Isaak POV

  “Master, shall I bring you breakfast?”

  Hot rage surged inside him, and he could feel his eyes shift painfully as some of the darkness inside him slipped free.

  Sondra froze. He saw the moment she realized Kasia was still there. The color left her face. Had Kasia heard her? More importantly, had she heard Sondra refer to him as Master?

  They waited in tense silence to see if Sondra’s intrusion had woken the young woman. His eyes promised pain. It did not matter that Sondra had been a faithful servant until now—if she did anything to jeopardize his cover, especially with Kasia, her life would be forfeit.

  When Kasia did not stir, Sondra and Isaak both relaxed.

  Sondra approached quietly to wake her, cooing like a mother hen.

  “Kasia, corka.” She said quietly. “You should get going. You’ll be late. I would miss seeing you if your Ojciec locked you in the dungeon for spending the night with your lover.”

  Kaisa startled awake, "What time is it?!" She looked out the window, "Praise the creators, it's not too late."

  She threw the covers off, eyeing Sondra to make sure the innkeeper was looking the other way. She yanked on her clothes, kissed Isaak quickly, and gave Sondra a brief hug.

  "Thanks for the advice– and the wakeup!" She whispered to the older woman.

  Kaisa dashed out of the room.

  Isaak and Sondra waited in silence until they heard the front door close.

  He was in a forgiving mood, so he would not punish Sondra for her blunder this time. He gave her a look and was pleased at her chastened expression.

  "I'll kill you if you tell her this." Isaak gave her a blood thirsty grin,"But that woman might just be the thing that I didn't know that I was looking for."

  "My lips are sealed," Sondra purred with a pleased smile, something of maternal pride echoed in her features, though the two women shared no blood.

  Kasia's scent lingered in his nose. It's what had drawn him to her that morning in the inn.

  That smell…It was familiar and intoxicating. It had been gone so long that he had forgotten it entirely until it was suddenly there again, in her. He closed his eyes, enjoyed the lingering scent she had left in his bed, and thought of her.

  Kasia POV

  It wasn't the longest walk. Especially when she hurried. But there was plenty of time for Kasia to be alone with herself. All she could think about was not having “sex” with Isaak again as soon as possible. It had been incredible. Mind Blowing. She had experienced giving herself pleasure alone in her room, but to receive it from someone else? It was intimacy on a whole new level… she could only imagine how much deeper the connection would be when she and Isaak finally did cross that line.

  Her body was still humming with energy, like thousands of butterflies kissing her skin with delicate gossamer wings. She had to control herself. If she thought too much about it, she'd turn around and spend the rest of the day in Isaak's bed. It was going to be hard waiting until the next night she snuck out… perhaps tonight, after family day… she could wait that long, right?

  She bit her lip, thinking about her beloved. He stirred every emotion inside of her– passion, fear, love, anger, desire, frustration… It was as if her senses had been dulled until she met him– and suddenly, the fog had cleared and the world was vibrant with colors of every kind. She hardly recognized herself.

  Kasia had always been quick to anger…but now she was quick to feel everything: to cry, laugh, sing, scream… everything was just so…beautiful. Alive. Bursting with energy.

  She slipped through the passages, unaware of the eyes that followed her. She ducked behind a column to avoid a passing knight, and snuck back into her quarters to sleep in until brunch with her father and uncles.

  “Kasia? Are you okay? You look exhausted.” Ren greeted her as she entered the room.

  "Hmm?” Kasia tried to perk up, “Oh, yes, I'm wonderful. I just stayed up too late talking to Janine." She sobered slightly when she remembered the monster. "Do you have any leads on the werewolf?"

  Nathan huffed. “No. How the fuck does the largest werewolf we’ve ever seen not leave any tracks except for where the body is found?”

  “Well we haven’t seen it yet, brat. It might be the largest.” Ren corrected his middle brother.

  “Have you heard anything in town, Kasia?” Her father asked.

  Kasia shook her head and slid her finger beneath the red cord around her neck, tugging on it. The act had initially begun as a way to relieve chafing, but as the cord had softened with wear, doing do had become a comfort. “No… how is Captain Erik?”

  Sadness shadowed Jon's face. "Doing his job, despite our orders. But he isn't there."

  Kasia grimaced and nodded sadly. She wished there was something she could do but was left feeling useless.

  "Can you imagine talking your brat up like that and then he's the one slain?"

  Ren smacked Nathan in the back of the head. "You've got no empathy! Erik believes that Ivar’s death is all his fault."

  Shaking his head with disgust, he turned his attention to his niece, "How was your rest day, Kasia?"

  "Oh yes!" Nathan crowed, "Tell us about this dashing woodsman of yours."

  Jon threw his empty cup at Nathan. Nathan ducked and it bounced harmlessly off one of the walls. The Lord Commander grit his teeth and tried to smile calmly at his daughter. "Yes,” hearing the strain in his voice filled Kasia with amusement and dread, “We'd love to hear more about this mysterious stranger."

  Her father's voice trailed off. "... mysterious stranger… When did you meet him?"

  Kasia beamed and felt her cheeks heat. She ignored the strange way her father said ‘mysterious’, more than happy to talk about Isaak, “Well he wouldn’t be such a stranger if you would let me invite him to dinner every once and a while. We’ve been seeing each other…let’s see,” Kasia had to think about it, “...two months, I think?”

  "So… then it was after the death of the Great Hart?"

