “The curtains will be drawn and you must remain far from the windows. The other women, including our mother, will be given the same order. We will not have you risking your safety, and as this is your home, you must set a good example of obedience for the other women who’ve come with their mates. Do you understand?”
“Ava, do you understand?” Wolfe asked, squeezing her thigh harder when she didn’t immediately answer.
“Yes, Masters,” she finally whispered, even though they weren’t in the bedroom.
Heathra, one of the Banded females, approached and collected their dirty bowls, then scurried away as if sensing she’d just interrupted an intimate conversation.
“We mean it, Ava,” Jaxon said. “The house will be locked from every entrance. We plan to board the windows on the first floor up tonight as well. It’s important that every female remain inside until…”
“I said I understand,” she said, keeping her tone quiet. Even though it would be difficult not to peek out her bedroom window when she heard the first clash of swords in the morning, she would try her best to obey. “I will focus on keeping the Banded women calm.”
“Thank you, Ava,” Wolfe said, grasping her hand and kissing it.
Jaxon leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead, while Wolfe rubbed her back. Though Wolfe was usually just waking up at this time, and Jaxon was usually headed to bed, they both looked tired. All the Banded who had arrived, those of the light and of the night, were mostly forgoing sleep in order to get ready for the battle. Apparently, Banded could go several days without a wink of sleep during times of emergency. She hoped her mates, as well as the other men, managed at least a little rest on the eve of the fight.
Finally, Jaxon and Wolfe rose to their feet and joined the Banded men who were already working to board up the windows. The enemy would arrive in the early morning, and there was still work to be done.
Ava left the cleaning up of dinner in the capable hands of the other women, while she and Katrine gathered as many medicinal herbs from the garden as they could. They also prepared a makeshift infirmary downstairs, laying out cloth bandages and readying the space in case any Banded were wounded.
Ava closed the door after they finished.
She prayed they would have no need for this room.
