Apologies for the delay. Stupid life obligations...

As usual, all feedback is great re: pace, story, plot, characterisation etc... I've proofread, but I have one night a week to write so there are probably still typos.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy Part 4.

Part 5 hopefully next week.

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Chapter 8 Lana

Something in Lana's chest fluttered as she gazed up at Viktor. Another Brother? Everything about this life was so new; better than her old one obviously, but she wasn't sure how she felt about this new development.

'Why isn't he with you?' she asked.

'He had business elsewhere, but we'll meet up with him and the others soon.'

Others? She stepped away from him. 'What others? Gods, how many of you are there?'

Viktor chuckled. 'Three Brothers and at the moment we have a few sell-swords.'

'Who aren't Dark Brothers,' she inferred.

'That's right.'

She squinted at him. Getting even small amounts of information out of this man was frustrating. 'So, you have an army.'

He hesitated before he spoke, tilting his head slightly to one side and then to the other. 'More of a tiny unit of semi-loyal men to help where needed.'

Lana swallowed hard. She didn't want to ask this - was afraid of the answer, but she had to know. 'Will I have to...will you make me...with the others-' she stopped, shaking her head. Just ask! 'Will the other sell-swords want to lie with me?' she blurted.

'Oh, they'll definitely want to, little bird.'

Her heart sank.

He grabbed her chin suddenly, the abruptness of the action startling her. His eyes were dark with an emotion she didn't really understand, a violent possessiveness that scared as well as soothed. 'But you aren't theirs. You belong to us. From now on, anyone else who touches you dies.'

'You'd really kill someone for that? For me?' She wasn't sure she liked that. No one deserved to die over her. Well- maybe Ather. She tried to be a good person but she wasn't brimming with ethereal light after all.

'All three of us would.'

But Kane hadn't even met her yet. She didn't understand so much of the Brothers' world. She wondered if Viktor was getting tired of all her questions. She had so many, but now there was one that burned brighter than all the rest - What was Kane like? She got the impression he was their unofficial leader if the three Brothers could claim to have one. Would he want her as Viktor and Sorin did? How would that work and how long for?

Having three bulging mercenaries protecting her in her old life would have been laughable, but this was a new world, much more dangerous than the one she left behind she was starting to realise. Perhaps having real protection to the detriment of strangers was a good thing. At least until she was able to flee. She thought back to the three men who had attacked her this evening and shuddered. There was one more thing she was itching to ask about.

'Viktor?'

'Yes?' He answered her as he hefted the bags off their horses; the job she had being doing before Uth and the other one had appeared with their vile innuendoes and threats and chased her into the ruins where the third one was waiting.

'When Uth was speaking to you, he said he could smell me. How?'

Viktor's hands stopped what they were doing. 'I hoped you hadn't noticed.' He muttered.

He finished unbuckling a strap and turned to her, catching Sorin's eye as he did, she noted.

She frowned at him. 'Stop exchanging looks with each other and tell me.'

Viktor gave her an apologetic look and led her to where Sorin now had a merry fire crackling away. He sat, pulling her to sit next to him on the soft moss.

'What is it?' Sorin asked. He turned the meat that was now cooking on the fire and Lana's mouth began to water. Viktor was silent for so long that she thought perhaps that was the end of their conversation for the night, but then he replied.

'She's asking about Uth.'

Sorin grimaced and glanced at her from the other side of the flames. 'Ah. You caught what he said, did you? Should have known you would.' He shrugged. 'She's going to find out eventually. Might as well tell her now.'

Viktor nodded solemnly. 'Very well, but, Lana, you never tell a soul. It's a closely guarded secret of the Brothers. One that could get you killed at the moment.'

At the moment? What did that mean? 'I won't tell, I promise. But I don't understand.'

'Brothers come in threes.' He looked around as if he was afraid someone was listening and lowered his voice an octave. 'Sometimes you get a Brother in a trio who's different.'

'Sometimes two.' Sorin piped up as he worried the meat with a stick.

Viktor rolled his eyes. 'It's rare. Most of the time there's just one in a unit and he has a...well a sort of gift.'

