Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
A Rainy Night
Things Uncovered
Rain greeted them the moment they stepped outside the cave. Not a gentle mist this time, but a steady autumn rain that fell heavily through the trees and quickly soaked the forest floor beneath their feet.
Bria barely had time to pull her cloak tighter before Kaelan reached for her.
Without a word, he drew her against him and swept one side of his heavy cloak around her shoulders, tucking her securely beneath it and against him, shielding most of the rain from her.
The sudden closeness stole her breath far more effectively than the cold rain ever could.
His body remained warm from the spring, the scent of him surrounding her instantly, wild earth, rain, and something distinctly Kaelan that never failed to unsettle her in ways she no longer wished to understand too closely.
Or perhaps wished to understand far too well. That frightened her more than being here in Driochmor, more than the truths unraveling around her.
Kaelan frightened her.
Nay, not Kaelan, but how deeply she enjoyed being with him, being held in his arms, being kissed. Her desire for him grew by the day, the hour, the moment. It seemed so strange and yet so right. It was impossible to ignore, and worse, she no longer felt certain she wished to resist it.
The cottage finally came into view through the rain. It appeared tucked amongst the trees, warm light spilling softly from the one window.
Once they reached it, Kaelan pushed open the door and guided her inside.
Warmth greeted them immediately, yet neither moved apart.
Bria remained tucked beneath his cloak, one of his arms still securely around her, while rainwater dripped softly onto the stone floor beneath them.
For several long moments neither spoke and neither stepped away.
Bria could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek resting on his chest, strong and reassuring enough that she briefly forgot every fear and confusion waiting beyond the warmth of his embrace.
Kaelan lowered his head slightly, breathing in the faint floral scent lingering in her damp hair. Every instinct within him urged him to tighten his hold rather than release her, and a silent warning stirred firmly through his thoughts.
Let her go… for now.
Slowly, and with visible reluctance, Kaelan loosened his arm from around her.
Bria almost found herself ready to throw her arms around him and not let go, but she stopped herself. Whatever was the matter with her for thinking such a thing? It was as if she could not resist him.
Nay, it wasn’t just desire she felt. It was an empty ache inside her when he stepped away from her as though he took part of her with him.
A fire burned strong in the hearth and food and drink waited upon the table as promised—bread, roasted meat, soft cheese, and a pitcher of hot cider, steam rising from the pitcher.
Bria recalled he hadn’t eaten and urged, “You have gone too long without food, eat.”
She slipped free of her cloak and moved toward the hearth, settling upon the small wooden bench nearby so the heat would dry her hair. An excuse she told herself to keep her distance from him.
Across the room, Kaelan sat on one of the two benches at the table. He tore off a piece of bread, though his eyes lingered on her rather than the meal before him.
Seeing desire still stirring in his eyes rushed heat to her cheeks instantly, and she focused on her hair, pretending sudden interest in untangling the damp strands she had already untangled in the cave.
The memory of the cave still lingered too vividly within her. The feel of him against her, the rough hunger in his kiss, and the sight of him naked.
Bria’s blush deepened and she swallowed softly.
Kaelan watched the color deepening in her cheeks and knew her thoughts had wandered in the same dangerous path as his own. The realization only fed the fierce hunger already burning inside him.
To distract himself, he reached for the pitcher of cider and filled his tankard.
Silence settled between them, broken only by the crackle of the hearth and the soft rain outside.
Bria forced her thoughts elsewhere, not as difficult a task as she thought, since Winnie’s words hurried into her head.
Welcome. One of us. The Wise.
She still struggled to make sense of it, though another thought continued troubling her just as much. Kaelan had been familiar with the name.
Be careful who you trust.
The older woman’s words unsettled her almost as much as everything else she had revealed. If what Winnie believed proved true, then speaking carelessly about it could place more than herself at risk. Yet she trusted Kaelan more than she likely should. At least enough to want answers from him.
Bria glanced quietly toward him while he ate, recalling the moment in the forest when he had stopped her from touching the strange purple flowers.
Only the Wise can touch them.
The words had remained with her ever since.
“What did you want to ask me?” Kaelan said, interrupting her thoughts.
It wasn’t what she intended to ask him, but it seemed a good question for now. “How did you know about the Wise?”
Kaelan tilted his head as though uncertain of what she meant.
“The purple flowers in the forest. You said only the Wise could touch them safely.”
A faint furrow touched his brow before he answered. “In the Northland there are stories about Driochmor much like there are in Scotara.” He refilled his tankard as he continued. “Most speak of curses and strange magic. Others speak of people tied to the forbidden land itself.”
“Do you believe those stories?”
Kaelan held her gaze a moment before answering. “I believe most stories begin with some truth hidden inside them. Though the Wise are barely spoken of now except in whispers.”
Bria thought immediately of Winnie’s warning. “Because they are still hunted, blamed for the deaths of King Dravic’s parents. Why did the king believe them responsible?”
Kaelan shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps the reason was lost through the years.”
“Yet the blame still remains.”
“I doubt King Dravic will ever forget or forgive. He was young when his parents died and that leaves a child with a memory that can never be forgotten.”
“Aye, a sorrowful memory for sure.”
“Why the interest in the Wise,” Kaelan asked.
“You mentioned them, then Winnie said something—”
“What did Winnie say about them?” he asked, not letting her finish.
“The purple flower,” Bria said, not ready to be truthful about it just yet. “I mentioned it to her, and she told me about the Wise and how none are believed to exist any longer due to the king’s edict of death.”
“I would not be surprised if some survived. Such power would not allow itself to be destroyed. No doubt some still exist.”
“But where?” she asked, unable to ignore the strange pull the question stirred inside her.
Kaelan leaned back slightly on the bench. “If any still live openly within Driochmor, the council would know.”
His response didn’t surprise Bria. It always came back to the council. Everything in Driochmor seemed to lead back to them somehow.
“They must hold considerable power,” she said.
“From what I understand, they rule the forbidden land,” Kaelan explained.
“My ignorance of Driochmor led me to believe that it was an untamed place where magic ran wild and danger lurked everywhere.”
“Tales run rampant not just of Driochmor but of magic as well. If you are told something repeatedly, you begin to believe it. Unless, of course, you have the wisdom to judge it for yourself.”
“Aye,” Bria agreed. “I have seen strange things, but the strangest of all is seeing a village and its people so much like the villages in Leighfeld and throughout Scotara. Oddly enough, it makes me want to find out more about Driochmor.”
Her own words surprised her. Barely hours ago, she was anxious to return home, and yet now, she wanted to remain here and find out about the Wise and any connection she might have to them.
Kaelan sensed that Bria’s sudden interest in Driochmor had something to do with what Winnie had said to her. That she didn’t share it troubled him. At least, her willingness to remain in Driochmor for a while allowed him time to accomplish his mission. A mission that she should not be involved in.
“We could find out how to locate at least a council member for you to speak with,” he offered.
Bria’s eyes widened at his unexpected suggestion. “But you said you needed to hunt the beast first.”
“I do, but it would be better done with you tucked away someplace safe while I continue to hunt him”
The words struck her harder than they should have. “You would leave me with strangers in Driochmor?”
Kaelan’s brow furrowed faintly at the question. “Only if I knew they were trustworthy. Besides, it isn’t safe for you to continue to hunt the beast with me.”
Bria straightened slightly on the bench. “Why not?”
“There is no telling what dangers I may face, areas I may need to enter, creatures I may meet.”
“And what if you never return?” she asked, fright sending a shiver racing through her at the mere thought of it.
Anger stirred in Kaelan as an ache settled in his gut. “I would not let that happen.”
“That is not something you can be sure of,” