The Warrior's Gift

By Bonnie Dee

Given as a sexual toy to a violent warrior, Katya fights for freedom. In her world, a sect of indoctrinated fighters protect the villages--and occasionally "brides" are given to the caged men. Katya finds her warrior is an innocent and gentle man, just as much a prisoner as she is. Passion blooms and the lovers search for a way to save themselves, overcome their masters and change their world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonnie Dee
• Release date: Jun 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466122239

Bonnie Dee

Whether you're a fan of contemporary, paranormal, or historical romance, you'll find something to enjoy among my books. I'm interested in flawed, often damaged, people who find the fulfillment they seek in one another. To stay informed about new releases, please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER. Help an author out by leaving a review and spreading the word about this book among your friends. You can join my street team at FB. Learn more about my backlist at http://bonniedee.com or find me on FB and Twitter @Bonnie_Dee.

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THE WARRIOR'S GIFT

Bonnie Dee

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright © 2011 by Bonnie Dee

Discover other titles by Bonnie Dee at Smashwords.com:

Hired for Her Pleasure

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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The Warrior's Gift

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Chapter One

Just because it is tradition doesn’t make it right, Mother. Katya dared to say what she had been thinking for a long time. There was no reason to hold back now since she might not live to see another day. Not for us and not for them. She gestured out the window toward the high wall of the compound looming on the hill a league away. The sun rose from the far side of the hill, clearing the peaks of the cluster of buildings before shining into her room. She’d looked at those foreboding gray walls and wondered about the men who lived inside almost every morning of her life.

It’s unnatural breeding men for nothing except fighting and killing. Katya turned from her bedroom window and faced her mother, Pellina. And it’s wrong for us to depend on them.

It is the way. The Warriors are all that has kept the people of Geveldon safe and living without fear of invasion for almost a hundred years. Pellina flitted around Katya, straightening her daughter’s simple white linen shift, fussing with her long flowing hair, and arranging ringlets on either side of her pale face. It’s a terrible price we pay, but also a great honor to be chosen as a Warrior's bride.

Katya pushed her mother’s hands away and tucked the auburn curls behind her ears. Yes, it’s a terrible price, but ‘we’ don’t pay it. The young women from the villages do. And we aren’t 'brides' but chattel, used and discarded by the Warriors like rag dolls. Tears stung her eyes as she grabbed her mother’s hand and gazed into her face. This is me, Mama, your own daughter! Do I mean nothing to you? How can you permit this to happen? How can you let them take me?

Her mother’s lips trembled and her eyes glistened. Of course I care. I’ll miss you terribly, but there is no choice. You must look on what you are about to do as a sacrifice for your people, for their protection and well-being. The Guardians of the Warriors are respected holy men. They know what is best for all of us.

"But this is my life, my future. No one should have a right to decide it for me." Katya’s control broke at last and she sobbed.

Her mother enveloped her in a warm embrace, stroking her back and crooning comforting words, while Katya wept at her fear of the unknown future awaiting her. In a few short hours, she would be given to a Warrior who had distinguished himself in the last battle against the invading forces of the Revocs. Those fierce mountain-dwellers were a threat to the valley lands below, although no village had actually been attacked by Revocs in years. The invaders were always intercepted by the Warriors before they could reach their destination.

Katya would become a sexual plaything for one of the Warriors, a man whose sole purpose in life was to destroy. Maidens were periodically chosen from the villages as tribute to their protectors, and once they disappeared into the mysterious compound, they were never seen again.

It was said the Warriors were little more than beasts with no knowledge of the world and little capacity for speech. The Guardians took them from their parents as children, another honor for those families chosen. They were raised in an almost monastic life in the gloomy settlement on the hill, but their religion was killing. They were taught a warrior’s skills and nothing else. Isolated not only from the outside world, but also from each other, the Warriors were kept in cells. Their only socialization was through combative play. Although well-fed and housed, they were not offered any diversion. Sexual release was rarely provided. Instead they were taught to sublimate all their desires into bloodlust. At least those were the rumors that were whispered about how the Warriors were trained.

Various villagers claimed to know someone who had learned these facts from one of the Guardians, the elite enclave which raised and trained the Warriors. But despite the stories, no one really knew the truth of what went on inside the fortress.

Katya pushed away from her mother, angrily wiping her eyes. Say what you will, Mama. This is not right. We tithe a quarter of our crops and goods to the Guardians and give our sons and daughters when required. Yes, the Warriors protect our lands from invaders, but the price is too steep. Our freedom is sacrificed for our safety.