A gift. 'What kind of gift?'

Viktor leant forward and turned the meat on the fire himself. Sorin let out an audible sound of outrage and slapped his hand with the cooking stick. Viktor ignored him and answered her. 'It varies. Some transform into creatures, have heightened senses. That sort of thing.'

Lana sat dumbly, staring from one man to the other. When she finally spoke, her voice had risen to almost a shriek. 'Transform into creatures?!' She coughed and cleared her throat. 'Transform into creatures?' she asked in a more normal tone.

'Yes. Some. Uth is sometimes a bit more...wolfy.'

Lana couldn't help it. She jumped to her feet, her mouth hanging open. 'That man who had a knife to my throat - who told me he was going to cut me into pieces after he and his friends defiled me - turns into a wolf?!'

'A very scraggly, mangey one.' Sorin interjected again. 'He's not very impressive. I once knew a Brother who could turn himself into a great cat.' He gestured to his horse. 'Bigger than my steed, he was. Now that was something to see. Uth -- well the beast is like the man -- uninspiring. But he does have a keen sense of smell.'

'So, he could smell that you hadn't...' what was the word he'd used, ''claimed' me?' Lana asked.

Viktor patted the ground where she'd leapt from and she sat back next to him. 'Don't worry, Lana, if he ever meets you in the future, there will be no confusion.' He murmured into her ear and she felt her face grow hot as Sorin snickered from the other side of the flames.

They ate in companionable silence while Lana mulled over everything they'd told her. Afterwards, they all lay beside the fire with Lana in between Sorin and Viktor as usual.

'Do any of you have one of these gifts?' she suddenly asked.

'Kane' they both said in unison, sounding bored.

'What can he do?'

They were silent.

'You'll find out soon enough.' Sorin said cryptically from behind her and she turned her head to scowl at him. He had the audacity to grin at her and she swatted the leg that was draped over hers.

His arms came around her and she thought he was going to cuddle her to him, but instead his fingers began to tickle. She shrieked loudly, unable to help herself as she tried to grab his hands to stop him.

'No! Don't! Stop!' She laughed, and suddenly she was on her back, her skirt bunched around her hips and Sorin was straddling her. He stopped tickling and grabbed her wrists with one large hand, holding them over her head, lust in his eyes. She could feel his cock was hard beneath his clothes at the juncture of her thighs and her smile faded. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and his eyes flicked down to her mouth.

'What do you want, Lana?'

'I don't know,' she breathed.

He ground his pelvis into hers and she moaned. 'I think you do know.'

His fingers skated across her stomach and down to her mound, his touch light, skimming the skin so she could only just feel where his fingers were. Suddenly they delved between her legs and she jerked, her legs parting for him. The wetness he found made his eyes take on a feral gleam as he withdrew his hand and brought it to her lips. 'Taste.'

Eyes wide, she opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around his finger. She sucked, devouring her own desire.

Beside her she heard a groan and realised that, as usual, Viktor was observing. She turned her head towards him.

'Is that all you do? Watch?' As the words left her mouth Lana wondered where they'd come from. In that moment she'd been so courageous, but her bravery fled as she saw his eyes narrow at her challenge.

'No.' he growled.

She yelped as he wrenched the laces of her dress apart causing her breasts to spill free. He pulled the dress away, leaving her completely naked while both of them were still clothed. Her breath hitched as she watched them. They were so big and she so small compared to them. Viktor pinched her nipple hard and then let go. She whimpered.

Sorin moved to the side of her, sucking gently were Viktor had caused pain and she gasped at the pleasure his mouth wrought. Then Viktor was between her bent knees, pushing them wide. He kneeled between them.

'Does it look like I'm simply watching now?'

Lana shook her head as she felt his hand graze her inner thigh, travelling upwards her core. He suddenly slapped her pussy and she gasped.

'Speak aloud!' He commanded.

'No!' she cried loudly as he pushed two fingers into her hard without warning, stretching her tight entrance.

Viktor smiled. 'Good girl.' He pumped his fingers into her in shallow strokes, using his thump on that other part that made her writhe under him.