  "What does it matter?" Nathan carelessly ate while they talked.

  Ren looked at Nathan with a sardonic expression, and Nathan's eating slowed. "Oh!!!"

  "There it is. Glad you could join the rest of us.” Ren grunted

  Kasia’s eyes narrowed as she looked between her father and uncles. “Seriously?”

  She bit her lip. Admittedly, yeah, he had shown up after the very first wolf attack… and the wolf hadn’t killed her…and now Isaak was practically bedding her. It had to be a coincidence, right? There was no way Isaak could be a werewolf… she couldn’t be in love with a monster! How would that conversation with him even go? ‘Hey, Isaak, my love– you’d tell me if you were a savage werewolf who is killing everyone I know, right?’ or ‘Oh darling, you don’t mind holding this bit of silver here for me, do you?’

  “No…” Kasia shook her head, “I would have noticed! There would have been signs! You’re just saying this because you don’t like him!” the room felt too hot.

  She pressed on, “You don’t think Sondra or one of the villagers would have noticed a naked Isaak stumbling back to the inn at dawn covered in blood?!”

  "He is the best suspect." Her father growled in response.

  "I'm surprised that you didn't accuse him immediately just to get him away from Kasia." Nathan chuckled, "Let's go kill him. In the best case scenario, he is the werewolf, but even in the worst case you can sleep again at night, brat.” He winked at Jon.

  "We're not just going to kill him just because he made the truly foolish decision to court the Lord Commander's daughter." Ren replied calmly, taking a sip of his juice before continuing, "At least we won't. That is her father's right. I'll prepare the wine."

  Kaisa made a disgusted noise in her throat, "How foolish of me to think any of you actually cared to know about the man I'm in love with—" she realized her slip a second too late. Panic surged through her and she attempted to distract them from her admission by continuing to speak, "---You sure had me fooled- asking how things were going and 'what's he like'." She scoffed and angrily spooned more porridge into her mouth.

  "Oooh."

  Kasia's slip of the tongue did not go unnoticed. She wanted to drown herself in her porridge.

  "Someone's in loooove." Nathan teased her.

  "How lovely.” Jon sighed in exasperation.

  “My daughter is in love with the village monster."

  "We don't know that for sure." Ren replied, always the level headed of the three.

  "I said what I said." Jon retorted with a gleeful glint in his eyes.

  Kaisa was boiling with frustration, "Fine! Yes! I am in love! And I'm happy! Happier than I can ever remember being! Maybe you should care about that!"

  "Shh, the adults are talking." Nathan said playfully.

  Jon threw a sausage at him. "Be nice to her. She should get to be involved in our plot to murder her boyfriend."

  Ren nudged Nathan as he left the table, "Come on, Nathan. I need your help."

  "To put holy water into a bottle of wine? Come off it, Ren, you don't need help with that."

  Her uncle Ren fired a tiny projectile from somewhere hidden in his sleeve.

  "Ow!"

  "Now!"

  "Fine."

  That left Kasia alone with her father. She could tell he was trying really hard to conceal his emotions, but his distress was evident.

  "I'm sorry, Tatu?. I… didn't think I would fall in love with him so quickly. I tried to guard my heart, but…" she didn't know what to say.

  She wasn't sorry for falling in love, she was sorry for falling in love with someone her father disapproved of. She thought about Wojciek and about the crude things he had said to her. Would her father still approve of him if he knew? Was it really just because Isaak wasn't a knight?

  After what had happened to Bruno and Ivar, did he still want his daughter to marry a hunter, to have the same fate as Bruno's Widow– alone in her youth with six young children? Because Kasia didn't know if she could bear such a thing.

  Now that she had tasted what it felt like to be in love, she didn't know if she could ever live without it. She didn't think she could marry a hunter, knowing the dangers they faced; how one mistake was all it took for them not to come home.

  Kaisa thought she had understood the risks before, but she hadn't. Not really. Her father and uncles had never fallen, her brothers always came home. Death seemed like something distant. A risk, sure, but, didn't anyone stand a chance of being killed by monsters on a given day? She'd thought hunters actually stood a better chance because at least they knew how to fight back.

  But now that she had seen the bodies and the families torn apart first hand, things felt different. Suddenly she did feel a little bit like a child playing dress up with her father's armor and sword. And maybe a little foolish for always laughing off everyone's fears and concerns for her.

  Suddenly, Harold's bullying didn't seem nearly so cruel…but could she really give up on her dream that she'd been working her entire life for? Fighting monsters, traveling the world, saving people…she still wanted it so badly.

  "Is it just because he isn't one of your knights that upsets you so much?"

  Her father chuckled. "No, not at all. Though that might be easier to explain. I'm just not ready for my baby girl to be in love."

  Kaisa moved around the table to go sit on her father's lap, tucking her head beneath his chin. Her oldest brother Kornosz hated that she did this and chastised their father for allowing Kasia to continue behaving like a child around him— but neither father nor daughter were ready to let their relationship change to an adult one like Jon had with his other children. She was the baby and she would continue to be for as long as her father would let her.

  "You were younger than me when you fell in love with Mama." Kasia reminded him quietly.

  "We're not talking about me!" Jon hugged her close. "Well, I guess that we are. I'm not ready for you to grow up. But don't you dare compare yourself to me just to get out of trouble." He sighed, squeezing her almost too tightly before releasing her. "But we'll talk about this later. I have a werewolf to kill."

  "I'm in trouble for having feelings?!" Kaisa raised an eyebrow in disbelief at her father, "and the man you want to go kill is my beloved, so, no- we aren't talking about this later! What is it you plan to do?!"

  "We're going to expose him as the werewolf and then slay him." The Lord Commander answered. "If he survives, then we can talk about you not being my baby girl anymore."

  As if timed perfectly, Ren and Nathan reentered the room.

  "Let's go Kasia."

  Kaisa spluttered in shock. This wasn't really happening, was it?! She felt numb. She didn't know what to do. And she had no idea how to rein in her family once they latched onto an idea.

  Dumbly, she slid off her father's lap and joined them in walking to the stables. They saddled horses for the four of them. On rest days, sometimes her uncles would join her and her father for rides across the countryside, but usually one of the brothers liked to be present at the castle at all times, so the sight of all four of them leaving together did draw some attention, especially given the current atmosphere of fear left in the wake of Ivar's death.

  Bruno's death had been a tragedy, but everyone had just seen it as bad luck. However, after the deaths of Ivar and the knight Guy, they knew it was much more than that. Evil stalked the forests of Gdansk.

  Few knights smiled as Kasia watched them patrol and head to the yard to train. They didn't fear death, she knew, but they had failed. Kasia didn’t see it that way, of course, but she understood why this felt like a personal failure to everyone here. It had been up to them to stop the beast. It had not only killed one of their own, but it had escaped as well. No one alive had even laid eyes on it.

  The ride to Sondra's inn was uneventful and quiet. No one spoke to Kasia, and she didn't stop pouting long enough to say anything to them. The weather either mocked her with its bright sunshine and warm rays, or it was ambivalent to her dour mood.

  Before long the horses were tied up and they stepped into the inn.

  "Ah, the entire Najberg family has come to visit." Sondra welcomed them warmly. "It's been so long, Lord Commander. To what do I owe the honor?"

  "Perhaps too long,Sondra." Jon replied with a disarming smile. "We're here to get to know Kasia's suitor better. You know, to try again to scare him off." It startled Kasia how charming her father could be when he tried.

  Ren grabbed the most secluded table and, after putting down a sealed bottle of wine, sat down.

  "You offend me, sir knight." Sondra jested lightly when she spotted the bottle, "Do you find my selection of wine wanting?"

  Ren smiled at her in return. "Not at all. I believe that this very bottle was purchased from you—by an initiate that I'm sure simply didn't know about the rules forbidding them from drinking before they’ve completed their training."

  Sondra didn’t look the least bit ashamed. “I have no idea what you mean.” She always allowed the initiates to let loose when they came to her inn, it was widely known and accepted.

  ‘It’s an important skill to learn to hold your liquor. If you can’t, are you even Polish?’ Sondra had told Kasia one day when the young woman had asked her why she never refused the initiates alcohol. It was here that Kasia had tasted her first alcohol. And her second. And third. And many more beside that.

  "Is the bastard here?" Nathan asked, cracking his knuckles eagerly. "Would you mind summoning the poor old man?"

  "Of course." Sondra demured and slipped away to the second floor.

  Kaisa rolled her eyes and sat down beside Ren, crossing her arms sullenly. "Did you guys decide Blasio was a vampire and try to stake him when he courted Imka?"

  Kasia's brother in law, Blasio, was a beautiful man– and a rich merchant prince to boot. Kaisa had been so jealous of her older sister's suitor. Thinking back on it now, she smiled. She didn't feel jealous anymore. She was happy that her eldest sibling had found love. It didn't hurt that the man Kasia was courting now was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes upon. He was not beautiful and refined, like Blasio, but rough and chiseled, like he’d been carved from mountains and storms. Thinking of them both now, there was no comparison to be had.

  It wasn’t long before Sondra returned with Isaak. His eyes glinted wickedly as he saw them all. “You’ve come for round two? How wonderful!”

  Jon’s face began to flush red causing Kasia to place a gentle hand on his arm to try and soothe her father. It would not do for him to lose his temper before they had even begun.

  “I’ll open this for you my dear.” Sondra said as she picked up the wine bottle from the table. Somehow she treated Ren as if he were Kasia’s age, despite him being older than her.

  “Thank you, Sondra.” Her uncle thanked her as she left for the kitchen.

  Kaisa crossed the distance to greet her beloved. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, unable to hide the joyful smile that had already spread across her face the moment she saw him.

  "Darling! You remember my Ojciec, the Lord Commander Jon. And my Wujeks, lieutenant generals Nathan and Ren. They wanted to share another meal with you and feared you'd run if they gave you notice."

  Kaisa stood in her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, and when she still wasn't tall enough, Isaak leaned down to scoop her up so she could.

  "I knew you wouldn't. After all, meeting the three legendary hunters was your entire reason for coming to Gdansk." she emphasized the last part, trying to endear this difficult man to her family.

  “After the wonderful time I had last time?” He held his arms wide, “Welcome to my humble home.”

  Kasia beamed at him and took the seat right next to him so she could hold his hand.

  Isaak sat back in his chair and put his feet on the table. “No kidnapping this time?”

  Jon kept his composure, at least for the time being. “No, I was hoping for a quiet affair. My daughter seems quite…infatuated with you.” he punctuated the last part, glaring daggers at Isaak.

