Bred By The Unicorn Read online

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Other Books By Harmony Raines

  Bred By The

  Unicorn

  ***

  All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.

  This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.

  © 2012 Harmony Raines

  Silver Moon Erotica

  Kindle Edition

  Chapter One

  Iona dodged the hand that shot out to grab her breasts as she took the empty glasses back to the kitchens. It meant nothing to her, the owner of the hand behaved like any other man drinking in the tavern; they saw her as fair game, a perk for giving the owner their custom.

  When she first worked here it had frightened her, but she needed the work and quickly conquered the skill required to dodge the groping hands and ignore the crude remarks.

  The main thing to help make her resilient was the tips. Drunken men liked leaving a sizeable tip for the pretty serving wench. At first she thought by accepting them she encouraged them in their lewd behaviour, but Bettina, one of the older more experienced women, told her she was perfectly safe. There were unwritten rules the men would not break, to grope her was one thing, to rape another. The men here had a code, and they stuck to it, anyone who dared break it would be taken outside and beaten up in the back alley.

  After six months of working here she was used to the whole range of ways men would try to use to coerce her into letting them touch her. It ranged from flattery to promise of payment, every night was pretty much the same, someone always tried their luck, and this night seemed no different.

  “Here is your ale, gentlemen,” she said putting three mugs of frothy ale down in front of the men huddled around the table. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  The one nearest to her wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, “We were looking for some female company, perhaps you could be persuaded to join us.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m working until closing time,” she answered pulling away.

  “What about after work?” The next man to speak looked dirty, he had rotten teeth and Iona could smell his unwashed body even though he was seated furthest away from her.

  “No. Sorry, gentlemen, I’m off home then.” Iona kept her voice friendly. Although something about the way these three looked at her made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t pinpoint why, maybe it was the way they looked at her as though they were appraising a horse, trying to gauge what it worth. Usually men looked at her with eyes that said “I want to take you into the back alley and have sex against the wall”

  “We could pay handsomely,” said the man nearest her again, grabbing her wrist.

  Iona felt scared, not something that happened very often, she normally felt safe, despite the state of her customers. Luckily she managed to catch the eye of Bettina, who came bustling over to help.

  “Do we ‘ave a problem ‘ere, gentlemen?” asked Bettina in her most forthright manner. Iona liked Bettina; she took no trouble from any man and had taken Iona under her wing when she first started working at the tavern. At first Iona feared the stocky woman who often resembled a man in her strength and language. Soon she looked up to her almost like a second mother, which comforted Iona having recently been orphaned by the winter sickness.

  “No,” the man said releasing Iona. “We just tried offering this beauty a bit of overtime.”

  Bettina laughed, “You've picked the wrong one ‘ere. She don’t do anythin’ like that.”

  “No? I thought most women liked to earn a bit of extra gold for a few hours of pleasure.” The dirty man spoke. “And we know just how to please a woman.”

  “Not this one, lads. She's saving herself for the right one, if you know what I mean.” Bettina winked.

  “You mean she's a maiden?”

  “Yep, an that's the way she's goin’ to stay. Do we ‘ave an understandin’?”

  The men relaxed, seeming satisfied with what Bettina had said. “Except our apologies, we didn’t mean any harm.”

  “Good. As long as we're straight, ‘ave a good evenin’,” Bettina said, linking her arm with Iona’s and walking away.

  “Thank you,” Iona said to Bettina when they moved far enough away for the men not to hear.

  “No problem love. Now, you take my table in the corner, an’ I’ll deal wiv’ ‘em the rest of the evenin’.”

  Iona glanced over at the table where the men sat, the one who hadn't spoken seemed to be watching her. He reminded her of the zealots that prayed to the ancient gods and made sacrifices in their name. He held her gaze as she watched, then he spoke to the others. They all laughed, looking over at her, and then they turned and went back to their ale.

  “Thank you Bettina, there's something about those three I don’t like.”

  “I’ll take care of ‘em, don’t you worry.” Bettina went up to the bar to get her next order and Iona carried on, forgetting all about the men, only noting a little later that they had already left.

  ***

  “Goodnight!” Bettina called as they parted. Iona lived on the outskirts of the town, renting a little room in a small house. She shared it with a couple of old women who took in sewing and mending. They were good to her, cooking for her in return for the errands she ran which they struggled with, especially in the winter.

  Iona didn’t mind, often fetching work for them to do and returning it and collecting any payment due. She lived a simple life, but Iona looked for nothing more. She still struggled to come to terms with losing her parents so suddenly, but many people had lost a family member to the sickness.

  Iona walked along the dirt road towards her lodgings, she passed fewer and fewer people the further away from the tavern she got. Normally this didn’t bother her, but tonight she had the unnerving feeling someone watched her.

