Taker

Taker Sec. 3

Thorn woke with only 3 hours left till sundown. Stretching, she pulled herself out of Trigger’s bed, long since abandoned by him. Listening carefully, she heard him muttering to himself outside in his garden. Glancing down, she realized she still had on Ashe’s clothes. Sighing, she knew she should change, but it wasn’t like his clothes were anything different than what she normally wore. Plus, it wasn’t dirty or torn, despite the tramp through the woods.

Thorn found Trigger bent over a small plant gently pulling leaves off it. She settled herself on the ground next to him, knowing better than to interrupt him when he was working with his babies.

Trigger was bent over a yarrow plant, carefully selecting certain leaves to pull from it. Finally, he seemed satisfied and turned toward Thorn’s inquiring gaze.

“I’m mixing some of my special healing balm for Ashe. You wouldn’t have been as upset as you were last night if he didn’t have some major marks on him,” he told her, looking up at the sky. “I should be done just in time. Go make yourself useful and boil some water for me. I’ll be there in a minute, I have one more plant.”

Thorn nodded, shaking her head. Getting up she walked into his house, wondering how it was that he’d gotten to know her so well. Pouring some water into a pot, she gently lit the fire and placed the water on top. Then, she went into Trigger’s living room and straight to the closet opposite her. She pulled open the door and bent down to shuffle through her pack of things she always kept there. She pulled a spare change of clothes, in case she shifted, a comb, two daggers and sheaths along with a tie for her hair.

She stood and strolled over to the cushioned bench and laid her things there before sitting down. Using the comb, she pulled her hair high up on the top of her head, out of her eyes. She secured it there with the tie and then pulled up the right leg of her breeches. Strapping on the small sheath, she positioned it so half was hidden in her boots. She tested the blade’s tip; it was sharp. She slid it in the sheath, and then rolled her breeches leg down over it. Then she pulled off her shirt and dropped it next to her. She strapped the second sheath around her waist and slid the other dagger in. Tucking the sheath and dagger into her breeches, she then picked her shirt up and threw it back on. This time, she was not going to be weaponless. Not now that she knew the whole story.

The back door slammed as Trigger came inside. He immediately started working in the kitchen; she could hear him mashing the leaves up in a bowl. Getting up, she went back into the kitchen and straight to the cupboard that held all Trigger’s containers for his medicines. Selecting a small glass one, she walked over to where he stood and put it gently on the table next to him. He glanced at her, smiling as he mashed the remainder of the leaves. His healing balm was more advanced than any you could find in a healing shop. It included many plants: yarrow, henna, mugwort, several vitamins and other minerals, etc. Everything was boiled together in just the right amount of water and cooking oil. It worked extremely fast and prevented infection. He’d made it, when Thorn had come back particularly scratched up from a fight.

He finished his mixing and poured the slightly hardened liquid into the jar. Then he tightened the lid and handed to her.

“Are you going to eat something before you leave?” he inquired as he moved to make supper. Thorn nodded, knowing he wouldn’t let her leave till she ate anyway. He always told her that she didn’t eat enough as she should, but with her life and small stomach, most of the time, she wasn’t even hungry.

Thorn sat down at the table, tucking the balm into her breeches pocket. She glanced outside; an hour from now there’d be complete darkness, just the time to go visit Ashe. She just hoped he was still alive.


The moon was pretty high in the night sky before she felt it safe enough to venture into Loftagone. Scaling the stone wall, she dropped easily to her feet and crept silently down the narrow streets till she came to the castle walls. Flattening herself against them, she listened carefully for signs of anyone using Meleah’s keen hearing. Finding nothing unusual, she slid carefully down about 30 feet till she reached Ashe’s cell. Using one of her feet, she pushed the bars carefully in and up, and then slid down so she was sitting. Holding the bars up with her left hand, she launched herself inside landing softly on her feet.

Glancing around, she saw a figure lying motionless on Ashe’s cot and the smell of blood was strong. Thorn felt her stomach turn over and hurried over to Ashe’s cot. Sitting down, she turned to open her mouth and almost threw up.

Ashe’s entire back was blazing red and swollen, with dozens of deep gashes that touched almost every inch of his skin. She could bet that his chest and stomach looked the same and rage filled her to the core. The rage she felt when she was fighting. Shaking slightly, she forced herself to remember why she’d come.

