Tribal Queen Book 1

Chapter 3

Willow takes a step toward the freed slave, he takes a step back from her. He flitches like she will strike him.

"Easy... I will not hurt you." Willow says in a soothing voice, but the man retreats even more. Willow holds up a hand telling everyone else to take a step back. "Give him a little room."

"Only she can touch me." He said while he was visibly shaking. He was tall, muscular but covered in dirt. He also has scars and what looked like some fresh wounds around his wrists and ankles. He only had on a pair of shorts, not even sandals to cover his feet.

Willow nods her head, the man must be talking about the Queen. She rescued him, so he feels like she owns him now. The slaves will sometimes choose to stay with their owners even after they have been freed, because they have known no other lifestyle. Willow has chosen to stay with Reyn, and live as her personal servant all these years because even though she was free from being a slave, she didn't know any other way to live.

"The Queen doesn't own you, you are not a slave anymore." Willow tried to tell him.

He shook his head. "Always." He said softly, looking at the ground at his feet.

Willow sighed, this was going to take some time. She pointed to the tent, and was able to at least coax him inside. Willow left and came back with Vai who had healing powers. Vai chanted some words that seemed to put him at ease.

Vai handed Willow a small jar with a healing salve in it, "Put this on his wounds and even some of the deeper scars to help them heal."

"What is your name?" Willow asked him, trying to be gentle.

"Hunter." He showed them a tattoo on his arm that was of an arrow.

"You must be a skilled hunter. The Queen will like to hear that." Willow said as she put a bowl with water on a table dipped a soft cloth in it. "I need to wipe that dirt off of you, ok? I promise I will not hurt you... well, I will try not to. I also need to put something on those injuries you have."

He nodded slowly. "Just... Only for her."

She smiled, "I am only for her as well. We have that in common." Willow said as she stepped closer to him. She nodded at Vai who bowed and left the tent.

His eyes went wide and he stared at her. "You and the Queen?"

"The Queen has who she wants." Willow said softly, "But she is never mean."

Hunter's eyes soften a little bit, "I only know mean."

Willow smiled as the handsomeness of his face was revealed, "Now you will know kindness. The Queen is kind, she is gentle... she is also powerful and protective. She is unlike anyone I have ever met. She is a Goddess, did you know that?" She searched his eyes, they were so green... they looked into her soul. "Hunter, I will never be able to touch you in any way unless she says so. You can never touch anyone else... unless she says so. Do you understand?" He shook his head yes.

"Good, you are not a slave... But you are hers. But more like a lover." She moved to wash his chest and smiled as her fingers brushed over his muscles.

"What is a lover?" He asked softly.

"Do you know what love is?" Willow asked, slightly amused by how innocent he was. Even though he seemed older than her.

He shook his head no, looking down ashamed.

"No, don't be ashamed, it is not your fault no one has taught you these things. Love is when you feel connected to that person. And you can't stand the thought of never seeing them again. You feel like your thoughts are their thoughts. Like your heart and their heartbeat together as one. Like your soul and their soul are the same."