Through the Fire (The Native American Warrior Series) (12 page)

“You defied me before all,” he bit out. “No man does this, let alone a woman.”

She stared up at him, the spirit of mutiny fast waning in her eyes.
“You wouldn’t hear me.”

“
I heard. All heard. Never speak to me this way again.”

She closed her eyes to his accusation.

He gripped her shoulders. “Look at me, Rebecca.”

She gazed up at him unwillingly.

“I will have your respect.”

“
I can’t keep my emotions hidden,” she faltered.

“
Hidden? Soon all the frontier will learn. If you desire a fight, we will fight. Not where others see, hear.”

She tried to break free from him, but couldn
’t escape, nor had she anywhere to run even if he let her go. She sagged in his hold. “Shoka—don’t,” she pleaded in a whisper.

“
What?” he asked, unprepared for her to crumble like this.

“
Beat me.”

It was very nearly a whimper and the reproach raging in him softened slightly.
“I would never strike you.”

“
You look about to, or worse.”

He shook his head.
“Do not fear this.”

“
Will you toss me back into that icy stream?”

He softened a little more.
“No.”

“
What will you do?”

Bind her, make her heed him. If only he didn
’t yearn to just tumble her to the ground. “Do you really want to know?”

Her eyes widened and she altered her plea.
“Can you not understand my reasons?”

“
I understand much. Your temper rules your tongue.”

Unshed tears wet her lashes.
“I feared for you all day,” she said with a tremor in her voice. “Then you came back—and now—everything’s wretched.”

Her quavering appeal was more than mere flesh and blood could resist.
“Not all. I thought of you when I led the Catawba away, while I hid.”

“
What did you think?”

He smoothed back the hair blowing across her face.
“How
ahmo odon
, sweet, your lips are on mine. How soft your skin feels, your hair. How I want only you.”

“
Then why will you not take my part?”

“
I did, earlier, with the others. But, you must learn. Now Wabete will ask what punishment I have given you.”

“
Must you punish me?” she asked in a small voice.

“
Must you rage at me?” he asked in turn.

She fixed those glorious eyes on him, the enchantress.

“I’m sorry, Shoka.”

“
You speak this now.”

“
No. Truly.” Standing on her tiptoes, she cupped her hands to his jaw and brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss.

He strove for control as his lips answered, lightly at first. Then molten waves washed over him and the four elements within him wrestled in tremendous upheaval; the Earth shuddered and groaned, rushing Wind whipped desire through him, Fire enflamed him, and passionate Rain drummed him with rising want like flood waters. Catching her to him, he pressed his mouth over hers far harder than he
’d intended.

She broke away, clearly shaken.
“How do you do that?”

He made no answer but let his lips speak, surging back over hers as he drew her down beside him on the ferny ground. Turning onto his side, he held her trembling against him. He sensed her resistance dwindling and she slowly yielded her mouth…a dizzying triumph and a place to begin. He poured his fervor into his kiss, parting her mouth and sliding his tongue over her bottom lip.

She seemed to weaken even more, growing limp in his arms, and he thrust more deeply into her sweet mouth as if in sensuous battle. She gasped, and then lightly touched her tongue to his.

Thrilled by her response, he gentled his movement to match hers, feeling as though all parts of him would erupt in a mammoth explosion like thunder shaking the very ground.

Again, she retreated from him and twisted free, panting, “I don’t want to love you.”

“
I don’t want to love you, either.”

She absorbed his impassioned query wordlessly. Only the sound of their breathing and the gurgling water broke the silence between them. Finally, she spoke, tremulous pleading in her face and her voice.
“Return me to my uncle. He waits for me. I saw him in my dream.”

The fanged wolf within Shoka snarled protest. The hawk within him beat its wings and shrilled a predator
’s cry. Battling for calm, he curled his fingers around her flushed cheek. “Never will I release you. Do not ask this of me.”

“
Then you are binding our fate together.”

“
You are already bound to me. Without my protection, you will not long survive.”

“
Shoka!” an outraged voice summoned.

“
Wabete,” he muttered.

****

Rebecca’s raw nerves twinged at Wabete’s intrusion. Shoka’s overpowering kiss had been like a sky full of shooting stars blazing across the heavens. Her traitorous heart was in grave danger, and now, this new threat.

Shoka sat up as his brother bore down on them with at least two dozen warriors strung out along the stream, craning their necks for a better view. Many smiled. Not Wabete.

“
Umbe
, Shoka!” he called.

She tried to wriggle into the thick undergrowth and hide, but Shoka held her back, partially concealed behind him.

“What did he say?” she whispered.

“
Come.”

“
No. Everyone will stare at me.”

“
You gave them much reason. But I have no wish to go either.
Ni’tamsah au machehi
!” Shoka called.

“
What did you tell him?” she prodded.

“
You are injured.”

“
Melona tonee
?” Wabete tossed back.

Low laughter broke out through the gathering. Shoka smiled.
“My brother asks if your mouth is hurt.”

“
Tell him yes and only yours can bring me healing.”

He chuckled under his breath before offering some unintelligible reply.

