Marda’s Hunt Read online

  Marda’s Hunt

  Kyla Logan

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright ©2007 Kyla Logan

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  ISBN: 978-1-59596-454-0

  Formats Available:

  HTML, Adobe PDF,

  MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader

  Publisher:

  Changeling Press LLC

  PO Box 1046

  Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046

  www.ChangelingPress.com

  Editor: Maryam Salim

  Cover Artist: Fabiano Fabris

  This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  Chapter One

  Marda, High Priestess of Dana, wondered for the thousandth time what the hell she was doing on this backward rock of a planet.

  Oh yes. She was on the wild goose chase her Lady had sent her on. Where on this pile of rock did she expect to find the male who would complete her? She would have more luck looking on Mars than here.

  And the acolytes thought she had it easy being High Priestess? They didn’t know the crap she had to put up with from their Lady. Oh no. They went about their business like good little followers, never realising she was the one who had to put up with this fucking nonsense.

  As if she would find her mate here! On this pile of shit they now called Earth!

  Great! Fucking great. Now she was attracting far too much attention to herself. She must have been muttering out loud from the dagger-drawn look she just received from that old dear.

  Pull yourself together, Marda. You won’t accomplish anything going at it half-cocked. Great, more weird looks. She had to pay for the bottled water and this road map or she would never find the area that her Lady said would lead her to her mate. Who on Danu thought that up? Where she came from they didn’t use currency for anything.

  Thank goodness she could use her skills to download the information she needed on steering one of these horrendous things they called cars. Good grief, they were ruining their planet burning the horrible fuel that made these wretched vehicles function. In one way they were quite advanced, but in others they were just as barbaric as their Stone Age forefathers. At least with the ancients, she didn’t have to put on a show that she was one of them. They had known right away that she was not of their world and it didn’t matter a damn when she showed them how to make wheels out of stone. If she had known they would use that knowledge to make these hideous carriages, she wouldn’t have bothered trying to make their lives easier.

  She caught a glimpse of herself in the store mirror. She hadn’t taken physical shape for so long that it took her aback to see herself in corporeal form again.

  Touching her waist length, dark hair brought back memories of things long past. She hadn’t remembered it being so silky or so thick, or that her grey-green eyes slanted up at the corners.

  “Excuse me, but do you want to buy those items or are you just going to admire yourself all day?”

  Marda was shocked out of her thoughts by the shop girl. Good grief, how rude these people were. No respect at all. Fixing her gaze on the girl, she handed over the road map of the highlands of Scotland along with the money to pay for it, trying hard to keep her temper and not turn the girl into a bug she could crush under her shoe.

  Not that she could do that at present. Her powers were being depleted at an alarming rate, so much so that her Lady would take no more excuses from her High Priestess. She had to find her mate; she needed him to complete her so she could restore her powers. Marda just wished he could have come from one of the more enlightened planets around this star system. At least she wouldn’t be forced to explain in baby talk why he had to mate with her.

  Making her way to her hired car, Marda tried to hold her breath as much as she could. The fumes coming from these monsters were terrible. She couldn’t wait to get out of this city. What was the name again? Oh yes, Inverness. It was nothing like it had been the last time she visited Earth. At least her Lady had transported her to the general vicinity she needed to go. Now she couldn’t wait to get out of this built-up area and head in the direction of her mate.

  Driving carefully, Marda was glad when she reached the Kessok Bridge and knew she would soon be out of the crowded city. Once over the bridge and on the Black Isle, she pulled the car to a stop so she could look at the road map. She had never been so far north before in her previous visits to Earth and Scotland. In fact, the last time she never made it past Loch Ness.

  What a beautiful area, but she had only travelled there to see Nestor. Poor Nestor, he was so upset the last time she talked to him. And no wonder. How could anyone think such a handsome water serpent was female? Did they not know that he had balls and not boobs?

  And as for the name they gave him!

  Nessie! Poor guy.

  At least it had been easy to talk to him. And the fun she’d had sailing down Loch Ness in the moonlight… those humps of his made fine lounging seats.

  But that was not what brought her here now; she had to find the male who would be her mate. Well, she wouldn’t find him by sitting here reminiscing; she had to use what little power remained to get a fix on him. Opening the road map up to the page of the highlands, she closed her eyes.

  Dana, show me the way to my mate if it pleases you.

  Marda felt a pull on her senses. Looking down at the map she saw that the Caithness area was glowing, in particular the road to Wick.

  Thank you, my Lady, I will not let you down.

  Marda quickly worked out the road she would need to travel. Closing the map she pulled back onto the road heading in the direction she needed to go.

  She would find the male, mate with him and take him back to Danu with her. There was no other choice for him… or her.

  Chapter Two

  Cayden MacLeod tried to keep his boredom from showing as he licked and nibbled his way from one rosy nipple to the other. Paying attention to the moans of encouragement from the tourist he had picked up for the night seemed such a chore. But he needed her essence, so it was a trade off. It was becoming more and more difficult for him to make the effort of seeming to enjoy the physical joining the females required.