  “What brought you to Gdansk? Was it really to meet us, as my bratanica said?” Ren asked.

  “It was!” Isaak grinned enthusiastically, which then devolved into a devious smirk as he whispered conspiratorially, “Though maybe I missed my opportunity by a decade or so. Have you slain the monster yet?”

  Jon’s fist hit the table and it rattled loudly, drawing many eyes, “You insolent fuck!”

  Kaisa swallowed down her horror and punched Isaak in the arm, "You know damn well that we are all grieving the loss of Ivar. That was unkind."

  She didn't mind him teasing her father and uncles this time since they were literally here hoping to kill him, but she wouldn’t tolerate cruelty.

  “So that’s a ‘no’ then.” Isaak shook his head in disappointment.

  Kasia scowled and smacked the back of his head, hard. “Ass.”she muttered under her breath.

  Sondra returned with the opened bottle and five glasses on a tray.

  “Thank you, Sondra.” Ren thanked her and poured the glasses. “Kasia is right. To Ivar.” Ren held up his cup and everyone else did as well. “To Ivar.”

  They all drank, then Isaak promptly spat it his back in the cup. “Sondra? Are you watering down your alcohol?!” But other than wrinkling his nose, nothing happened. He didn’t fall to the floor clawing at his throat like he’d just swallowed acid, didn’t howl in agony or whatever else it was that her family was hoping he’d do.

  Kasia hummed thoughtfully, “A little watery, but it’s actually not that bad.”

  “And how would you know?!” Jon demanded.

  Kasia blanched, “Well, I —”

  “Initiates aren't allowed to drink!” Her father growled.

  “Yeah, but, I thought it was only a rule if you show up to training drunk or hungover.”

  Jon's eyes narrowed, “No. It's only a rule if you get caught and you, dzcieka, have just been caught.”

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Kasia hopped to her feet, outraged, “You told me to drink this!” Thrusting the glass of watery wine at him, the red liquid sloshed over the sides.

  Jon waved a hand dismissively, “That? Yes, that is little more than water— but you've just admitted you know what it should taste like.”

  Kasia bared her teeth at her father, “I haven't been caught, you just suspect!”

  Now Jon rose to his feet, towering over his daughter, looking every bit like his nickname ‘The Bear’. “I don't suspect, dzcieka– I know.”

  The two stood each other down, tiny Kasia against her mountain of a father, the inn was so quiet with tension the sound of a pin dropping would have been akin to a thunderclap.

  “Is anyone else as turned on as I am right now?” Isaak asked.

  “That's it!” Nathan roared, launching himself out of his chair at Isaak. The latter man's chair toppled over, sending both of them to the ground as they began to punch and kick at each other.

  Jon and Kasia were both so stunned they forgot about their argument and turned to watch.

  To her delight, Isaak seemed to be giving Nathan as good as he was getting.

  “BOYS!” Sondra thundered out of the kitchen furiously. “I don't care who you are, you do NOT fight in my inn! Take it outside or sit back down NOW!”

  Both Nathan and Isaak stopped abruptly, looking sheepish.

  “Sorry madam innkeeper." Isaak grinned up at her, blood dribbling from his nose, and he stood up and righted his chair.

  “Sorry Sondra,” Nathan muttered, chagrined. His left cheek was pink and shiny, and Kasia knew he'd have a bruise later.

  Sondra, hands on her hips, eyed both men suspiciously before she nodded and returned to her work.

  “Did I pass whatever your ridiculous test was?” Isaak grunted as he surveyed her family with dark satisfaction. “Am I the monster that you’re looking for?”

  He wrapped his arm around Kasia's chair and gently caressed the back of her head. Kasia leaned into his touch. If only her family knew what had transpired last night—and praise the creators that they didn't.

  Jon’s neck turned red, “Not the one that we’re looking for.” He growled, hand reaching for his sword, “But one that I’d gladly kill anyway.”

  “Careful, your majesty. You’re supposed to keep the villagers safe.” Isaak grinned widely and Kasia could literally see him resisting the urge to add, even the ones that tasted your daughter’s flower last night. This mother fucker. But if she hit him, it would draw more attention.

  “How did you know it was a test and not just watery wine?” Kasia asked Isaak, changing the subject.

  “The way the three of them were watching me take a drink like little boys at their first sight of tits.” He flashed her cocky smile at her.

  “You’re an ass.”

  “Please, Nathan,” Isaak scoffed, speaking far too familiarly to someone fingering a dagger at his hip, “Don’t hold back on my account.”

  The dagger flicked its way from Nathan’s waist to his hand in a movement so fluid it looked like magic. “Gladly.”

  “Put it down.” Ren intervened. “And sit down Jon. We’re not going to fight here.”

  The Lord Commander had just begun to stand up.

  Jon sat back down. He looked at Kasia’s face for a long while then seemed to deflate a little, “Dziecka, would you please have Sondra bring a bottle of her best?”

  Kasia’s face relaxed. She had been just about to make a plea for everyone to try to get along. “Of course Tatu?.” She rose and kissed her father’s cheek. Then turned and kissed Isaak’s as she passed by him, “Please at least try to get along. You can have your fun, but don’t be cruel. That goes for all of you.” she said, looking around at all of them, but especially at Nathan. She didn’t bother with Ren as he was the only one who seemed able to control himself. Then she went off to find Sondra.