“Ashe, are you conscious?” she asked, concerned. Ashe jumped slightly and immediately emitted a small groan as the pain flared up.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you,” Thorn said guiltily.

Ashe wanted to turn and look at her; to see that she was really there. He forced himself to shift slightly, only to be rewarded with pain and Thorn’s firm but cool hand lightly holding him still.

“Oh, no you don’t,” she told him sternly, “You stay right where are. You can’t see those welts, I can.” She told him, her voice cracking slightly on the last words. She swallowed hard, and then resigned herself to the task ahead, not allowing for tears or guilt. She’d be guilty later; right now Ashe was in pain.

Pulling out the balm from her pocket, she thanked the Gods that Trigger had been smart enough to make this. She unscrewed the cover and poured a little into one hand. Then she set the container on the floor.

“Ashe, I’m going to be rubbing some healing balm into your back. It might sting at first, but believe me, it’ll be worth it,” she told him, hating the thought of causing him more pain. This thought shocked her briefly; however she didn’t bother to examine it. Now was not the time or place.

“Okay,” he mumbled, extremely embarrassed that she was seeing him like this, but at the same time not caring as long as the pain went away.

Thorn gently placed her left hand on his inflamed back, feeling the extreme heat coming from each wound. Ashe gasped slightly as he felt her cool hand gently spreading some cold liquid into his skin. He closed his eyes as he felt it sting as the balm hit one open wound. The pain was gone almost instantly though, and he found himself paying more attention to Thorn’s hand gently kneading and rubbing the liquid in, instead of the stings.

She stopped several times to put more salve on her hands. Ashe felt the heat disappearing and the excruciating pain dissipating. He sighed with relief; Thorn smiled.

Finishing, she pulled back. “Feel better,” she asked as he nodded, “Good, now roll over. I have to get the front gashes as well.”

Ashe froze as the thought of what Thorn’s hands rubbing salve into his chest and stomach would do to him. He could already feel his blood pounding in his veins; he wasn’t sure he could control himself if she went through with it.

Thorn however wasn’t going to leave him a choice. When she saw he was going to refuse, she placed a hand on the side facing away from her and swiftly rolled him toward her. Once she had him on his back, she pushed him gently back to the middle of his cot. And that’s when she saw the haunted look in his eyes. It was different enough to give her pause. She searched his eyes until suddenly it dawned on her what was missing.

Ashe watched her carefully. She knew. Somehow, she knew what he’d done.

“Is…is it permanent?” she whispered, afraid of what the answer might be.

“I don’t know,” he voiced his fear, “The Freezing Formula was developed by one of our scientists. He died shortly after completing it. It’s only been used on rogue Takers. I have no idea the effect it will have on me. For now, though I…can’t shift.”

Thorn watched Ashe rapidly blink back tears, feeling her heart break as he did so. Before she even realized, Thorn had stretched out next to him, an arm draped lightly across his waist and her head nuzzled against his neck; a wolf-like gesture of comfort.

Ashe shivered as a mixture of pleasure and pain pulsed through him. Ashe forced his mind from this distraction.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“It’s not your fault,” he sighed.

Thorn pulled away abruptly and sat up exclaiming, “But it is. If I hadn’t shifted…”

Ashe moved to pull himself into a sitting position as well, but fell back against his cot as white hot pain surged through his upper body. Closing his eyes, he tried to compose himself.

“No,” he gasped, “please don’t blame yourself.”

Thorn swore under her breathe at her stupidity.

Hold still, she thought to him. I have to put this balm on these before they get infected.

Ashe thought to refuse, then imagined the pain he’d be in if they got infected. Nodding his agreement, he watched her pour some salve into her hands.

She placed her hands on his chest and started to gently rub the balm into his skin. Ashe closed his eyes against the tingling sparks exploding from every place she touched. He found his body heating up as Thorn worked her way down to his stomach. She frowned at the extremely deep gashes. Ashe’s brother must have started on his front; the gashes in his back hadn’t been as deep. She worked slower on this side, trying to get as much of the salve into his skin that she could. Thorn couldn’t see Ashe’s reactions; she was too busy concentrating on her task.

