Fire Witch Read Online Free Page A

body towards the woods, the brute realized she was on her feet.
    "Looks like once is too many for that fox." She heard him say with a chuckle just as she made a break for the bushes.
    She pushed through the branches, not caring when they scraped at her skin or whipped her legs as she ran. She only cared that she put as much of her energy into each pace as she could, that she pumped her arms to add speed when the trees grew sparser. It would be foolish to run back towards the grassland and the village, she be far too vulnerable then as she ran in the open, and a quick jump on a horse would run her down in no time. But she knew the woods, had played there, hunted there, searched out wild herbs there her entire life. All she needed was a landmark to tell her where she was. All she needed was for her mind to stop racing long enough that she could concentrate on what she was seeing.
    It was impossible; panic had spread through her limbs, soaking them so thoroughly that they pumped on, oblivious to the commands her mind tried to send them: to slow down, to take in her surroundings, to make and take decided action.
    She might have gotten far enough into the woods that she could lose them, and she began to think she might actually make it when she didn't duck in time to avoid an overhanging tree branch. She collided hard enough into it that it took her legs out from under her and dropped her to the moss. The stone rolled from her hand. There wasn't even time to get to her feet before Chelan was on her, grabbing her by the elbow and pulling her to her feet.
    He shook her as he searched her face.
    "You fool," he said. "Where do you think you'll go?" He gripped her by both shoulders and squeezed.
    "Home," she shouted. "The woods. Anywhere."
    "Anywhere isn't exactly safe."
    "And I'm safe with you?" She gathered up enough spit that she could hock it at his feet.
    He looked down at it but said nothing. Like Feran, his arms were bare but for the metallic bands wrapping his arm and a thick torque collar that rested on his breastbone. His leathers looked more oiled, as though his own skin had become part of the well-worn vest. She had the feeling he slept in them, ran in them, fought in them until they had become like his own skin.
    She was still trying to catch her breath beneath his mossy and unflinching gaze when Feran sidled into view. He was panting, as though winded, but a few moments later, Aislin realized it was something else. He was clutching his side, where blood leaked from between his fingers.
    "Well, " He demanded. "What are you waiting for?" His black gaze pinned itself to her hips in a revolting stare.
    She fought, then, letting her hands and feet do what they would to her captor. She felt the young warrior's skin beneath her nails as she raked down his neck, felt the suppleness of his boot beneath her sole as she tried to kick his legs out from under him. He shook her still with both hands, and her teeth clacked together.
    "She's fiery, that one," Feran said. "Shall I call the lads over to help you tame her?"
    Aislin could swear her heart stopped as she saw Chelan go rigid. His fingers convulsed into hooks on her skin.
    "Lift your shift," he hissed.
    She shook her head. She'd be damned if she'd be compliant.
    He pushed her against a wide-trunked tree so forcefully the bark bit into her shoulder. Instinct would have sent her hand to soothe it, but she wouldn't let him see her weakened by his brutality. She clamped her lips closed tightly enough that she wouldn't be able to give in to the primal instinct to beg. He wrestled her so that they were both fully behind the tree trunk. She could barely see around the breadth of it to Feran's beastly face and when she did peek, what she saw horrified her. He had lifted his leathers in curious inquiry and was inspecting the gash on his side with filthy fingers, peeling aside the skin and poking his finger inside to test the depth of the wound. He grunted with satisfaction but not with