  She was surprised that they had been satisfied with a single test. She would have expected them to insist on multiple. Kasia was so relieved that he had passed inspection. She hadn’t really thought Isaak was the monster, but the timing of his arrival had been too great of a coincidence for her to completely discount the possibility. And now that they had proved his innocence…maybe her dad could get to know him. Maybe…

  “So, whose funeral are we attending?” Sondra asked Kasia as she entered the kitchen.

  Kasia gave a thin laugh, “I think we just barely managed to avoid that. Tatu? has asked for one of your best bottles of wine. It’s a good thing, I think. He’s trying. I wish they could see that he’s playing… and he just wants them to play back. They take everything he says so seriously.” Kasia shook her head.

  She slipped her arms around Sondra and gave the innkeeper a long hug, “Thank you for your—ah—guidance! Yes, that's it– thank you for your guidance last night. It went—It was amazing.” Kasia felt warmth and happiness bubbling inside her at the memory of her night with Isaak..

  “You enjoyed it?” Sondra smiled knowingly, as if she had known Kasia would enjoy it without her ever having said anything. Who knows, maybe she had! But she seemed touched at Kasia’s gratitude none the less.

  “You’ll have to tell me all about it later.” Sondra winked, “If it’s not too embarrassing of course.”

  Sondra grabbed a bottle of wine to hand to Kasia, then stopped. “Oh wait, I know I have a better one in back.” She spun and disappeared into the pantry at the back of the kitchen, taking the bottle with her.

  For some reason, Kasia felt a niggling sensation in her brain that something was wrong.

  The bottle Sondra had taken with her had looked just like the one Ren had brought. And it was unopened. But then again, wine bottles all tended to look the same. Kasia brushed the strange feeling aside.

  A moment later, Sondra returned with a new bottle and a bright smile, “Here, sweetheart. Let me know if there is anything else that you need.”

  “Thank you Sondra.” She gave Sondra another hug and took the opened bottle of wine back to the table.

  “Everyone still alive and in one piece?” she joked as she found her seat.

  No one said a word. Bartosz, one of Sondra’s regulars that Kasia knew, had been shamelessly eavesdropping, spoke up. “Not a word has been spoken, but if looks could kill…”

  “Thank you, Bartosz.” Kasia whispered back to him.

  She took everyone’s glasses and emptied them back into the watery wine bottle, then refilled them with the new wine, passing around the goblets. “You know, Isaak enjoys hunting as well. Not monsters, of course, but we’ve talked about going game hunting together.” Kasia was trying to come up with something the men could bond over. She handed Isaak his glass last, kissing him lightly on the lips as she did so.

  Her father made a face at the display of affection but managed to keep any thoughts to himself. Kasia was impressed. He was trying.

  “Are you any good?” Jon gruffed.

  “I’m adequate. Enough to survive.” Isaak replied. “I’d never compare myself to one of the famed knight hunters.” he drawled the word ‘never' in a way that made it seem mocking.

  “We should go hunting together.” Nathan added with a sudden slyness to his voice. “Just you and me.”

  Kasia grabbed a roll from the basket Sondra had left on the table and threw it at Nathan. “Behave, Wujek.”

  Nathan caught the roll before it could strike his face and smirked, “Don’t waste good food, bratanica!”

  Kasia snorted and couldn't stop the smile that spread her lips. She was determined to keep trying to play peace maker, despite everyone fighting against her.

  She placed a hand on Isaak’s shoulder and pasted a bright smile on her face, “Isaak has traveled a lot. And you three did before rising to lead the knights. What is the most interesting place everyone has been to?”

  Of course these were questions that she had asked them in the past, and she knew their answers by heart, but, maybe she could generate a conversation that didn’t end in a fight.

  Luck did not favor her. The conversation felt like pulling teeth. Or maybe trying to put a bone back into the body. However, by the time they finished their food and wine, no one had killed each other.

  “We’ll be seeing you, Isaak.” Jon said politely while glowering at the man.

  “It doesn’t mean that you’ll see us.” Nathan added.

  Ren smirked, then winked at Kasia.

  She couldn’t help but laugh. Her family was a pack of wild dogs and she loved them for it. They had made an effort. It had been painful and awful, but they had tried. She would take it. Getting up to leave with her father and uncles, she wrapped her arms around Isaak, who had also risen. She whispered into his ear before kissing him, “I’ll see you later tonight, Kochanie.”

  Kasia left with her family. On the ride back she said, “I know it was difficult, but thank you all for trying. It meant a lot to me.”

  “I don’t know why you were laughing.” Nathan said to her. “I wasn’t joking. We’ll definitely keep an eye on this one.”

  “At least, as long as he shows interest in you.” Ren added, his expression dark.

  “He’s not that bad. He just likes pushing buttons.” Kasia whined.

  “You two go ahead to the castle.” Jon said.

  Nathan grinned, “Of course, Lord Commander. I don’t want to be around when you two start going at it.”

  Ren cuffed his brother as he rode past him, and Nathan urged his horse faster so he could hit his older brother back.

  Kasia waited until they were alone then turned to look at her father, “Tatu??”

  “Ride with me?”

  Kasia's heart swelled with affection. It had been far too long since she and her father had spent time together, away from the castle and the knights. "I would love to."

  Her father led his horse away from the village and castle, towards the woods. Kaisa followed, hot on his heels.

  After some time of silence her father spoke. “You said that you love him. Why him? He makes me so angry!”

  “You barely know him!” Kasia protested.

