Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Tibby
On his Way Home
The little creature led them through the strange forest with ease, his eager pace keeping their steps quick.
At first Bria questioned whether the small fellow truly knew where he was going. He darted ahead only to disappear briefly into thick brush or leap atop fallen stones before pausing to make certain they followed. Yet as the hours passed, Kaelan never once attempted to switch direction.
That alone told her that Kaelan trusted the creature, or that he was familiar with the path he took.
By the time dusk settled fully across Driochmor, the forest had changed yet again around them.
The towering silver-leafed trees had grown thicker together, their branches weaving high overhead while soft blue moss spread across the ground like woven velvet.
Pale lights drifted now and then between the trunks in the distance, appearing briefly before vanishing again whenever Bria tried to follow them with her eyes.
The little creature suddenly stopped near a massive fallen tree whose roots twisted upward from the earth in great arching curves taller than a man. He circled twice beneath them before plopping down firmly upon the moss. Then he refused to move farther.
Bria smiled faintly despite her weariness. “I believe that means he is finished traveling for the night.”
Kaelan studied the surrounding forest carefully before finally nodding once. “He chose a good place to stop for the night.”
The small fellow gave a pleased little sound and curled instantly into a pale ball of fur.
Bria lowered herself carefully onto the moss near him, exhaustion settling more heavily into her limbs now that they had finally stopped moving.
The forest had grown colder with nightfall, though not with the bitter chill of last night.
Instead, the air carried a strange softness beneath the cold, scented faintly with earth and unfamiliar flowers.
Kaelan remained standing, alert, and his head tilted ever so slightly as if listening for sounds.
Bria watched him through the dimness. “Do you watch for the beast?”
He turned, his glance settling slowly on her and even in the fading light she sensed the warmth that softened his otherwise stern expression.
“I watch. That is what is important.”
More often than not, his answer was not direct. Habit, or was it on purpose?
“Here in Driochmor or everywhere?” she asked.
A faint breath of amusement escaped him before he finally crouched near her. “Awareness keeps one alive. And I intend to keep us alive”
The calm certainty in his voice and the determination in his eyes had her reaching out to rest her hand on his cheek. “I have no doubt you will.”
He turned his face slightly, his lips brushing the palm of her hand, and she gasped as a jolt of pleasure shivered through her.
“You’re cold,” he said, though he knew better, and pressed his hand against hers to hold it there against his cheek for a moment longer before he stood. “I will get a fire going.”
She did not want him to leave her side, but then she was too frightened for him to stay. This spark between them was growing stronger and she was not sure what to do about it. Not now, not here in Driochmor.
Her fingers absently stroked the little creature sleeping curled against her skirts, it having moved there as soon as she sat. It helped calm her thoughts, though Kaelan wouldn’t leave them.
She watched as he gathered several fallen branches nearby and built a small fire beneath the sheltering roots.
Shadows flickered softly across his face once flames finally caught, and once more she found herself wondering about the man who was growing less a stranger and far more than a friend to her.
Everything about him contradicted itself.
He could appear fierce enough to frighten grown men into retreat one moment, then unexpectedly gentle the next.
He carried secrets she sensed instinctively and wondered if she should fear, yet every time he touched her, calm spread through her so deeply she could scarcely remember why she remained wary at all.
Or she was shocked by the pleasure she felt.
And that troubled her more than she wished to admit.
Kaelan felt her watching him. He felt more than her eyes on him. He felt her desire for him that she had yet to understand, and it stirred instincts and desires he held tightly restrained for her sake alone. The bond between them strengthened steadily with every passing hour she spent near him.
In time, she would understand it, and he was eager for her to do so, but not yet.
Bria was glad he returned to sit beside her and close. His nearness brought her comfort, so odd, since she was the one who gave comfort to others.
Warmth drifted from him immediately, wrapping around her far more effectively than the fire, yet she shivered.
“You are still cold,” he said.
She attempted a dismissive shrug. “The night grows colder.”
Kaelan removed his cloak without hesitation, shifted close enough for their bodies to touch and swung his cloak around them both. Then his arm went around her waist to draw her snug against him and bring his cloak tighter around them.
Bria drew a slow breath as his scent surrounded her once more, something earthy and wild that now felt dangerously familiar.
“You continue doing that,” she murmured softly.
“Doing what?”
“Taking care of me before I realize I need it.”
His gaze held hers steadily in the flickering firelight.
“I know you and what you need.”
His words caught her unprepared but just for a moment. “You don’t know me. You couldn’t possibly. We barely know each other.”
“You know that’s not true. You’ve felt it from the very first.”