  Trying to glance around without being too obvious, she couldn’t see anyone. She thought of the three men in the tavern and realised they must have put the fear into her and left her spooked, she shouldn't fret, she was always safe.

  Continuing on, only minutes away from home, and looking forward to the warm brew her house mates always had ready for, her worst fears were confirmed.

  “Hello again.” The man who had tried to grope her at the tavern stepped out from behind a warehouse. It was a very secluded area, tall buildings lined the road, this was the place where traders stored their goods for the market stalls. No one was around, the road lay empty both in front and behind. Iona stopped still and tried to weigh up her options, none of which were good.

  In the end she figured the best thing to do would be to run back to the centre of town, hoping to meet someone who could help her, but at this time of night there was not much hope. As quick as she could she turned and pushed her feet firmly into the packed earth to give her some leverage to sprint away.

  Unfortunately the zealot was stood silently behind her, for a split second she wondered how long he had been there, how long he had been silently following her. Then she was caught in his vice like grip, she smelt the rotten man before she saw him, he had a sack which he tried to place over her head. She tried to fend him off, then opened her mouth to scream, his dirty hand with broken nails struck her hard across the face.

  Her body went limp and she knew no more as he quickly put the sack over her head, the zealot threw her over his shoulder and they left the town quickly. No one saw anything; the old women sat waiting for Iona to come home, raising the alarm an hour later. But by that time Iona was far away, the men having horses waiting at the edge of the town.

  Although Iona did not know it her old life was now over, these men had something planned for her, and she would never be the same person again.

  Chapter Two

  Iona opened her eyes, a throbbing deep in her skull threatening to make her vomit. Dimly she remembered the road, and the men. She tried to move, to get to her feet, realising immediately it wouldn’t be possible, thick rope bound her to a tree.

  Looking up she saw the huge branches of an ancient oak silhouetted against the night sky, around her ghostly shapes of other old trees stood silently watching. Iona didn’t know where she was, only that she must be deep in the ancient forests beyond the river. The face of the zealot crept into her mind, then the nausea hit her hard, they must be planning to sacrifice her in one of the virgin rituals she had heard about.

  Pulling at the rope she only succeeded in injuring her wrists, they had tied her very securely. She stopped struggling and listened, she faintly heard voices getting closer, the men were returning.

  “You're awake at last, we were a bit worried.” The dirty man spoke, the other two walking next to him, the zealot's eyes were so bright with excitement they shone like two candles even in the dark.

  “Please let me go.” Iona had no choice but to plead.

  “I would like nothing better. Then we might have some fun with you.” They were very close now, the man who had spoken to her in the tavern leaned o
ver and his hand reached for her breast. He squeezed it, his fingers tweaking her nipple cruelly. “But we brought you here for another reason. Perhaps afterwards, if you survive, we can all get to know you a little more intimately.”

  “Please don’t hurt me.” Iona struggled not to scream as his hands wandered over her body. Stroking her breasts, and then lifting her skirts up so her undergarments were visible.

  “We aren't going to. At least not yet.” The dirty man laughed. “You have been chosen for a special task.”

  “What do you mean chosen. Who chose me.”

  “We needed a virgin.” He started to pull her undergarments to the side, exposing her sex. His crotch, at head height to her, bulged showing how aroused he felt. She didn’t know what would be worse, to be sacrificed by these men, or to be raped by them. No one would find her here, they could take their time, as many times as they wanted. Her fears were confirmed when he added, “Don't worry, you won't be a virgin for long.”

  He pushed a finger inside her, stroking her sex, the zealot pulled him away. The moon appeared from behind the clouds, full and round, illuminating the forest, giving everything an eerie glow. Looking up the zealot said, “Come, it’s time. He will come, he won't be able to resist.”

  “Who? Who will come?” Iona felt real fear now. Beasts of the forests were spoken about in legends and tales, by tellers of stories, the bards in the tavern and mothers putting their children to bed. But the night had become a nightmare in which any monster might be real.

  The zealot laughed, “You will see, he will come to you and then we will kill him and take his power.” Then pulling the other man away he said, “You can play with her later, the moon is full we have to move away until he comes. We can’t risk scaring him off.”

  “I thought you said he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.” The dirty man accused.

  “He won’t. But I’m not taking any chances. Once he lays his head in her lap he will be lost to her innocence, then we can trap him. Let’s go.”

  They moved away, she watched them until they were no longer visible, even in the bright moonlight. Iona watched and waited, her senses straining to catch the first sign of someone, or something approaching. Nothing happened. She wondered how long they would wait before coming back for her. Once again she tried to break the rope which held her in place, it wouldn’t budge.

  An owl hooted in it’s night time hunt, little creatures scurried in the damp undergrowth. Still nothing happened. Iona began to panic. What if they just left her there to die of hunger and thirst. Worse still, what if there were wolves in the forest, she had heard talk of wolves as big as a horse roaming this far.