Which is why, after she’d dropped the almost empty container back in her pocket, she looked up and froze. Ashe’s eyes were dark with desire and he was breathing raggedly. He seemed to be struggling with himself. Thorn wasn’t sure how to react, no man had ever looked at her that way; ‘not even,’ she thought suddenly, ‘the man that’d raped me.’

Thorn felt her heart sink as the thought occurred, memory flaring once again.


She lay bruised and naked on his bed, as he snored away next to her. The last couple of hours had been horrid; she wished she could forget them. Instead, she knew that the next night would probably end up the same way…

“Thorn?” Ashe asked, bringing her out of her past. He’d watched in the past couple minutes as Thorn paled and tears formed in her eyes. Now they were falling silently down her cheeks and he felt as though his heart was being ripped out. What was wrong?

Thorn brought her hand up to her face and wiped the tears away horrified that she’d lost control in front of him. That never happened; the only one who’d ever seen her break down was Trigger.

She was about to make light of it, when Ashe’s strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her gently down on the bed beside him. He held her close, gently rocking her back and forth.

Suddenly, Thorn turned over in his arms to face him and snuggled in closer, resting her head against his chest as she tried to regain control of herself. Finally she pulled back so she was looking him in the eyes and asked a question.

“Why?” she sniffed, hoping he would understand what she meant.

Either he didn’t or he was trying to ignore it, because his blank expression said it all.

“Why is the Black Wolf holding me like it hurts him just to see me cry?” she explained.

Ashe closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then opened them.

“Who told you?” he whispered, trying to ignore the other part of her question.

“My source, after I flung him against the wall for lying to me,” Thorn told him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ashe drew in a ragged breathe and rolled onto his back, glancing an invite at Thorn. She took it and wrapped her arms gently around his waist, resting her head next to his, realizing he needed her comfort a lot more than she needed his.

“I’m not supposed to say anything, if my father found out I did, he’d…” Ashe trailed off looking for the words and finding none.

“I know,” Thorn said so softly that he turned his face toward hers. He searched her eyes, realizing exactly what had been wrong a little while ago.

Thorn watched as understanding, and then fury flickered across his face. She realized why King Hadrian was afraid of Ashe; he could take his father down in a heartbeat. Strange as it was, he didn’t frighten her. She wondered why.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Ashe asked, barely controlling his rage, “Who?”

“I was raped when I was 13, Ashe. Several times in fact,” she told him, her voice wavering. “I’d been captured while on a mission and sold as a ‘slave’ to some male miles from here. I couldn’t shift at will, so I couldn’t get free, he was too strong.

“He’d have his fun for two to three hours a day, then he’d leave me and go about his life. I hated him!” she growled, “more than anything. I played the submissive, partly because I was too bruised and battered and partly because I knew eventually he’d slip up. I was right.

“He left me in the kitchen for a little while he went to fetch some water. That was his first mistake. I grabbed a knife and tucked it into my pants. He came back a few minutes later wanting to have his fun. I allowed him to drag me to his bedroom, where he flung me on the bed; the knife bit into my thigh, I still have the scar. When he approached, completely crazy, I stabbed him hard. He died instantly,” Thorn finished blackly.

“I’m sorry,” Ashe told her as he gave up trying to disguise his feelings. He’d felt so much rage when she’d told him, that if the man hadn’t have been dead, he would’ve escaped just to kill him.

That’s when I decided, I’d never allow a man to touch me again. Yet here I am, she thought to him.

He brought one of his hands up and gently traced a line down her cheek. He smiled as she shivered involuntarily and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

I’m honored, he told her silently.

She smiled, and then asked, “Ashe, you’re the Black Wolf; you can have whoever you want. Why do you care about me?”

“True, I may have had what they wanted, but none of them had what I wanted,” he told her. She shot him a questioning gaze. “I want comfort, love. I wasn’t always locked up, you know. Up until I turned 13, I had the run of the palace. Females swooned over me; I was constantly chased after. However, none of them brought me any comfort. Instead it was like they wanted something from me,” he said. ‘Which of course,’ he thought grimly, ‘they did.’