She whirled away from her mother and strode toward the window, staring once more at the ominous, dark walls on the hill. I will comply. I’ll give myself to this beast for the sake of our family’s honor and our people’s protection, but I’ll never believe it is right.

Inside she added, And I won’t submit to him without a fight.

* * * * *

As the sun waned toward late afternoon, the villagers turned out for the bridal procession, smiling and calling out congratulations to Katya and her parents as if it were an actual celebration. The false cheer in their voices and the fake smiles on their faces disgusted her. She knew that a few of them had lost their own children to the Guardians.

Katya followed the flower-strewn path leading away from the village. The closer she drew to the forbidding stone wall of the fortress, the more her heart raced. When they came within a hundred yards of the massive oak doors, the procession of villagers stopped following Katya and her parents. Their congratulatory cries died away and the people watched in reverent silence as the gates of the compound swung slowly open.

A Guardian in scarlet ceremonial robes walked out. He was tall and clean-shaven, including his scalp. He approached Katya, who stood trembling between her mother and father and looked down at her with empty blue eyes.

Young woman, you have the honor of being chosen to serve your people as a Warrior’s bride. He raised his voice and gazed at the crowd behind her. Tell all assembled here that you enter this union of your own free will.

Katya’s jaw clenched. Words of denial trembled on her tongue, but one glance at her mother and father’s anguished faces stopped them. Their life would be unbearable if they had to live with the shame of their daughter resisting, and it would do no good anyway. The young women chosen always disappeared into the compound one way or another.

Despite her heart beating against her breastbone like a bird trapped in a cage, Katya answered as required.

I do.

There was nothing else to reply. She knew the penalty for refusal. When she was a little girl, she’d seen what had happened to the family of a maiden who’d tried to run away. The family was not simply ostracized. In the dead of night they were driven from the community with pitchforks and flaming brands, their lands and possessions seized.

Katya hugged her parents fiercely and kissed them goodbye. Then, clenching her jaw even tighter to keep from crying, she stepped forward.

The Guardian took her by the arm and led her through the opening in the dark wall she had looked at every morning of her life. The heavy doors closed behind her with a resounding thud, sealing her into her future.

Katya walked silently beside the Guardian, who offered no words of encouragement. Her legs were trembling so she badly she could hardly remain upright and her heart pounded in her ears. She gazed at the slate-gray buildings on either side and guessed they were barracks for the Warriors. There were small, high windows at intervals along the walls. The path went between two tall buildings, giving the feeling of being enclosed, even though a slice of blue sky arched overhead.

The sounds of clashing swords and shouting men came from up ahead. As Katya and her escort rounded the corner of the building, she faced an open courtyard central to all the buildings. Pairs of men were engaged in mock combat. Huge, hulking brutes with arms and legs the size of tree trunks thrust, parried, and hacked at each other, wearing only light leather padding to protect them from the blows.

Katya wasn’t certain they were merely practicing until one man sliced another’s arm and blood gushed onto the stained paving stones of the exercise yard. A whistle blew and the fighting stopped instantly. Weapons descended, sword points resting on the ground as the Warriors waited with their heads bowed. A red-robed Guardian came and bound the injured man’s arm before ushering him off the field. When the whistle blew again, the fighting continued as though it had never been interrupted.

In here. Her escort pulled on her arm.

Katya reluctantly turned from watching the combatants and stared at the door to the barracks. Her already rapid heart rate ratcheted to the speed of a rabbit running from a wolf, pounding so fast her head was dizzy and she thought she might faint. This was actually happening and there was nothing she could do to save herself from her fate. She vowed that once she was inside the Warrior’s chamber she would fight him tooth and nail, making his effort to conquer her as difficult as she possibly could. She imagined kneeing his groin and gouging her thumbs into his eye sockets and the images in her mind gave her the strength to keep walking.

Go on. The Guardian’s pale eyes narrowed. He thrust her through the doorway.

Her bare feet were cold on the stone floor, and blood raced hot throughout her body. Doors lined the dimly lit corridor. Katya wondered how many cells were occupied right now and how many Warriors were out in the practice yard. Would anyone hear her if she screamed? Even if they did, she knew no one would come to save her.

The hallway seemed to stretch out before them forever and then at last the Guardian stopped before a door.

Katya’s terror intensified. She curled her fingers and squeezed her hands so tightly her nails bit into her palms.