Bria stared at him speechless, not sure what to say since he was right. She continued to stare.
The firelight danced across his face, softening none of the strength there, yet making him all the more appealing. The forest around them faded strangely into silence until all she truly sensed was him beside her. He watched her as if in wait.
Her pulse quickened when his hand lifted slowly to brush loose strands of hair back from her face. His touch remained gentle, though the heat in his eyes stirred a different warmth in her.
“You should not look at me that way,” she whispered.
“And how do I look at you?”
As though I matter too much. The words nearly escaped her.
Instead, she said softly, “As though you know—”
“Your deepest desires,” he said, his words a strong, yet soft whisper that faintly touched her lips.
Before she could speak, though words failed her again, his hand settled lightly against the side of her neck as his head dipped down and he kissed her. Not with fierce hunger but slower, deeper, with intention of lingering, if she should welcome it.
And she did.
Warmth swept through her instantly, spreading not in a rush but slowly, lingering in every intimate part of her until it left her breathless beneath its quiet intensity. Her fingers tightened unconsciously against his leather vest as she leaned toward him without thought.
Kaelan pulled her closer, his restraint fraying dangerously at the soft sound she made against his mouth.
Mine.
The instinct surged through him hard enough he nearly growled it aloud.
The reminder came with effort.
Slowly he lifted his head, though he kept her close against him.
Bria could barely gather her thoughts. She stared at him in silence, shaken not by fear this time… but by how right his kiss felt. Too right.
Kaelan rested his forehead lightly against hers and murmured, “Sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough.”
He helped her to stretch out by the fire, then went to the other side of the fire to sit, but not before she heard him whisper, “Soon.”
She did not know if she was meant to hear it, but she smiled softly to herself. Soon was better than in time.
The little creature got up from where he had moved by the fire and curled himself in a ball against Bria’s chest to sleep. She welcomed his warmth and closed her eyes to sleep.
But sleep did not come as easily as exhaustion should have allowed. Her thoughts remained far too tangled around Kaelan.
She had never met a man who unsettled her so completely. Even now she could still feel the steady warmth of his hand against her neck, the certainty in the way he kissed her, as though he already knew she belonged in his arms before she had fully realized it herself.
And what she still couldn’t fathom was that she had not wanted him to stop. She would have continued kissing him if he had not ended it. The truth of it stirred heat into her cheeks despite the cold night air surrounding them.
She had known flirtation before. A glance held too long. A smile from some village lad hoping to gain her attention. But never this. Never anything that reached beneath her skin and left her feeling as though something inside her awakened whenever Kaelan drew near.
Why did his kisses feel so right to her? And how could he know her deepest desires when she didn’t know them herself?
The questions drifted endlessly through her thoughts. As though some hidden part of herself recognized him in ways her mind still struggled to understand.
Bria turned slightly, her eyes opened, to find Kaelan where he sat watchfully beyond the fire. Shadows flickered across his face while his attention remained fixed upon the darkness surrounding them, alert even now.
Protecting her. Always protecting her.
A strange ache settled softly within her chest then. Not fear. Something warmer and deeper. Was she beginning to care for him? Or had her feelings already grown into something far more dangerous than simple caring?
The thought should have frightened her. Instead, as sleep finally began pulling her gently under, another question drifted quietly through her mind.
Could it be love she felt?
The thought followed her into sleep.
Something whimpered softly against her side.
Bria stirred slowly at first, still half-lost in dreams warm enough to almost feel real. Then the sound came again, trembling and distressed, pulling her fully awake.
Darkness greeted her when she opened her eyes.
The fire had burned low, little more now than glowing embers beneath the great roots sheltering them.
The small creature lay curled tightly against her, shaking hard enough that she felt it through the cloak. Its enormous dark eyes remained fixed upon the forest beyond the firelight, ears flattened low.
Fear rolled from him so strongly she felt it at once.
Bria pushed herself upright quickly and gathered the trembling little fellow into her arms, holding him close. “What troubles you?”
The creature pressed tightly against her chest, whimpering low.
Bria looked immediately toward where Kaelan had been sitting watch earlier. The space stood empty.
A sharp unease swept through her.
“Kaelan?” she called softly, careful not to raise her voice too loudly into the dark forest.
No answer came.
Bria rose slowly to her feet, clutching the little creature closer while her gaze searched the darkness beyond the dying fire.
Still nothing.
Her pulse quickened.
Kaelan would not simply leave without reason. Would he?
The little fellow suddenly gave a low growl despite the trembling still running through him.
Bria froze.
Not far away, something moved between the trees.