Mischief's Mate (The Immortal Mates Book 1) (32 page)

Chantelle had been standing in front of her small closet in nothing but her bra and black leather pants for the better part of ten minutes. She found herself wanting to look good when Loki returned from hunting.

Everything that had happened between them had gone so fast. One minute she was pushing him away and the next she was pulling him close. Chantelle loved Loki with every fiber of her being. And after what they had shared she knew that she had loved him for a long time.

So now, here she stood wanting to look good for a man who had seen her at her worst. Funny the things one thinks about when they’re in love. As the last of her thoughts quieted, her eyes alighted on a brilliant ruby corset top.

Chantelle was reaching for it when a breeze played against her bare back and she smiled. It seemed Loki was back early. Funny she had felt so empty since he had left; she reasoned that it was just their bond. But for some reason the emptiness was still there. Chantelle decided to push the feeling aside. Maybe she could ask him about it later. Right now she needed to be in his arms.

She turned not caring about her nakedness. “I missed…” But the rest of her words died on her lips. And all at once Chantelle realized why she still felt empty.

Her hands flew up to cover her breasts; it hadn’t been Loki returning after all. There before her stood two surly looking men. Her stomach seemed to summersault as if she was on a rollercoaster. Something was wrong and she didn’t know where Loki was.

The bigger of the two stalked forward and tried to grab her but Chantelle dodged his outstretched hand. Her eyes darted about the tent searching of Loki’s sword. She knew better than to think she could defeat two grown warriors. They were Signe’s warriors out to claim their query.

But perhaps, if the Sisters were good to her this night, she could stall them. Hopefully long enough for Loki to return. Her heart skipped a beat at that thought. She couldn’t let Loki walk into whatever trap Signe had lain for him.

It was obvious that they meant to do some kind of harm. Chantelle was sure that they intended to not only harm her but Loki as well. Just the thought of Loki hurt had her heart rate doubling. She could imagine what these men would do if Loki came back and they were still here.

Chantelle wasn’t worried about herself. They would do whatever they pleased with her regardless of Loki’s presence or not. She wasn’t fool enough to think that Signe had only come with two warriors.

If Loki witnessed what they had planned for her, he would be rendered helpless. Chantelle knew that if emotions came into play her mate would not win. No, she had to keep them from accomplishing whatever they had planned.

Chantelle sent a silent plea heavenward. She hoped that Thor and the others would get back soon. No matter how much magic Loki possessed there was no way the two of them could take on an army alone.

Her thoughts ceased when the second, much smaller man tackled her to the ground. She struggled against his hold and then she did something she never thought she would do. Chantelle let out a bloodcurdling scream. Her captor’s hand clamped down over her mouth. She took the opportunity and sunk her teeth into him, drawing blood.

In one swift movement Chantelle found herself upright. But only for as long as it took for the dark haired man to slap her. With her hand against her cheek, Chantelle glared at him from the floor. Her nakedness all but forgotten.

“You nasty little bitch. We were going to go easy on you. But now...” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Now we’ll let your little prince watch as we have our fun with you.”

“And while we dance in your blood.”

Chantelle tried to sound strong. As if she knew just what Loki would do to avenge her disgrace? But her threat fell flat and she knew the men before her could sense her fear.

“Not before I’ve had my fill of your pretty little body.”

“Enough.”

The two men backed away from Chantelle and she caught a glimpse of the newcomer. To her horror the being in the flowing black robe looked like it had crawled out of her nightmares. But there was no mistaking who it was. Chantelle refused to be on her knees before this monster. After all, she was a princess now and Signe was nothing more than a cautionary tale, which immortals told their children in hopes that they would behave.

Slowly she rose to her feet, trying not to show any fear. She was facing the woman who tried to steal everything from her and she refused to cower. Instead she drew on her anger for this creature before her.

“Nice to see you aren’t the coward I thought you were. I took you as someone who would let her minions do all the dirty work.”

She watched as Signe clenched and unclenched her fists. That was all Chantelle needed, to know she had pushed the right buttons. It was so easy to rile an opponent who was insecure.

Chantelle waved her left hand toward the two men, “Maybe you should send them to get you some warm milk. I’m sure it’s past your bedtime.”

The dying light in the tent caught her ring. Drawing Signe’s gaze to the tell-tale hand, in that instant she knew she had arrived just behind the game. Signe closed the distance between them while distracting Chantelle long enough for one of the men to grab her. With a wave of her hand the corset that was on the bed was now covering Chantelle.

“I promise to keep your ring after I kill you. Loki will need a reminder of just how expendable you were, as he warms my bed.”

Chantelle felt her hackles rise. How dare she think Loki would even look at her? Signe had thrown him away like so much trash and now she wanted him back.

“That’s very unlikely. Even if you did kill me, Loki’s heart is still mine.”

The wrinkled old women cackled, just like the wicked witch she was. “That still remains to be seen.”

A blazing anger surged through Chantelle’s veins, “Why don’t you call off your lap dogs and fight me?”

Signe shook her head, “You should have taken my advice when I told you to fight him. Because now you shall suffer along with your sister.”

Chantelle struggled against her captors. “That was you? I should have known. My offer still stands; fight me and we’ll end this now.”

“I have not the time to play games with little children.” Signe smiled at her, as if to say either way she would come out the victor.

“Chicken shit.” The two guards holding her snickered, but quickly coughed to cover it up.

“You can call me all the names you like, mortal. But when my men return with Loki I am going to let him watch you die.”

She motioned the men to bring Chantelle outside. Everything had to be just right for when the others returned with Loki.