  Gradually a silence settled over the forest, as though everything held its breath. Iona listened. Far away she heard a call like that of a stallion sending out its challenge in a dispute over a mare. Angry and proud, an animal claiming its mate.

  Now she heard hoof beats, maybe a rescuer was coming, but no one knew she was there. The sound grew closer, Iona felt the vibration of each hoof beat through the ground underneath her. Definitely a horse, she thought of calling out to let them know she was here. But the glow from the moon became more ominous, a cold foreboding settled over her.

  Something glowed way off in the trees. The hoof beats slowed to a walk, still they came closer. The horse neighed again, trumpeting it’s call, sending shivers down Iona’s spine. A thrill of the unknown, a primeval need to find the strongest mate filled her.

  Then she saw him. White, shimmering silver reflecting the moonlight. As pure of heart as she was pure of nature. He came towards her, tossing his head and seeming to try to pull away before being inexplicably drawn forward to her. As he tossed his head the single horn jutting out from his head caught the moonlight. Iona took a breath filled with awe and wonder, never would she have thought she would live to see such a creature. Filled with magic and light, he filled her eyes with his luminosity until she was blinded by him.

  Yet in all the power and purity he emanated, Iona also sensed a deep anger and betrayal. Worse, when she looked at him she could see in his eye the pain directed at her.

  He was so close now she could reach out and touch him if she weren't bound. Her hands twitched, pulling against the rope, needing to touch the creature. Closer still, his warm sweet breath covered her. She closed her eyes and let him sniff her, opening them she acknowledged that she was not dreaming, she really was in the presence of a unicorn.

  He bent his head and touched her forehead lightly with his horn. At once she was overcome by the power of this creature, she felt all the ages he had lived, all the things he had seen, but the one thing she heard above all else was the voice that bellowed at her in anger and pain. “Why?”

  She jerked her head away, looking into those pure eyes filled with hate. “I don’t understand,” she said. “I have no choice.”

  Now he had touched her there seemed to be a connection between them, she could still hear his voice in her head. “You have lured me here.”

  “No. I had no choice. They kidnapped me. Tied me here.”

  “You expect me to believe that!” The creature bent his front legs and knelt before her, all the time he looked as though he fought his actions, but could not get away from them. A movement caught her eye, the men were returning, moving slowly and unsurely towards Iona.

  “They are coming,” she warned him. “You should leave.”

  “I cannot, I am powerless against your innocence in this sacred place.” He laid beside her now, a look of immense sadness covering him. The light that surrounded him was becoming dimmer.

  “But they will kill you.”

  “Yes.” His voice filled with sadness and defeat.

  “What can I do?” Iona was filled with such wonder and awe for this creature she would have done anything to help him. “If I am holding you here, why not kill me. Stick your horn through my heart.”

  Something stirred in his eye. “You would die to save me?”

  “They will do unspeakable things to me when they have finished with you. I fear they will kill me anyway. If you take my life then at least one of us will live.”

  The men were close, moving faster through the trees now they saw the creature on the ground. “I cannot kill innocence.”

  “Then cut my binds and take me with you.”

  The creature looked up into her face. For a long moment he looked, as though into her soul. Iona wondered if he worried this was a trap too. She looked at him and opened her heart to him.

  With tremendous effort he lifted his head and cut the rope with his horn.

  The men shouted and started running forward.

  “Quick, scramble on my back, I can carry you but you must command me, while we are in this grove I must do as you say.”

  Iona climbed onto his back as quick as she could, her legs slow and stiff from sitting on the ground so long. The men were close now, only ten feet away.

  “Run!” Iona screamed, she grabbed hold of the silvery mane, her legs instinctively gripping his sides as he wheeled around and took off into the forest. The shouts and curses of the three men quickly faded as the unicorn moved unimaginably fast through the forest. Convinced they would hit a tree, Iona flung herself down over his neck, closing her eyes and holding on so tightly her fingers were cramped and her knuckles showed white.

  For an age they seemed to run, the wind rushing past, pulling her long red hair loose until it streamed behind her. She felt him slow, surely they were safe by now. Opening her eyes she saw a shimmering light in front of them. It got bigger and bigger, it looked like a tunnel, and they were heading straight for it. Iona thought she must still be unconscious, that this must still be a dream, brought on by the knock to her head. Because, as she desperately clung on, they went straight through the tunnel and the world around her changed from dark and thickly wooded to an open meadow filled with glimmering moonlight that made the night seem like morning.

  The creature stopped, his sides heaving from the exertion of their flight. Slowly Iona unclenched her hands and slid off him landing in a heap on the ground. She felt the grass, it felt real, the earth under her smelt real, but it felt different.