“You, you did the total opposite. You argued with me; made me extremely frustrated. Yet you brought me comfort. You didn’t have to lend me your warmth, but you did. You acted with compassion; even though I’d given you absolutely no reason to,” Ashe explained, wondering just how she was going to take this new information. He lay there tensely, dreading her reaction.

Thorn digested all this in a matter of seconds; then she sat up and roughly brought her body down on top of his. She grinned as she felt him respond, enjoying the shocked look on his face.

“I can’t ignore when someone’s in the kind of pain you were in. Meleah won’t let me. She’s my heart and soul. She’s constantly with me, even if I can’t shift at will,” Thorn explained with a small sigh, as she lay her head down on his chest.

Ashe could hear his blood pounding in his head as his body screamed at him to lose control. He desperately pulled himself together; he couldn’t do what he wanted to. She deserved so much better than him. Especially now, when he couldn’t even shift.

Thorn guessed from the look on his face and immediately broke into his thoughts, saying, “That’s not your decision to make. I’ll decide what’s right for me, no one else.”

Ashe sighed and voiced his thoughts, “Thorn, I can’t. I’ll never be able to leave this cell; I couldn’t live with the guilt. I’m useless if I can’t shift, even as the Black Wolf. You deserve…”

Thorn leaned down and pressed her lips against his, slowly coaxing him to respond. Ashe fought for control for several seconds, but lost it when Thorn gently ran her tongue along his bottom lip. He moaned slightly and kissed her back, placing a hand at the nape of her neck. His other arm snaked around her waist as though he was afraid she’d pull away.

That’s where you’re wrong, Thorn told him silently, feeling the power behind the kiss. I have a way to get you out of here; without hurting any of your people or your sister.

Why are you so determined to free me? he asked silently, wanting the kiss to last as long as possible.

I can relax with you; I don’t want that feeling to end. Plus I made a promise to your sister that I’d get you out of here and Meleah Thorn doesn’t break her promises! She thought to him forcefully.

At the mention of his sister, Ashe broke the kiss and stared at Thorn, alarmed.

“Ravyn’s behind all this?” he asked his eyes wide with fear. What in the name of the Gods was she doing? If their father found out, everything he’d just gone through would have been for nothing. He couldn’t stand to lose both, not now.

“Thorn, she can’t. He’ll…”

“No, he won’t! I promise you, I won’t let him anyway near her. The great King Hadrian will have to go through me first,” she proclaimed, as she pulled herself into a sitting position next him.

He’s already taken enough, please Thorn get Ravyn to stop, Ashe thought to her, despair ringing loudly in her head.

“She’s leaving here, first thing tomorrow,” Thorn told him, “Even if I have to carry her kicking and screaming all the way to Triggers myself.”

Ashe laughed as relief spread through him. Inside the city, Ravyn would be at their father’s mercy; once outside its walls, she’d be safe.

“Thank you,” he told her quietly as he sat up as well, facing her. “But there’s still the matter of the assassins and my people…” Ashe trailed off.

Thorn smiled grimly, she knew how to take care of the so called assassins that Ashe was so worried about. If Meleah’s nose was right, and it always was; there were only 5 assassins, not 10. Also, Thorn knew each of them personally. She knew exactly what she had to do to get rid of them. She shivered slightly at the thought, but pushed it aside. This would be the easy part.

The hard part would come once Ashe was out. Challenging King Hadrian would be no easy task, protecting his people from the King’s wrath would be even harder. Thorn had a plan, but it was still half formed. Not enough to tell Ashe about.

Ashe glanced out the window for the first time since Thorn had got there and was surprised to find it wasn’t that late. Looking back at her, he took in her appearance, pleased to see she was still wearing his clothes. He bit back his urge to kiss her again and looked intently into Thorn’s eyes.

“What are you planning on doing?” He asked, worried. He didn’t like how cold her eyes looked.

Thorn came back to the present, her eyes warming up again as she glanced at Ashe. She sighed; she was tired of thinking about what she had to do.

“Ashe, I don’t have to leave for a while yet. Could you just…hold me?” she asked tentatively, blushing as the need to be held by him increased. She’d never needed anyone before, it scared her a little.

