The Stolen Prince (Blood for Blood Book 1) Read Free

time, since the density of the forest was so thick. It took a window between trees for him to get a good sighting. He was careful to avoid the poisonous trees—poplars with their thick sap that seeped out and could cause a man to go into shocks. His feet were careful to stay on branch roots, for the snapping grass could bloody a foot badly. The forest did its best to drive out anything foreign, and that included anything human. That was one reason why the Alem drove the Terra into it over a hundred years ago—they thought it would destroy them.
    But instead, it made them stronger , Hakon thought. He took his sights on another tree and zipped to it, careful to avoid the dark bush at its roots. A dark bush could paralyze a man for days—long enough for a wild beast to devour him alive. Hakon spotted another tree and zipped to it before his feet even touched the earth. Hakon didn’t have to touch the earth like his Terra brothers. While the Terra drew their power to port from the earth, Hakon’s energy source was all around him, in the air. The advantage of being an air zipper, freak that I am, Hakon thought. Up ahead, he could hear the Kaldin River. He was almost home.
    As Hakon came around the tree, he felt a sudden grip on his thigh. He spun around and saw a full–grown belly tiger clinging to his leg. Fortunately, his skins and furs were thick enough to defend against a swipe of its sharp claws.
    The tiger took another swipe, this time aiming for his head. Hakon ducked, raising his dagger up and aiming for the exposed underbelly of the tiger. He could feel claws rip through the back of his cloak. He thrust the dagger into the wildcat’s soft belly.
    The tiger howled but didn’t let go. Jaws closed around his left arm, and a searing pain shot through Hakon. He jabbed again, digging the dagger, blade and hilt, deep into the belly. Hot blood and muscle swallowed his hand.
    He tried twisting out from under the tiger and ripping his arm and neck free. But before he could break free, Hakon was under water.
    The tiger was a portling, an animal that could zip or vanish. And a clever one , Hakon thought. He couldn’t assess whether the tiger was a zipper or vanisher. Either way, the beast had ported the both of them to the river, destroying Hakon’s ability to see clearly. Since Hakon couldn’t see, he couldn’t zip. The tiger had the advantage. Hakon had little time to admire the tiger’s intelligence. Jaws were closing around the hood at his neck, and sharp claws ripped through his pants to tear at the soft flesh below.
    Hakon screamed, taking in a mouthful of blood and water. Hakon tried to lift up his rock hand to bash the tiger—it was a land instinct, useless under water. He struggled to pull the dagger upward as the tiger yanked harder at his neck. Fortunately, the water prevented the tiger from snapping Hakon’s neck.
    The current swept them down, spinning them constantly through the water. Hakon kicked his legs free of the tiger’s claws, ripping out chunks of his legs. He bit back the pain and swam, trying to push the dagger up against the weight of the tiger.
    The water helped make him lightweight. He pulled with his dagger, and pushed with his legs. Finally, the dagger found the heart, and the tiger’s jaw went limp.
    Hakon kicked until he reached the surface. Once he spotted land, he zipped himself and the tiger to the shore. He dropped the lifeless and majestic beast at his feet. He spared two breaths to look at his wounds. They were deep but not critical. He didn’t have time to linger. The blood would attract other predators. He could already hear vultures circling above. They must be zippers if they got here that fast. It wouldn’t be long before they came down. He looked at the sun and where he was at the river, judging how far away he was from home.
    A low howl echoed in the distance. Wolves hunting before sunrise.
    Hakon sighed and looked down at the tiger, wondering if it was worth it to lug him