  After attending to her second hard nub, he nibbled his way to her belly button and made his way further down toward her fragrant heat. She had a thick bush, too thick for his tastes, but he would put up with it since she would not be serving him long. A cynical laugh entered his mind just ahead of a familiar voice. If you think that you are the only one bored then think again, brother.

  Cayden glanced to his right and caught his friend Jordan’s eye. They were more brothers than friends, and knew each other’s inner thoughts as well as their own. Jordan was pleasuring the friend of the girl he had chosen for the evening.

  I am weary of this, Jordan. I think from now on it will be only blood and the illusion of love play. I don’t think I can stomach this any longer.

  Agreed, Cayden. I will go out of my mind if I have to continue on this path any longer. I know the Oracle of Delphi promised we would find our mates, but having to wait two thousand years is a bit too long for my taste.

  Cayden moved up and over the body of the shuddering female. He didn’t feel so bad now that he had given her some pleasure… now it was his turn. Thrusting
his cock into her wet cunt, he felt her pussy muscles throbbing and squeezing as he moved with increasing speed.

  There have been times when I thought I felt my mate’s presence, but then it disappeared. Cayden pulled his cock out of her warm cunt, and said, “On your hands and knees.”

  He waited until the woman had complied, and noticed that Jordan had instructed his female to do the same. Cayden thrust inside her once more and, gripping her hips, fucked her harder and harder. The moans of enjoyment she made helped relieve his conscience somewhat about using her this way.

  Leaning over her back, he drew her toward him until he was able to keep fucking her and nibble on her neck at the same time. Thankfully neither of the girls were facing each other. He and Jordan had played this game often as it wouldn’t do for the women to realise what was happening.

  He licked her pulse point once, twice, then took control of her mind, and sank his teeth into her neck. The rush of her blood hit his parched tongue and the mind-numbing pleasure of the moment thrust him into his orgasm, which brought the female into hers. He continued to drink from her neck as both of them gradually came down from their high. Cayden stopped drinking, then ran his tongue over the two little puncture marks. He leaned back to watch them disappear from sight.

  Pulling out of the female, he lay on his side as he stroked her arms, waiting until she focused once more on him. He had been careful not to take too much blood from her, and was relieved when she looked at him with clear eyes.

  Cayden moved from the bed. After removing the condom from his cock he disposed of it in the en suite bathroom. Taking a wet cloth back to the bedroom he cleansed his lover.

  He passed Jordan as he went to dispose of his own condom, and waited until his friend returned. While he had been in the bathroom he had felt a tugging sensation. One he remembered from years gone by.

  I need to get out of here, Jordan. I don’t know if it was our conversation, but I feel something that suggests my mate is near.

  Can you show me?

  Of course.

  Cayden opened his mind to Jordan, and by the look in his eyes he too recognised the calling of a mate.

  Cayden found his heart quicken as his brother confirmed his suspicions. His mate was here — now — and in a place where he could find her. A shiver ran through his body as his mind filled with graphic pictures of what he would do to her once he had her on his bed and under his body.

  But most important he would no longer be alone.

  Go now, Cayden. Find her before she disappears again. I will plant memories in these two so they think nothing of your disappearance.

  Cayden didn’t need to be told twice. He cleansed his body of the scent of sex and conjured up appropriate clothing. Drawing on his powers of teleportation, he vanished from the room.

  Chapter Three

  Marda felt the tension and grumpiness evaporate as she drove north. The air was no longer so polluted and the road was clear of any other travellers.

  She stopped outside the little village of Berriedale to stretch her legs. The zigzagging steep decline, then the inevitable steep incline at the other side, was quite taxing to drive through, and she was glad of the rest.

  She continued to be drawn north on the A9 and knew it wouldn’t be much longer before she met her mate. Marda only hoped he wouldn’t put up much resistance to her plans.

  Getting back into the driver’s seat, she took a long drink of the bottled water before she started the car once more. Marda continued on this road until she felt the need to turn off onto a minor one just before she reached the village of Achavanich.

  Passing the Loch on her left, she carefully made her way over the Causewaymire and pulled into the car park. No one else was around, which wasn’t surprising at this time of the evening. She knew she needed to walk now as the call of her mate was pulling her in the direction of the signs for the Stone Circle of Stemster.

  Even though it had been a warm day, the wind was a little chilly now and Marda regretted the fact that her powers were so depleted that she couldn’t regulate her body temperature. But the hike over the grassy path to the Standing Stones warmed her up. Feeling breathless with the exertion, she realised she had been taking so much for granted. Her powers were such a part of her and she felt like a major element was missing.

  The sight of the Standing Stones laid out in a horseshoe-shaped arrangement caused her heart to beat rapidly. Where had she seen this particular pattern before? The stones were set in low mounds of dirt, flat sides all facing inward. Very unusual. Something was familiar about this arrangement, but what was it?

