Black Ice-Completed
Chapter 21

The next day, Nyota went about her business and helped her aunt with cleaning on the inside and peeling vegetables for a stew that Veronica was wanting to make while her aunt paced back and forth nervously and moved objects just so but then would move them back minutes later.

It was three days of this and Nyota was starting to get bored. She had traps to find and destroy, territory to remark, and the Thurian wolves needed to be checked on as well. The Alpha’s were expecting and Nyota didn’t particularly want to miss the birth of the new pups.

That night, Nyota lay in her old bed, on the verge of falling asleep when a banging on the door startled her out of it. She smiled indulgently at her aunt as Veronica squealed with delight and pulled on her night robe.

Rushing to the door she threw her arms around the man as soon as he entered the door, “My darling pressica! It has been too long since I last held you so. The stars and moon hold no beauty in my life while I am away from you!”

“Oh Bazra, I have missed you so!” Veronica cried and pulled him close, her lips all but engulfing his.

Nyota raised her eyebrow and had to look away in fear that her aunt would catch her look of disgust. Couldn’t her aunt play a little hard to get? As they continued to kiss Nyota had to cough loudly to interrupt the sight.

Both jumped apart, Veronica embarrassed as her face was flushed red, Bazra perplexed as he looked at Nyota, “Sorry to interrupt, but I believe introductions are necessary.”

“Of course Nyota, may I introduce Bazra of the Trizarad Tribe,” Veronica said nervously as she watched Nyota size up the man.

“Close my shireae, it’s the Trizerad Tribe. We are a small travelling village of merchants. We move from town to town and sometimes all the way down into Marais.” Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“What’s your merchandise?” Nyota asked, her eyes narrowed as she thought of slaves and women sold to the wolves.

“Silk and jewels, sometimes different fabric too but we specialize in Acatic fabric, squirrels from the desert,” Bazra replied in a manner that showed he had nothing to hide, “My shireae, who is this young Karmia who interrogates me so?”

“My love, this is my niece, Nyota,” She said as she bit her lip in nervousness.

Bazra frowned in puzzlement as he looked at the two women, “Why did you keep her a secret?” It baffled him that Nyota was nothing like the sweet Veronica. Instead, the niece had a hardness about her, willing anyone to challenge her. It made him uneasy because it reminded him of the Black Ice wolves he and his family dealt with.

Nyota snorted and leaned back against the table, staring at him until he looked away from her intense stare, “No worries, she kept you a secret as well.” Nyota felt that he wasn’t much of a threat and was glad, her aunt deserved some happiness.

Days passed and Nyota stayed close to the cabin, keeping outside so that the two inside could have some privacy. They always seemed to be coupling and it made her face warm whenever she caught the two at it again. They were worse than bunnies!

One evening, Bazra brought out a bottle of wine and Nyota felt a prick of fear. Knowing her Aunt’s tendencies towards the drink, she grabbed it out of her Aunt’s hands before she could even look at it.

“Oh Nyota! Give that back! Bazra always gives me a bottle!” her aunt cried and Nyota narrowed her eyes.

“What do you mean ‘always’ Aunt?” Nyota growled low as she tried to keep the animal growl out of her voice.

“Well,” Veronica nervously paused as she bit her lip, “he has brought me a bottle every time he comes. We only have a glass or two, nothing damaging!” she said as she tried to swipe the bottle out of Nyota’s hands.

Dodging her Aunt’s attempts, Nyota asked suspiciously, “Where are the other bottles then?” Veronica very rarely just had one or two glasses when there was a whole bottle.

“Come now Nyota, what’s the harm in your Aunt drinking some fine wine. As to where the other bottles are, I tend to have a drinking problem myself,” Bazra conjoled as he patted his somewhat padded stomach.

Nyota glared, her guard was now up and her hackles were raised, “Fine!” she muttered and walked over to the kitchen cabinet. Bringing down two glasses she poured the amber liquid into each cup and started for the door, “There’s a glass each, good night Aunt!” she huffed and walked out the door, bottle in hand.

Nyota sat upon the ground by the campfire and just glared. Why would her aunt place herself in that kind of position? Veronica knew her tolerance. Was Bazra as innocent as he claimed and just thought the two could have a good time while being buzzed? Did she overreact?

Sighing, she rubbed her face with her hands and groaned, she might have overreacted. It was her short fused temper. It had gotten her into trouble with Syn, she couldn’t let it get in trouble with her aunt.

Nyota sighed once again as she got up and made her way towards the cabin. She’d apologize and join in, it was the least she could do after what had happened. Maybe she needed to relax, not everyone had bad intentions.

As she made her way towards the cabin, she started picking up giggles that her Aunt was making. A small smile crossed Nyota’s face, her aunt definitely deserved to have someone to love and Nyota was not going to make it more complicated just because of her suspicious nature.

As more peals of laughter drifted towards Nyota, she was about to call out when Bazra’s voice called out loud and clear, his voice oily and smooth, “That’s right my duni, Bazra will take care of all your needs. Here’s another glass, drink, drink it all my heart!”

Nyota frowned as the deviousness tone his voice had. Another glass of what? Nyota wondered as she crept silently towards the open window and peaked in. On the bed was her aunt, lying back across the pillows, in one hand was a full glass of red liquid. Bazra sat beside her, his eyes were hard, not soft with love as he had when he first showed up.