Sorin kneaded her breasts, kissing and suckling them and then his lips were on hers, hard and demanding, his tongue caressing hers in stokes that mirrored Viktor's fingers. She moaned as they toyed with her body, somehow knowing exactly what to do and when to bring the most pleasure.

Next to her, Sorin was fisting his cock while playing with her breasts. When he saw her watching him, he moved higher and groaned as she took him in her hand, moving it the way she'd seen him doing. Up and down, she stroked him. His breathing grew laboured and he kissed her hard before pulling away from her. Feeling bereft, she huffed at him and he grinned before leaning down and putting his mouth down there.

Shocked, she tried to struggle away as Sorin's tongue licked and Viktor's fingers moved within her. She was awash with sensation.

She twisted and squirmed, part of her wanting to escape them and what they made her body feel, but Viktor had her gripped tightly. That feeling began to grow within her, coiling tighter and tighter, building steadily, higher and higher until she could bear it no more.

'Please. Please.' She pleaded, but she wasn't sure what for.

Her hooded gaze locked on Viktor and she screamed as wave after wave of pleasure made her legs shake and her body turn boneless.

When the shudders had finally eased, she felt herself being gently dressed and the Brothers lay next to her, both cuddling her sated body. She lay looking up at the stars, in a half-awake bliss. Then she frowned. Again, she had been given pleasure and they had taken none. Why?

***

They travelled south for three days, stopping to rest only at night. Oddly, the brothers didn't touch her again save accidental brushes of their bodies while they slept. They also made sure that one of them was always with her so her plans for escape stayed at the back of her mind. She still knew she had to go, however. Viktor and Sorin already begun to worm their way into her heart.

Though the weather was fair and the air warm, by the end of the second day Lana was miserable. Her legs and back hurt from their break-neck pace and she was nervous about meeting this third Brother, Kane.

She didn't know much about him save what little Viktor and Sorin had said especially about this gift he supposedly had and she had been left with an anticipation bordering on fear. After the evening at the ruins, any questions to the others was met with silence which made her more fearful. What were they hiding?

On the morning of the third day after riding for half the night, they came upon a camp not far from a wide river. There were clusters of small tents around a larger one. Lana counted seven men around the two fires, eating their morning meal. Most greeted or nodded to the Brothers and no one seemed surprised at their sudden arrival. Sorin lifted her from Viktor's horse and set her on her feet, but, to her chagrin, her legs immediately crumpled from the many hours on the horse.

Sorin grabbed her and Viktor tutted. 'Have to get you used to riding, little bird.'

'She can practice on me, Viktor!' called one of the sell-swords and some of the others laughed loudly.

Lana didn't look at them, knowing her cheeks would be flushed and entertain them even more. Sorin gave them a quelling look as he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. She began to wrap her arms around his neck, but then froze.

'They're only having their fun, Lana, but they'll treat you with respect from now on. We'll make sure of that.'

'Thank you,' she said stiffly, 'but it isn't...put me down please. My legs will hold me now.'

Inside that tent was Kane and she something told her that it was important to meet him on equal footing - so to speak.

Sorin set her down again with a light, reassuring squeeze to the back of her neck and, thankfully, her legs held her. Viktor and Sorin walked in the direction of the large tent and she followed behind them slowly, willing herself not to shake. Why was she so nervous?

They went through the flap and it closed behind her, plunging them into a gloom that so contrasted with the brightness outside that it took a long moment for her eyes to adjust. What she saw when they did made her gasp quietly.

To say the tent was opulent was an understatement. There were furs lining the floor, weapons hanging on the stiff walls, a table heaped with food, several large cots, and a massive desk where an equally large man sat, focussed on some parchments in front of him.

'You're a day late.' He said, not looking up.

'We were delayed.' Viktor said indifferently, walking forward towards the table where a vast array of meats and fruits were piled on large plates.

'Cleary.' Kane shuffled through the papers.

Lana glanced at Sorin who rolled his eyes at her with a grin.

He cleared his throat. 'Kane.'