The men had fanned out and searched the entire woods surrounding the campsite. Yet after an exhaustive search they had found nothing. Not one sign of the prince was to be found. Chantelle laughed at their incompetence, annoying Signe.

“It seems your men are as incapable of finding my mate, as you are of taking over the immortal race.”

Signe turned to her, “What makes you think I care to rule immortals?”

Chantelle smiled a knowing smile, “I know your kind. You’ll never stop until you rule everyone.” She paused to let it all sink in. “The only problem with that is you’ll lose most of your warriors in the process. And you’ll never have enough power to satisfy yourself.”

Signe stepped forward and slapped her so hard that Chantelle sagged in the arms of the two men that held her. “Learn your place, mortal.”

Loki cringed when Signe’s hand connected with Chantelle’s cheek. He watched everything unfold from the treetops. Holding the form of a small owl since they had seized the camp.

His inner beast had reared its head and caused him to almost run in there and try to rescue Chantelle. But the strategist in him took over and he knew running headlong into a battle would only make things worse.

There was nothing he could do. Loki was grossly outnumbered and getting caught himself would only put Chantelle in further danger. He hoped Chantelle knew that she needed to stall them until backup got there. At least with a few more fighters they would have a chance.

Closing his eyes Loki tried to breathe in Chantelle’s scent. It would calm his overeager beast. It was rattling the bars of his cage; wanting nothing more than to charge in there and take them all on. It didn’t matter to Loki’s beast if he lived or died so long as Chantelle came out of everything unscathed.

“Come out of your hiding place. I know you are here, I can feel your magic.” Signe called as her eyes scanned the forest.

Loki watched as she moved toward Chantelle. A tiny dagger gleamed in the fallen immortals hand. With her free hand she grabbed Chantelle’s chin, “It’s a pity he doesn’t love you enough to save you. He’ll be so easy to seduce into my bed. You are nothing more than a pathetic mortal; forgettable.”

Loki knew Signe was trying to draw him out. He also knew she was wrong on all counts. If he could assure Chantelle’s safety then he would have rushed in to save her. He also knew that he would die before he betrayed Chantelle’s heart by taking any other into his bed. But the blond immortal was lying the most about Chantelle’s status. Once they had bound their souls, she had become his equal. More so than the woman who taunted her.

Chantelle jerked her face away from Signe’s cold clammy hand. “I hope you choke on all the lies you tell.” A defiant gleam filled her eyes as she smiled in Signe’s direction. “Then again, it’s kinda hard to swallow that much bullshit.”

Loki wanted to laugh at her sharp tongue. He had known that Chantelle had a warrior’s heart. But the way she held her own with Signe, left him breathless.

Signe lashed out with the dagger, slicing Chantelle’s left arm wide open. She cried out in pain and tried to pull away from her captors. But any pressure on her arm had her falling forward in pain.

“Speak again and I’ll remove your tongue.”

The leaves parted and an angry looking Loki marched forward. Backup be damned, he needed to end this now, or else Signe would bleed Chantelle out.

“Well, now look who decided to join the party.” Signe cooed.

He watched as the warriors shifted around them. Moving closer to where they held Chantelle. They formed a tight half circle; making it impossible for Loki to reach her even if he used his magic.

“Let her go.” His magic was beginning to gather, his hands glowing an unearthly green. He was gathering himself to attack.

“Why? Seeing her bleed pleases me.” Her arm shot out again and left a matching gash on Chantelle’s right arm.

Chantelle let out an anguished cry, as blood welled on her arm. Loki shifted his weight ready to release his magic. He was too caught up in Chantelle to notice Signe gathering her magic as well.

With the swiftness of a shark attack, Signe cast her spell, before Loki had a chance to blink. In an instant he found himself encased in a crystal cell. There was no way for him to reach Chantelle now. No way for him to conjure his magic.

He knew Signe would make him watch as she slowly killed his mate and impotent to help her. If that was her intention then she had better hope he died along with Chantelle. Or else his vengeance would be slow and without mercy.

Loki centered himself and tried his magic again, yet as he called on it there was no response. No pulling in the region of his heart; the seat of his power. The cell she had put him in must have been enchanted.

Frantic now with this new discovery, he pounded his fists against the glass, hoping to find a way out. No matter what it cost him, Loki had to get Chantelle out of here and soon. He didn’t know how much more she could take; their traveling had been hard on all of them. She was already swaying on her feet from the loss of blood. If Signe didn’t stop, there was no telling how soon Chantelle’s body would give out.

“Now you’ll watch as she pays for all I’ve suffered.” Signe turned back toward Chantelle her arm raised she was ready to strike the death blow.

“Wait.” Loki called from behind the glass wall of his prison.

Signe turned to face Loki
,
her lips tugged upward in a parody of a smile, “What now? Can’t you see I am busy trying to kill your little toy.”

“I shall do whatever you ask, just let her go.” Loki looked at her beseechingly.

He watched as Signe shook her head. It was almost as if she hadn’t heard him. That his pleading was going to go unheeded.

“Please, she had nothing to do with your suffering.”

Signe turned the full force of her gaze upon him, “No single snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”

“You cannot punish Chantelle because she is my mate.”

“Your mate? I thought I was your mate. Isn’t that what you claimed all those centuries ago, when I left you begging for my love?”

Signe turned to face Chantelle, “Did you know that your precious mate waged war with your race because I left him for a real man?”

Her words stung Loki. He knew the blame lay solely on his head. If he had just waited for Chantelle as he was meant to, none of this would have happened. But to gain his father’s favor he agreed to marry Signe. Odin had wanted to make a good match for his youngest son. All those years ago he had worried about bloodlines and then Signe had run from him.