Ashe was perceptive; he could feel her need coming off her in waves. He could also tell it was hard for her to ask, as uncertain of what to do about her feelings as he was about his.

Thorn was starting to regret asking, cursing herself for her moment of weakness, when Ashe whispered, “Thorn, come here.”

She looked up and once again saw the desire in his eyes; filling her with warmth. She moved till she was up against him, her head resting on his shoulder. He brought a hand up and stroked her hair, entangling his fingers in the soft mass.

He wanted to tell her that he wanted her; wanted to have her desperately. Instead he kept silent, quietly suffering as his body became aroused. He looked down at Thorn wondering if she’d ever let a man pleasure her and found himself extremely jealous of that man. He let out a shaky sigh, attracting Thorn’s attention.

“Ashe,” she asked, “what obstacles besides the assassins would you be worried about, if you could get out and claim the throne?”

He looked at her, puzzled. Why was she asking such an odd question? Shrugging he decided to answer her anyway.

“My father has a band of men that roam the city; they’re called the Enforcers. They steal, beat, and rape anyone that they chose. They’re loners. Also, since I’d have to get inside the palace to challenge him, the guards. Finally, there’s my own lack of practice. I’m pretty rusty with my defense skills. Not to mention the loneliness that would occur if I accomplished it,” he told her as he looked into her eyes sadly.

“Why would it be lonely?” she asked, confused.

“Thorn, no one ever treats me normally once they find out who I am. All the females in the city would be all over me; everyone would bow down to me. However, no one would really talk to me; or even argue with me,” he teased her as he touched his finger to her nose. “To a lot of people, I’d be a legend; not a person. They’d be afraid to get near me. Some Takers like to be alone, not me. I prefer close contact with others. In fact,” he whispered heatedly, “I crave it…”

Thorn shivered, feeling her body tremble at the heat in his voice.

She finished his sentence for him, “…especially from me.”

Ashe nodded; he had long since given up trying to hide his feelings. He was sure now; he had found his life-mate. Still, he was worried she wouldn’t let him be hers.

“I’d never do anything to hurt you,” he informed her quietly, “and I’d never force you into anything, either.”

‘I know,’ she informed him silently. “Do you think I would’ve let you anywhere near me if I thought you would?”

They sat in silence for a while, Ashe still holding Thorn protectively in his arms. Each was deep in their own thoughts, which is why neither noticed the approaching Nathanial as he came down the stairs and stalked the hall.

All of a sudden, Ashe sat up, alerted to the danger by his wolf instincts. He turned towards Thorn; terror in his eyes. It was Nathanial. There was no telling what he’d do if he found such a beautiful female like Thorn in Ashe’s arms. Ashe thought frantically; trying to find a place for her to hide.

Thorn felt Ashe tense and immediately felt the same thing he did; an extremely angry man at the heavy door. The keys clinked and the man outside swore as he used the wrong key. He started searching for the right one, all the while muttering to himself.

In a split second, Thorn came up with a plan and prayed Ashe would go along with it. Turning towards him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Please, just play along,” as she pulled him down on top of her. Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him softly; begging him to join in.

Her lips were so soft and she was so warm that Ashe found himself kissing her back, allowing himself to lose control, if only for a little while. He gently inserted his tongue into her open mouth; which she immediately met with her own. As the kiss deepened, Ashe ran one hand down Thorn’s side, ending at her hip. He shook slightly as she returned the caress by running her hands up and down his chest.

Nathanial finally found the right key and kicked open the door hard. Slamming it behind him, he started to yell as he stalked over towards Ashe’s cot; he was seeing red.

“ASHE!!!! What in Heathens name are you…?” Nathanial trailed off at the scene before him. There was his brother, seemingly making out with an extremely sexy female. A thousand angry thoughts flew through his brain; the foremost being that Ashe didn’t deserve first dibs. That was his right!

He stomped over to Ashe’s cot, grabbing a hunk of Thorn’s hair; using it to pull her out from underneath his brother and onto the floor in front of him. Ashe tensed, his eyes blazing with extreme fury. Nathanial had no right to do this; even if he was the first born! He got ready to leap but froze when Thorn’s voice echoed in his mind.

‘NO! Not yet,’ she thought frantically to him.

‘Thorn, if he touches you…’ he thought ferociously.