Finally, the third Brother looked up from his desk. If it was possible he was even more beautiful than Viktor and Sorin, but they looked remarkably civilised next to his rugged features. He had a few days' stubble and a long scar running down one side of his face that disappeared into the dark hair of his unshaven cheek. He was dressed in black like the others and his eyes were a piercing blue.

His eyes narrowed when they locked on her and his lip turned upward into a sneer. 'What is this?'

What not who. Lana swallowed hard, her stomach a knot of dread. She wanted to turn and run, but Sorin was just behind her.

'This is Lana.' Sorin answered and propelled her to the fore with a hand at the small of her back.

She stepped forward only because she'd have fallen otherwise, but every fibre of her being shouted at her to run from the man in front of her. He looked at her like she was prey and Viktor's words suddenly came back to her. Some them could transform into creatures. Her hands shook and she tried to hide them in her skirts as she stared at him. He knew she was afraid, she could see it in his beautiful, wicked eyes, and he was enjoying it. She tried to push the fear away. That was how she had dealt with it all those years as Derk's property; just remembered who she was and where she came from- a source of pride. She was better than some mewling, downtrodden, pathetic slave girl.

But it wasn't enough in front of this man, this force of nature. Even anger seemed to evaporate in his presence, leaving only terror. She wanted to turn and escape his gaze; either that or cower before him. She didn't even know how she was still on her feet. Something told her that she must not obey this demand, wherever it was coming from. She had to stay where she was. She had to.

He stared at her, almost as if he was willing her to do something.

'We leave at dawn tomorrow. Not nearly enough time to play with her.' He said quietly. 'No matter how delectable she appears to be.'

'That's not why we brought her here and you know it.' Viktor growled from the table and Kane smiled coldly.

The urge to run grew, but she held her ground. He wanted her to flee, she realised. This was some sort of test and nothing good would come of failing - although nothing good might come of prevailing either, she supposed.

She drew in a ragged breath.

'What did Sorin say your name was? Lana?'

She forced herself to nod.

'Lana,' he stood up from his chair - had he really not been standing before? - and moved to the front of his desk. He leant against it. 'Take off your clothes.'

Her hands moved to the neck of her dress before she realised they had. They began to pluck at the knot where the laces were tied and she couldn't stop them. Her eyes flew to his and she suddenly knew with a dawning horror what his gift was. He could make people do things. Things they didn't want to do, by some silent command.

She willed her hands to halt but they continued to try to untie the strings holding the dress together and she thanked the Gods that they had twisted and gnarled into a secure knot while she'd been riding.

She felt a tear slip down her cheek and cursed her weakness. She could hear Sorin yelling behind her, but she couldn't hear properly through the roaring in her ears as she fought the impulses Kane was demanding. Her hands slowed and she took a steadying breath. She looked back at Kane. He hadn't moved but Viktor was standing between him and her. He looked very angry. She slowly looked back down her hands. It felt as if time were standing still or at least moving very, very slowly. With all of her will, she told her wayward fingers to stop and move back to her sides. Miraculously, they did and when she looked back at Kane she registered surprise, even shock.

'Stop. It.' She ground out and the compulsion suddenly disappeared. She fell to her knees, breathing hard. She felt Sorin catch her as darkness claimed her.

She woke up some time later on her side on one of the massive cots, still in the tent. Sorin hovered nearby, she could hear him murmuring to someone. He appeared in her view.

'Are you alright?' He looked so concerned she almost laughed. He and Viktor had put her in Kane's hands and he had the gall to be afraid for her?

'Why did you bring me here?' Her voice sounded so feeble and broken, she had to close her eyes so she couldn't see the useless sympathy showing on his face. 'Was it all a trick? Buy a slave, give her a taste of freedom so when you rip it away she will truly be broken?' She felt tears wetting the pillow next to her cheek.

'Oh, Lana, no.'

A hand caressed her face and she flinched away from it. It was a lie. All of it. It would have been kinder for them to have left her with Ather that day.

'I'm sorry, love.' Love? 'What he did was wrong. He knows he took it too far. He will make amends, I promise.'