“I’ll wager that’s not what you said,” she whispered.

“
True. I told them to go. We will come.”

Wabete fired off one last threat and stormed away.

His entertained companions trailed after him, casting backward glances and snickering.

Rebecca sat up, her senses as cagey as a rabbit
’s. “Your brother doesn’t want you alone with me for a moment, does he?”

Shoka rubbed the dark whiskers dusting his chin.
“We must soon return or he will seek us out. He does not want me to join with an Englishwoman. Not even one as fair as you.”

“
Especially me. What does he want you to do?”

“
Sell, trade, even give you to another and take a Shawnee or Delaware woman to wife. One he approves.”

Jealousy inflamed her.

Shoka must have read the volatile reaction in her face. He smiled. “This displeases you?”

“
Do you ever want to taste my lips again?”

“
I must or die, and yet…Wabete did not approve Akowa.”

“
Your wife?”

He nodded.
“Beautiful like the moon with a heart full of lies. He saw in her what I failed to. Like her, you are so fair. Men have much desire for you.”

“
Such is the way of men, but none has had me willingly except John. The other took me by force. If I give myself to you, no one else will have me unless it’s against my will.”

“
That man would surely die,” Shoka scowled. Doubt still colored his eyes. “How can I trust again? Bitterness gnaws me like rats. Akowa was very
willing
in my absence. She begged me to forgive her, said only I would be her husband. I was foolish to believe. Now she is gone.”

“
How could she leave you?” Rebecca envisioned how wrenching it would be if he abandoned her and wished she weren’t fast growing so passionately attached to him.

“
Akowa feared I would punish her harshly,” Shoka said.

“
But you did not?”

His black gaze seemed to turn inward as he brooded on the past.
“No. I cared for Akowa, hunted skins to trade for the goods she wanted. Always, she wanted more. I heard the English needed a guide. I already knew some of this tongue and learned more very quickly. All this I did to make Akowa happy. How did she thank me? By bearing other men’s children.”

Rebecca stared at him.
“Are none yours?”

He relented slightly.
“The firstborn is mine, I think. A son, Sonnes Sequoy, Little Fire, was born soon after we wed.”

A lively little boy took shape in her mind, a dark-eyed miniature of Shoka.
“Did she take him with her?”

The momentary tenderness vanished and Shoka clenched his fists.
“She would not dare. I would hunt them down.”

Rebecca quailed at the thought.
“Who cares for your son now?”

“
My mother. Sonnes Sequoy is very spoiled and does as he likes until my return. A younger sister, Shibinsee, also remains. She is not mine, but I am fond of this child.”

Touched by his affection for both children, Rebecca asked,
“Are there any more?”

“
One, still an infant. Not my child. Akowa has him with her. Now both are some other man’s trouble. I divorced her.”

“
You think I will bring you only trouble, too, don’t you?”

“
Also great pleasure. Wabete fears only the trouble.”

“
What right has he to say whom you choose?” she demanded.

“
Our father died many moons ago when I was still a child. I remember his eyes filled with laughter and stories of adventure. Wabete has been both father and brother to me. When I was young like Meshewa, I almost followed my father into death during a bloody battle with the Cherokee. Wabete gained his scars saving my life.”

“
He and I each bear scars for a beloved sibling.”

“
Yes. You risked much for Kate.”

“
I would risk much for you, too.”

He considered her doubtfully.
“You wanted to strike me.”

“
Even so, I would.”

“
Time will test your loyalty. All I know is I want you. Like the bear that sleeps all winter, my hunger is great.”

“
When ’tis satisfied, what then?”

“
I think this hunger cannot be satisfied, only eased.”

“
Naga! Kawin
!” Wabete’s voice rang out like a vengeful wraith in the gathering dusk. The lone figure strode over to them.

Shoka stood, pulling her up with him. He held her protectively while Wabete railed at him in Shawnee.

At last, there was a break in the onslaught. Shoka seemed to chafe with frustration. “My brother says we may do as we like, but he will not leave us. He also says you should eat and rest. Tomorrow we leave with the sun.”

Dismay rose in her.
“Must you go to Fort Warden?”

Wabete sneered at her in the fast-diminishing light.
“Where else will Shoka go?”

She pressed her cheek against Shoka
’s bare chest. “Am I to wait in the trees while you attack the fort?”

“
You will wait in silence. We will bind you, bind your mouth,” Wabete rumbled.

Rebecca whipped around like a cornered dog.
“Why don’t you just kill me? That should still my tongue.”

“
I would be glad for this.”

Shoka restrained her.
“Do not enrage him, Peshewa.
NiSawsawh
, my brother, if you take this woman from me you will cut out my heart.”

“
I will not harm your woman, Shoka. Have care. She will bring death to you both.”

Her mouth went dry at the prophetic note in his admonition.
“How?” she asked shakily.

“
Shoka knows the danger,” Wabete said.

Her stomach knotted and she looked up at Shoka.
“What does he mean?”

“
We are at war, yet I wish only to love you.”

“
Is there nowhere we may go to escape this wretched war?”