  Her father harumphed. “Maybe it’s just because he is courting you. Honestly, I’m hoping that this is just your first infatuation and that you quickly grow out of it.”

  "Technically my first infatuation was Blasio. Unrequited, of course, but he was quite dashing to my fourteen year old self. The first reciprocated crush I had was Louis…but he just wanted a physical relationship. When I told him I was saving myself for marriage, he found a different girl who wasn't…that's why I got so depressed three years ago." Kaisa mused. There was something going on between her and Harold… a certain tension, but nothing like what she felt for Isaak.

  "Waiting for marriage, very good." Her father seemed to relax a little at that.

  Kasia continued, "And believe me, I didn't want to love him. When we first met, he said he was just passing through. He came to meet the three legendary hunters. But he also saw me holding back and said that risking your heart is the only way to be happy. And, I decided he was right.

  "I was so worried he'd leave after that breakfast– he'd met you, after all. But he didn't…and…I think he's staying because of me." Kaisa said shyly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

  A lot of grumbling and mumbling came from her father's direction. "Kasia, he's twice your age. You can't really be considering marrying him?"

  Kaisa didn't think Isaak ever would marry—her or anyone else. He seemed rather against the idea of anything that restricted his freedom. But she also knew telling her father that was not a good idea. Just like telling him she no longer planned to wait for marriage to have sex would not be a good idea, either.

  "Granted, he's handsome– even I can see that, but he's not going to be around long. Even if he doesn't actually leave. Give the other initiates a bit longer to grow into their features, they're still very young.”

  Kaisa grew somber, "Ivar was young. I've been trying to plan out my whole life so everything will be perfect and nothing will go wrong…but life doesn't give a shit if you do things the right way. Isaak makes me happy. I've never met someone like him. Before him, I felt like I was just waiting and waiting for my life to start. He taught me not to wait to live."

  "Great.” Jon threw a hand up, “Take that advice and move on. Find someone that is good for you. Someone who will spend your life with you." He fell silent for a moment then added, "Someone like Ivar. He would have been a wonderful husband for you. I hope that he has found peace."

  Kasia gave a bittersweet smile. “I asked him, once, if he would ever consider marrying me. He laughed so hard he doubled over and said ‘no’--- that I’m far too complicated for him.” She laughed, even as tears pricked her eyes. “Maybe I will find someone better. And if I do, wonderful. But I’m not going to push away someone who makes me happy now for the chance that I might meet someone in the future, Tatu?.”

  Her father sighed deeply. “You know how much I love you?”

  Kasia’s eyes burned and a tear slipped free, “I do, Tatu?. And I love you too. You are the most important man in my life.”

  “I should kill him. But for you, I won’t.” Her father smiled down at her with tenderness.

  Kasia’s lips pursed in amusement, “For the crime of being too old? I appreciate your magnanimity, Tatu?.”

  “And for being a scoundrel in general. Wouldn’t you want the same for your daughter?” He held out his hand to her so that she could hold it.

  Kasia took it, humming at the familiar warmth of her father’s calloused hands. “All men are scoundrels, I think. Except for you. And maybe my Wujeks. Well, Ren at least. Ivar was nice. and Hugo isn’t too bad either… but the things Wojciek has said to me, Tatu?… He is no better- but you would happily see me marry him.”

  “So you fall for Isaak and hate Wojciek for saying the same things?” Her father raised his eyebrows at her.

  “I am saying that you condemn Isaak and praise Wojciek when he is no better. I fell for Isaak because he cares about my happiness. Wojciek has only ever cared about himself.”

  “Don’t turn this around on me. I’m the parent here. We’re discussing your choices.”

  “Okay. Fine.” Kasia groused irritably, “I don’t hate Wojciek for being a scoundrel. I don’t want to be his wife because he’s too selfish. There.”

  Jon laughed, reaching over to ruffle his daughter's hair, laughing harder when she batted his hand away like an angry cat.

  “I have no intention of forcing you to marry Wojciek, dzcieka. Nor do I intend to force you to leave Isaak. I think that you're being foolish. He's so old. And… Well, I don't trust him. What about Harold?" Jon smirked.

  What?! Why would he ask that?! Does he know something?! Kasia’s face turned bright red and she shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. “All we do is fight. That sounds like it would make for a terrible marriage! Why don’t you trust Isaak?”

  “A father’s intuition?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

  Kasia hummed, pursing her lips. One of the reasons she liked Isaak was the very fact that he was someone you shouldn’t let your daughters near. Someone you would be foolish to give your heart to. How could she fault her father for noticing this as well?

  “I believe you.” she replied thoughtfully, “but my heart does not listen very well to reasonable advice. It’s very willful like that. Life would be much easier if my head could command my heart. I would tell it to love someone boring. Someone dependable and safe.”

  John laughed, “Never think that you don’t have a choice, moja corka. You are in control of your fate. Even if it’s your heart that you need to decide against.”

  “Did you hear that, heart? Tatu? says you make bad choices.” she poked playfully at her chest.

  Jon barked out laughing. When his mirth finally subsided he sighed deeply again. “I want you to be happy. But be cautious. Trust that we love you and care about you.”

  Kaisa softened, "I do, Tatu?." But I've also been trying to be happy your way for a long time…and it wasn't until I stopped trying to live your way that I actually started to feel like myself.

