The Bridal Hunt by Jeanette Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

scared the ever loving out of me and it emboldened me.
    "What are you lookin' at?!" I sniped, crossing my arms over my chest.
    He just stood there staring at me, studying me, like I was a freak in a sideshow, holding me up.
    "Not... afraid?" His eyes roamed over me as he waited, sizing me up.
    "I'm too stupid, pissed off, tired and stubborn at the moment to be afraid," I muttered, coughing into my hand to cover it up.
    The blue eyed beastie chortled behind me, getting a death glare when my gaze whipped around towards his.
    "Oh, shut up!" I snapped.
    "Mmmm..." the big beastie with the crazy white eyes rumbled, a garbled lawn mower sound bubbling up from deep in his chest.
    I frowned, disconcerted by the noise.
    What was or is that?
    It's like it's vibrating his whole body, it's so loud and rumbly...
    Some insane part of me, that I don't understand and probably never will, wants to reach out and touch his chest, see what it feels like, see what would happen, what he would do.
    Mina! What the hell are you doing? Don't be curious about them! Get the fuck gone, woman!
    "Put me down," I said quietly, staring right into the depths of his milky white, blue eyes.
    He nodded and slowly let me down, surprising me as he set me gently on my feet.
    "Thank you," I said clearing my throat, tugging my clothes back into place.
    "I forgot my bag back in the cave...." I said sadly, looking up at him, blinking at him innocently, twisting my fingers in my hands. "Could someone go back and get it?"
    Technically, I'm not lying... I totally considered the beastie's belt mine for the short time it was in my possession.
    He barked something out to one of the other beasties, sending him off on the mission.
    I kneeled down, acting like I was adjusting my boot, grabbing up a handful of dirt.
    "I need to pee," I whined, crossing my legs, holding the fists full of dirt in my hands, acting like I'm cupping my crotch.
    They all started talking, as if they had to debate this and I used it to my advantage, flinging the dirt I had in my hands at them, aiming right for their eyes.
    A few of them bellowed out in pain, angry roars rending the air and I ran, taking off for the woods, too afraid to look back.
    A large mitt of a hand grabbed at my jacket within moments and I screamed bloody murder, reaching back to claw at my offender, putting up as good a fight as any as I swung uselessly, completely ineffectively, while he gripped my jacket in one hand and the butt of my pants in the other, lifting me straight up.
    Oh, yay, me!... this isn't awkward!
    "Put! Me! Down!" I bellowed, surging high up into the air.
    Don't look down, Mina!
    Eep!
    Do not look down!
    I looked.
    I squawked, partly in fear, I'm not much for heights , and partly in embarrassment, oh, god is this humiliating , as our audience of white fur balls watched interestedly.
    He growled, a low, fierce, menacing grumble and I was hauled up against a large, heavily muscled chest, squashed into a bear sized hug.
    It was the biggest bastard of the bunch who'd caught me, surprise, surprise, but he didn't seem upset, more like bemused as he squashed me to him.
    He's bemused...
    Erm...
    Should I be worried?
    He turned me around in his grip, turning us face to face, keeping me firmly in place with his iron like grip.
    He barked something out to the other snow beasts and they all started trudging off, probably back to camp.
    No! I wanted to howl, not back there!
    "I have money!" I fairly shouted, stopping him in his tracks.
    I nodded enthusiastically and he just shrugged.
    He started to walk again and I stopped him, putting a staying hand on his chest.
    Startled, his steps faltered and he kept glancing between me and my hand on his chest, like he was truly surprised by the action, thick furry brows crinkling in confusion.
    Good, I have his undivided attention now.
    "Take me home and I won't tell anyone," I stated calmly, crossing my arms over my chest as I tried to wheedle him into changing his mind about bringing