She didn't acknowledge his words. She cracked her eyes open a tiny bit and watched him leave the tent a short time later. Outside it was dark and she was alone. She sat up quickly and pulled the knife she'd stolen a few days past from its hiding place. Gods, that first night with them seemed a lifetime ago now.

She went to the back of the tent, knelt down and slowly cut the threads of a seam, forming a small hole just large enough for her to squeeze through. She peeked out into the darkness and, finding no one passing, darted out into the shadows of one of the smaller tents. The sky was dark and cloudy and the wind was picking up. Not the best night for an escape with a storm likely coming in fast, but she knew she would not survive here. Kane could make her do anything. Anything he wanted, while her mind futilely rebelled. It was enough to drive anyone mad. Had they done this before to other people? To other girls like her? She clenched her jaw. Well, she would not let it happen to her. If she were strong enough, she would kill Kane to ensure he couldn't do it again to anyone else. But she wasn't, of course.
How odd it was that her reasons for wanting to flee Viktor and Sorin were completely the reverse when it came to escaping the monstrous Kane. She would miss them, but only as a moth yearning for a flame. They had brought her here after all, to the lair of the beast. They didn't care about her. She felt a pang in her heart and her eyes filled with tears, but she dug her knuckles into her eyes and willed them clear. If she still wanted to grieve later she could, but now was the time to leave. She made her way to where she knew the horses were. Luckily, their sentry was asleep against a tree; a wineskin resting on his knee.

She looked into the camp. Fifteen men were gathered around the fires including the Brothers. She watched them silently for a moment. They were arguing quietly amongst themselves. Perhaps they disagreed on what to do to her next, she mused. Sorin got up and stalked angrily away from the fire and her stomach lurched. If he went to the tent, he'd find her missing. But he just walked to trees away from the others for a piss. Viktor and Kane were still exchanging words. Suddenly Kane fell silent, looking out into the darkness. Directly at her!

She held her breath and after a moment he shook his head as if to clear it and re-joined the argument. She dared not tarry any longer. She grabbed the reigns of the nearest horse, whispering to him, stroking him calm as she led him into the trees. When she was far enough away, she hefted herself onto his back and slowly circled 'round to the road. From there she urged him into a canter just as the rain, thunder and lightning descended, but she didn't care. Cold and wet were nothing. For now, she was truly free and she would do everything in her power to keep it that way.

Chapter 9 Kane

Kane stared again into the darkness of the forest past their camp, something niggling at him. But there was no one there, he was sure of it.

'...and when she wakes up, you will beg her forgiveness for what you did to her.' Sorin was droning on again.

'So you've told me several times at length, Sorin. But perhaps you were both wrong. She seemed too weak to be worth our concern.'

'We are not wrong!' Viktor all but shouted. Then he lowered his voice. 'She is stronger than you realise and if you can take your head out of your own arse you'll see what she is just as we do.'

Kane waved his hand. 'So be it. I'll apologise to the lass for making my little trial a mite difficult.'

Inwardly Kane cringed. He'd known at the time he was taking it too far. Much too far. When he's first laid eyes on her, a part of him had recognised her as his- theirs. In his own fear he'd made her suffer, directing his full strength at her to run from him because he wanted to be out of her presence, but at the same time so he could chase her in some primal urge he'd never felt before.

When she'd faced him down, that fear had turned to anger. He'd wanted to hurt her, destroy that pride he saw in her eyes. But when she'd stood there, realising his awful power over her body, he'd wanted more than anything to banish the terror and grief from her eyes.

It had been years since he'd been kind to anyone save his Brothers. He knew how to hurt and kill men. He hadn't had a woman in a very long time, hadn't wanted one. But he wanted her. A fire had ignited as soon as he'd seen her, even now it raged within him. He needed to see her.

He walked from the fire and back into their tent. The others would want to follow. They were very protective of her. But he wouldn't hurt her now. She was indeed special. Despite his comments to the contrary, he'd been shocked at her ability to resist him. No one could, save Sorin and Viktor.

As soon as he walked over the threshold, he knew with certainty she had fled. That was what had been bothering him. She'd been watching them from the forest. He smiled. Perhaps he would get his chase after all.

To be continued...