  She loved her father and uncles. Adored them…but they just didn't understand! Being 'perfect', following all the rules, staying 'safe'-- it was exhausting and isolating.

  Her father did his best the rest of their ride to ask innocuous questions. He wanted her to trust him. And Kasia, for her part, answered them as honestly as she could. She wanted him to trust her.

  Later that night, she snuck out to see Isaak once more.

  “Hello beautiful.” Isaak grinned happily.

  “I'm glad this time the visit with my family went a little better.” Kasia told him brightly. “I am sorry that I could not warn you that they suspected you of being a werewolf. If they thought I had, or that I’d interfered in any way, they’d never have trusted the results and you still would have been under suspicion.”

  “I understand. I wouldn’t trust myself either. In fact, I believe I told you not to trust me.” He winked at her with a smile.

  Kasia looked shocked, “No! It’s not that I don’t trust you– I do. I never thought you were the werewolf. I didn’t warn you so they could do their little test and it would be over. I didn’t want my family dragging you to the castle or stabbing you with silver or whatever the hell else they do to test that.”

  “Monster or not, getting stabbed with silver would hurt. It is definitely something that I’d like to avoid. Though do you honestly believe that was the only time that I’ll be dragged off to the castle?” Isaak prowled toward Kasia until she was pinned between him and the wall. He loomed over her until his face hovered just above hers, eyes glinting with dark promise, “After all, I am hunting the Lord Commander’s daughter.”

  Kasia bit her lip, holding in a pleased sigh, “That’s funny. I thought I was hunting you.” she nipped at his chin and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He looked down at her with sharp eyes. His hands planted against her chest as his leg slipped between her thighs. “Do you feel like the hunter?” He growled, baring his teeth at her.

  Kasia groaned as he applied pressure between her thighs. Considering that I am the one trying to bag you and get you to stay and love me without spooking you, yes! She thought to herself.

  “I do. I am the huntress….and I am the bait. I have lured you to me and will snare you when you least expect it.” she winked at him, lifting one of her legs to wrap around his thigh, pulling him harder into her.

  “Well, you are irresistible bait. I’ll bite.” And he did just that. He fisted her hair and yanked her head to the side and bit her neck.

  Kasia let out a moaning cry. His teeth were a sharp pain, followed quickly by pleasure. Moments later, he was carrying her to his bed.

  She left again at dawn, sneaking back into the castle. She would be tired during tomorrow’s training, but it had been worth it.

  At the castle, Jon POV:

  “Damn. I really wanted it to be him.” Nathan complained.

  “You just wanted an excuse to put a sword through Kasia’s new suitor.” Ren teased him.

  “Yeah, but is he so wrong? We all wanted to.” Jon said with a smile, which quickly soured when he thought about the arrogant asshole that had seduced his daughter.

  “For fuck’s sake, she’s absolutely smitten with him.”

  “Could she be acting out? Perhaps she is missing us with how busy we’ve been. He is irreverent and likes pushing buttons like Nathan. And he’s almost as large and burly as you, Jon… I don’t see any of myself in him, so clearly I am giving her enough attention.” Ren smiled ruefully, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “But I agree, it’s strange to see Katarzyna so… affectionate with anyone other than us and those two trouble makers she calls friends.”

  “It’s gross.” Nathan wrinkled his nose. “He’s so old. Don’t get me wrong- he’s a looker, certainly, but it’s like watching her make doe eyes at Dobron.” They all grimaced, thinking of the scarred and wrinkled senior hunter who served on the council.

  Jon was rubbing the tendons in his neck. They were tight with tension.

  “I guess we tackle one problem at a time. What are we going to do about the next full moon?” Jon asked.

  “I say that it’s our fucking turn.”

  Ren nodded, his face grave. “I don’t know that this creature is something that can be slain by a single hunter.” he allowed a half smile to ghost his lips, “But we are not a single hunter. I doubt the werewolf will have ever met the likes of us. We should station half the hunters to guard the castle, and the other half to guard the village. We will end the monster.”

  “Oh! Come off it Ren! I can slaughter it myself.” Nathan flexed several muscles as he spoke. “Look at me.”

  “More than likely.” Jon smiled, “But perhaps Ren is right. It is time we meet it with full force. Whether or not it’s needed, we need to show our brothers that no monster can kill us with impunity.”

  “Why take a chance at victory when you can have certainty?” Ren chastised his reckless younger brother. “Morale is low. Four initiates ran away in the middle of the night. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start having resignations or desertions. Jon is correct. We need a show of strength.”

  "But that always makes for a boring fight.” Nathan whined, slouching, “Where is your desire for excitement?"

  "I wasn't born with any, remember?" Ren smiled playfully at him. "Mama must have kept it all to give to you."

  "And all the bulk to give to her youngest." Nathan shoved Jon. “Seriously, how did she not die squeezing out a boulder like you?”

  "The next full moon we will be the ones to hunt the beast. There will be no more deaths." Jon ordered. "I don't care how bored you get. It's time to remind everyone, including the Abyss that sent this beast, why we are the three legendary brothers"

  He threw his hand of cards onto the table. "I win. Preparation starts tomorrow. Ren, put Wojciek and Tomira in charge of the initiates."

  —---------------------------

  "Where have you been?" Andrew clapped Kasia on the back. "And why do you look like death?"