‘Wait!’

Nathanial grinned; pulling Thorn to her knees as he informed her, “Now this is the position you’re supposed to be in. Down on your knees like a slut.”

Ashe felt his blood run cold. He watched as Nathanial then pulled Thorn to her feet, roughly running his hands over her chest. Thorn lifted her head to meet Nathanial’s gaze, startling him. She had a defiant look on her face; as if daring him to try anything.
Nathanial didn’t take the hint, however. Instead, he forced her up against him and leaned to bit her lower lip.

Thorn felt her stomach turn over and briefly thought it would serve this jerk right if she threw up on him. Instead, she tore away and glared at him.

“I don’t remember giving you permission to touch me,” she told Nathanial coldly. Nathanial was shocked; he didn’t need anybody’s permission! He slapped her hard across the face, only to be rewarded with an equally hard slap. Nathanial looked at her, stunned.

His shock quickly turned to fury as he whispered, “You’re gonna regret ever touching me!” With that, Nathanial lunged at her. Thorn, who’d been watching him very closely; side-stepped him, coming up behind him to kick the backs of his knees causing them to give out. In the next instant, Thorn had pulled the dagger from her waist’s sheath and in one swift movement brought one arm around his chest while the other brought the blade up against his neck.

Nathanial, who’d been about to get up, froze when he felt the cool blade against his skin. Ashe was just as shocked as Nathanial. Thorn, in a matter of seconds, had completely taken down his brother. Glancing up, he met her eyes. She nodded at him and he pulled himself up off his cot and stalked over to Nathanial.

“You should’ve listened to her,” Ashe informed his brother coolly.

“Why, she’s just a little bitch…Ow,” he yelped as the blade bit into his flesh.

“Oh, quit it,” Thorn told him scornfully, “I didn’t even draw any blood.”

“What is she doing here?” Nathanial asked, desperately trying to keep some of his dignity.

Ashe rolled his eyes at his brother. “Like it even matters, Nate. You’re not going to tell anyone about this anyway.”

“Like hell I’m not! Father…,”

“Father would be very angry to know that you’ve been mating with his newest object of affection,” Ashe interrupted, watching Nathanial pale considerably.

“How do you know that?” he asked quietly.

“I can smell her on you. Not to mention the last time I left, I came upon the two of you, making love quite passionately in the garden. Naturally, I just had to watch,” Ashe explained wickedly, knowing he had him over a barrel.

Nathanial’s thoughts raced. His father would kill him if he knew about his ‘affair’ with his ‘girlfriend’. On the other hand, Ashe had no right to be mating; it would cause too many complications. Still, he didn’t feel like being dead. Finally he nodded.

“Fine,” he told Ashe wearily, “I won’t say anything if you won’t. Just don’t make trouble for me. Now make her let me go, I have to report to Father that everything down here is alright!”

Ashe studied Nathanial for a half a second then nodded at Thorn who immediately released him. She moved around to stand next to Ashe and watched Nathanial scurry through the door.

“How much time do we have?” she asked Ashe quietly as the door slammed shut.

“Till midday,” Ashe answered, “By then he’ll have figured out that our father wouldn’t believe me even if I told him the sky was blue.”

“Well, you’d better pack then,” Thorn told him, glancing out the window as she tried to judge how many hours till daybreak. She figured less than two by how low the moon was.

Ashe turned to her, shocked. “Thorn, I can’t leave. My people and my sister they’d suffer because of it.”

Thorn sighed and went over to the chest at the foot of his bed. She started pulling out his clothes as she told him, “Your sister isn’t even in Loftagone anymore. And you’re people will be fine; at midmorning I’ll seek these assassins out. By noon, they’ll be protecting your people, not attacking. Plus, I can’t leave you here to die.”

Ashe looked at her worriedly. She was right. He wouldn’t be any good to his people dead and if Thorn said she could handle the assassins; he believed her. Quickly, he headed over to where she knelt and pulled two pairs of breeches out of the chest.

“That’s all I need,” he told her kindly. Then he jumped up and pulled himself through the bar, leaning back in to give Thorn a hand.

Once outside Thorn stood up and gave him a brief kiss before leading him out of Loftagone and towards Triggers.