“I don’t understand my niece,” Veronica said giggling as she toasted the air, “I can stop any time!” she called and brought the drink to her lips, taking the liquid down in one shot.

Bazra smirked as he filled her glass with more wine as he smoothly said, “Yes my love, now tell me more about your niece.”

Veronica frowned and confusion marred her face, “Why do you want to talk about her?” she muttered as she took another sip of her drink.

Bazra hid his scowl as he urged Veronica to drink more wine. As she sipped, Veronica returned Bazra’s scowl but then giggled, “Oh Bazra, she’s nothing, just a burden I’ve had to raise!” Veronica said in between giggles and drinks, but then her mirth turned to sadness and then anger, “I’ve had to raise that brat. I had to give everything up too! My home, my sister, my life! All for a spoiled brat who acts mightier than what she is!”

Outside, Nyota felt her heart break. Was that all she had been? Was she just a burden? Clutching her chest she glanced back at her aunt who was still spewing rage about her. Something caught Nyota’s eye though. Her aunt’s glass was no longer full but empty. Where had the liquid gone because Veronica had only taken a sip of it and had no time to drink the rest.

Nyota narrowed her eyes and looked at her aunt’s face again. She looked still in a rage but instead of drunk she looked more sober. Looking closely, she saw her aunt’s eyes were no longer dilated but focused solely on Bazra.

“Where are you from? Why did you have to leave?” Bazra asked, too greedy for information to notice Veronica’s sobriety.

“I’m originally from Uscyte, a little village several miles from Kimaryn. My parents were big horn farmers. I helped tend to the ewes and lambs when I was younger,” Veronica said as she continued to watch Bazra.

“No, I mean where did you live that you had to leave because of your niece?” Bazra said impatiently, wanting more information about Nyota. She was a gorgeous young woman who could potentially make Bazra a fortune.

“Oh that, I don’t want to talk about it,” Veronica said airily as she waved her hand absentmindedly.

Bazra huffed in impatience but brightened, “Do you know what happens around here? Are there any shifters? I and my village have been setting up small game traps but they’ve all been found and destroyed.” If he could find out which shifters were around, he’d be able to bring more people in and get them gone.

Veronica closed her eyes on a yawn and stretched, “I have no idea. I very rarely leave the area of the cabin.”

Nyota watched Bazra rub his face in aggravation and couldn’t help but smile. Veronica may never be able to hold her liquor all that well but she knew when she was being pumped for information.

“Worthless women,” Bazra spat as he got up from the chair that was near the bed and began to pace, “You’re worthless, I’ve spent all this time courting you to find out that you know nothing! I should make you my duni and sell your niece to the slave traders!” he growled as he made his way back over to Veronica, his hands moving swiftly to her neck and started to squeeze, “Or maybe I should kill you swiftly and a make your niece into a duni, sell her to the wolves up North. They’re always looking for new blood,” he snarled as he watched Veronica’s face turn red and then purple as he continued to tighten his grip, ignoring Veronica’s struggles as she clawed as his hands and arms.

The door was suddenly slammed open and the night air blew in, which caused Bazra to jump back away from the bed in fright. In the door way stood the largest wolf he had ever seen. It’s size was bigger than that of some Black Ice wolves. It’s pelt was a dark red, almost the color of dried blood. Eyes glowed fiercely as it snarled, its fangs the size of daggers as it stared at him.

“Are you okay?” the wolf growled as it turned slightly to Veronica who sat there heaving in gulps of air, rubbing her red throat. At Veronica’s nod, the wolf turned back to Bazra who scrambled away, terror marring his face as he retreated to the other side of the cabin against the wall.

The beast stared at him and licked its mouth, “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you where you stand?”

Bazra’s face whitened as he pitched forward onto his knees and bowed, “I had not known she belonged to you my Kar!” he squeaked as he trembled.

“Get up!” The wolf snarled, “You are to leave this territory. You are to leave and never come back. I find any more traps meant for Thurian wolves and shifters I will track you down and dispose of you and your village myself! Am I clear?” it said as it bared its fangs once again.

“Y-yes my Kar!” Bazra said as fear skittered down into his soul, never before had he seen such a big wolf. Was it a Lupos? That couldn’t be right though, in the past his village had caught Lupos’ and none of them had been as big as this creature.

“You will leave this territory. I will personally walk you to the edge, but if I should ever see you around here again Bazra, I may enjoy dismembering you far too much!” the wolf said then turned towards the women, “Veronica, stay here and lock the door behind us. Make sure the windows are barred as well. I’ll be back mid-morning.”

“Yes my Kar,” Veronica said demurely and Nyota saw a smile twitch on her aunt’s face before she turned away and moved towards the door to wait for Bazra. Nyota snarled as he came through the door and bit back a laugh as he jumped away. He was still close enough that she could kill him easily but not close enough to stick a dagger in between her ribs.

With another snarl Nyota used her back foot to give Bazra a kick forward, “Get moving,” she growled and watched him closely as he began to move. Nyota knew that if she let her guard down, then she very well may never come home. A dagger to the throat or deep into the ribs could easily kill her and she didn’t want the paovraf to come back and take her aunt.

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