  Janine laughed and elbowed Andrew, “Where do you think she’s been? Remember how insatiable we were when we started doing stuff.” she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  “To be fair, I don’t think you’ve ever not been insatiable.” Kasia snorted. Yes, she was exhausted. She couldn’t keep this up. She tried to limit her late nights to once or twice a week, but with how intense Ren’s training had become, even that seemed too much. But she wasn’t willing to stop.

  “You’re going to kill yourself, Kasia. And you barely had enough time to eat. You’re going to get caught.” Andrew warned her.

  Kasia slumped against Andrew’s shoulder, “I know! I know…. I just don’t know what else to do. Waiting an entire week between each visit is agony.”

  “Well that might be the least of your problems right now. Look.” They had arrived for training. There was no Ren. But there was a brooding Wojciek and a chip-on-her-shoulder Tomira.

  Kasia's heart dropped into her stomach. "Where is General Ren?" Kaisa blurted, alarmed. "Did something happen?!"

  Wojciek rested his sword on his shoulder, a posture of power. "We killed all three and are now in charge."

  Kaisa huffed and relaxed. Wojciek wouldn't be joking if something bad had happened. But he still hadn't answered her question. But… demanding answers in front of all the initiates was probably not a good idea. So she contented herself with the knowledge that her uncle was well, but apparently busy with something. And he had chosen Wojciek and Tomira to replace him… goody.

  She nodded and with a wry twist of her lips replied, "All hail the new Lord Commanders."

  "Good girl," Wojciek smiled, "But you're sadly mistaken if you think that means that we're going to be easier than the General. Twenty laps around the castle. Go!"

  "The last person to complete each lap will get to duel me before continuing." Tomira yelled after them. And thus started yet another week of hell.

  Everyone groaned and set off to run…

  It was difficult to push herself hard on so little sleep. Kaisa almost regretted sneaking out last night…until she thought of how many times Isaak had made her see stars. Thinking about that made the run decidedly more pleasant.

  She, Janine, and Andrew chatted as they ran and soon she found the time very enjoyable… until Harold ran up beside her.

  "No extra training tonight, Harold. I'll be exhausted after training with your brat and Tomira."

  "Oh really? Just can't keep up, Red?" Harold smirked at her. "You can always quit. You can be another runaway."

  Kasia groaned, exasperated. "Okay, I quit," she paused and smirked, "the extra training with you. Not being a knight."

  Harold grunted, annoyed. "It's only a matter of time now, Red. First you'll quit your evenings with me. Then you'll quit trying. Then you'll quit altogether. Poof! There go your dreams. Just like watching the sheep. It gets a little hard and you go to sleep."

  That stung. Did Harold had a point? Ever since she'd started seeing Isaak she hadn't been trying as hard in training. Before, she had been willing to do whatever it took to achieve her dream of becoming a hunter…now her head was full of soft whispers and furtive touches in the dark…

  Was she really going to give up her dreams for a few kisses? Sex? Even if it was really good sex? And then what? Isaak wasn't the type to play house. What was her plan? Was she just going to follow him around like a love sick puppy until he either knocked her up and she couldn't follow him anymore, or he died?

  What was she doing? What was wrong with her?!

  Kasia's expression turned contrite. "You're right, Harold. I'm sorry. I do want to train with you. But can we please do training tomorrow? I stayed up late last night and I'm barely keeping up as it is."

  Harold smiled, pleased that she reacted to his words, “Oh? And what was so important that it kept you up all night? It surely wasn’t watching sheep.”

  Kasia's expression turned extremely guilty for a second before she could manage to school her features into a blank mask. "T-talking to Janine–"

  "--about dirty things!" Janine hissed gleefully before Kasia pushed her away.

  “Fine, I’ll give you today off.”

  Kaisa looked relieved. "Thank you." Her tone was genuine.

  “Rest well. I don’t intend to make it easy for you.” Harold grunted and ran off.

  “He really is intent on those training sessions. If I didn’t know any better then I’d say that he likes you.” Andrew added.

  Kasia’s cheeks flushed, though with how flushed her face already was from running, she doubted anyone could tell. “He absolutely baffles me, to be honest. Sometimes I think he likes me too, but other times I would swear he hates me.”

  She thought about the kiss. Then she thought about how ruthless he had been when she’d tried to spare his feelings by letting him know she was with someone– how embarrassed he had made her feel. She shook her head.

  “I’m amazed that you have the patience to even be alone with him.”

  Kaisa made a face. "He's actually not nearly as bad when we're alone. Like, it's actually kind of fun. I… well, I started to think he did like me, so I told him I'm in a relationship. He chewed me out something awful for it, but before that happened, I felt like we were starting to become friends." Kaisa frowned. His behavior continued to perplex her.

  "You and Harold as friends?" Andrew nearly tripped from laughing.

  Janine looked thoughtful, "I can see it. His brother is trying to marry you, so he's not allowed to court you. And you're seeing someone… so this is the only way he can spend time with you– but when you caught on, he had to make certain you didn't think he liked you, because if he had an ulterior motive for training with you, you might not go anymore…"

  “Hey!” Tomira yelled at them. “You still have enough energy to talk?!”

  All three of them jumped and looked horrified, "No-no!"

  “Quick- everyone run– it’s Tomira the tyrant!!” Andrew hollered, grinning devilishly as he saw the look of outrage that spread over Tomira’s face.

  “YOU LITTLE SHITS! I’ll–”

  But the three ran as hard as they could to get out of view before Tomira could punish them.