Falcon's Captive. Vonna Harper

      KENSINGTON BOOKS

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Although writers are, by nature of their craft, solitary creatures, we still need human contact to remain sane—or at least relatively sane. If it wasn't for the incredible friendships made possible by the Internet, the men in white coats with the butterfly net would have already run me down.

      Thank you, thank you to the pros at Novelists Ink for sharing life in the trenches, the Bradford Bunch for laughter and understanding, other Aphrodisia writers for honesty and openness, and random souls who pop in and out of my in-box when I need to vent.

      Closer to home, Rogue Writers, you know I'm talking about you.

      Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Prologue

      The wind screamed, prompting the female Falcon Jola to pull her wings more tightly against her compact body and increase her speed. Alive as only a newly mature predator can be, she dove for the ground at over two hundred miles per hour. Tiny, bony tubercles in her nostrils slowed the rush of air into her lungs while her protective third eyelids lubricated her eyes and kept her vision keen.

      Jola’s prey, a dark gray rabbit, hopped from one low bush to another, oblivious to the threat above it. As the earth rushed up at her, Jola spread her wings, abruptly slowing her flight. For the briefest of moments she debated letting the rabbit live, but although the bulk of her diet came from other birds caught and killed in midair, today’s energy and excitement demanded expression. Instead of crashing to the ground, she spun around so she skimmed the rocks and bushes. When the now-terrified rabbit abruptly turned direction, she sank her talons into it, easily breaking its neck. Done! Instinct rewarded.

      Jola had just settled to the ground when, with a sharp cry, another Falcon swooped down, grabbed the dead rabbit, and headed skyward with it. Screeching, Jola flew after the thief, but instead of fighting to reclaim her kill, she flew in tight circles around the other Falcon, a young male.

      This was Raci, her mate, her life companion. And although her body had only accepted Raci’s a few times, she knew his contours. She also knew the dance that was part of their mating.

      For a while Jola circled repeatedly above Raci. At length, surrendering to another ancient instinct, she hovered while he flew past her. Then, turning over so she was flying upside down, she extended her talons. Timing the act perfectly, Raci deposited the rabbit in her claws. The instant the kill’s weight started to pull at her, she righted herself and drifted toward the ground.

      Raci watched her for a while. Then, his smaller, paler body a blur, he swept under her, grabbing the rabbit as he passed. Screaming as one, they flew upward as if reaching for the clouds.

      Again and again the pair repeated the courtship flight, with Jola relinquishing her kill only to have her mate return it to her. Finally, their tiny hearts fluttering, they headed toward the top of Raptor’s Craig, where they’d begun preparations for their future nest by scraping a shallow hollow in the gravel and dead vegetation.

      Raci was flying ahead of her, slowed only a little by the rabbit’s weight. Studying his slate-gray back and long, pointed wings, she pondered why they’d chosen each other. Yes, her body was ripe and ready to carry the three to four eggs she’d deliver and help incubate, and Raci was healthy and mature, but beyond that she didn’t know what had brought them together.

      Right now, as a predator, instinct was enough, but later, when she changed into human form, she’d need more of an explanation.

      Later, she silently reminded herself. At the present, following him home was enough. That and scanning the sky for an eagle. Fortunately, the greatest threat to their existence wasn’t around today. She and Raci were safe.

      She had no way of knowing that her mate wouldn’t live beyond tomorrow, his heart stopped by an arrow.

      1

      Dawn crouched on the horizon as if gathering strength for the day. The birds, animals, rodents, and insects who came to life with the sun’s touch had begun to stir while night creatures settled into countless hiding places.

      Ignoring the waning summer’s heat that would soon melt the cold from high desert rock, the small group of Ekewoko warriors walked single file along an ancient path laid down by deer or antelope. As befitting their status as those their lord trusted the most, they’d painted their chests with red and black symbols representing the hills and valleys of their birth. Although none of the five, nor those who’d remained at their encampment near the great lake, had seen their homeland since spring, their hearts remained in Ekew.

      In contrast, they considered this rough and raw sweep of boulders, hearty bushes, and sharp peaks as both inferior and overwhelming. How, they pondered, could any living thing choose to call a place where the wind never ceased blowing “home”? Granted, the lake and creeks and streams that fed it provided sufficient fish and drew deer, antelope, and other game to it. In addition, the creeks and streams nourished what vegetation grew along its banks, but some of that vegetation was unknown to them, perhaps poisonous.

      There was another question, one that each man kept to himself. How much longer would they have to remain here? Hopefully not until winter storms threatened to suck the life from everything, them maybe most of all. But there’d be no leaving until they’d captured what both Shaman Tau and Lord Sakima said they must if they were ever going to chase the hated Outsiders from Ekew.

      Nakos walked at the front as was his right and responsibility, his eyes in constant movement. Grateful for his hide leggings and thick leather footwear, he gave little thought to his weapons, which included paralyzing darts and capture ropes. If the need arose, he’d snatch an arrow from the quiver at his back and place it in his bow; either that or rely on his