  Moving closer, Marda was brought to her knees as she entered the circle. Gripping the nearest stone, she was overwhelmed by the pictures flooding her mind.

  The crash of the space ship as it ploughed its way through the earth, the opening of the doors, and the horrible death of the first few people who exited the ship.

  Marda wept as she recognised the ship as belonging to the people of Aine. At last she knew the fate of the ship lost so long ago.

  She watched the figures catch fire as they stepped out into the heat of the mid-day sun.

  Marda remembered that this system was heated by a gamma sun, not the more gentle type that the Aine people were used to. She watched as the door to the ship was shut. The remaining adults must have realised they could do nothing to help their colleagues. It was like a movie, just going so fast she could only take in so many images at once.

  Night arrived before her eyes and she watched the careful exit of one of the adults and the relief on his face as he realised he would survive the experience. Then the children exited one by one, pale and strained faces turned away from the mound of ash that was all that remained of their tutors.

  Fast forward and the children grew before her eyes, but the strained looks never varied. Then came the arrival of a few of what could only be natives to the land. Marda watched as the Aine sank their sharp incisors into the necks of the men and carefully took some of their life-giving blood.

  Again time moved quickly and the children were now teenagers, still pale but no longer strained. They and their tutors surrounded the ship and appeared to be holding some sort of ceremony.

  Before she could watch any more, she heard a pop as someone teleported near her. Marda broke away from the stone she was leaning against and stood to face the recent arrival.

  She felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked at an Aine warrior in the prime of his life. He had to be at least six foot six inches tall, with a broad muscular body. His square, chiselled jaw suited his build and his eyes… oh that deep, dark blue surrounded by thick, dark lashes caused her pussy to weep and her breathing to quicken.

  Marda felt the mate-pull toward him. What the fuck was going on? How could her mate be one of Aine’s children?

  Chapter Four

  Cayden’s heart accelerated as he looked at his mate. She had been kneeling beside one of the stones they had placed around the buried ship, but she stood as he appeared beside her.

  She had to be just a few inches over five feet, with a slim build that made him long to protect her. Her oval face was the canvas for high cheekbones and lovely grey-green eyes that slanted up at the corners. And those pouty lips… he couldn’t wait until he could feel them against his own.

  Cayden sniffed the air; the scent of her arousal hit him. His cock had risen on sighting her, but now he felt a surge of pre-come emerge as he looked at his mate. For once in his life he didn’t know what to say.

  He watched her come closer, saw the hand she raised toward his face, then felt the warm touch of it on his cheek. Closing his eyes, he savoured the first touch of his mate and felt the tension of centuries draining slowly away.

  Cayden, are you all right? The emotion coming from you is… disturbing.

  As he heard Jordan’s question, Cayden covered her hand with his own and watched her lovely eyes grow wide as the electricity of their joint touch seared through them.


  I couldn’t be better, Jordan. My mate is beautiful… look.

  As he opened his link to Jordan, he saw the look of surprise on his mate’s face.

  “Who is that? Who watches us?” she demanded.

  Cayden was astonished that she somehow knew Jordan was watching them. How? Who was she? “How do you know there is someone with us?”

  She drew in a deep breath before replying. “I am your mate. Oh, I know this news will surprise you. I am also telepathic. Now please answer me — who watches us?”

  Cayden felt the amusement that Jordan didn’t try to hide at her words. It looks like she is claiming you, brother. At least you don’t have to explain why you will be taking over her life.

  Shut up, Jordan.

  Cayden closed the link on his laughing friend and looked at his frowning mate. “I realise you are my mate, but how do you know? To answer your question, it was my friend Jordan who watched for a minute.”

  “Ah, he is one of your ship’s companions?”

  Cayden was stunned. She knew about the ship that crashed and stranded them here? “How do you know about the ship?”

  Her forehead creased as she pulled her hand from his face and took a step back. Cayden wasn’t happy to lose the warmth of her touch and moved forward until he was once again within touching distance, only stopping when she held up her hand.

  “No, stay there. I won’t be able to explain if you touch me. I didn’t realise the sensations I would feel on meeting you. This is… disconcerting to me. And I don’t even know your name, warrior of Aine.”

  At her words, Cayden knew he had to get answers to his questions. But not here, not when he saw her shiver with cold. Taking her into his arms, he pulled on his powers and teleported them to his home, south of Wick.

  Marda loved the feeling of belonging that enveloped her as her mate drew her into his embrace. Her heart pounded with excitement at being so near him. The pop that always followed teleportation startled her as she hadn’t been aware they had travelled. She looked around at the warm room he brought her to. She could see his personality stamped in the furnishings that filled the room. The burgundies of the furnishings complemented the old style of the fitments. Not to mention the huge bed that took up a good part of the room.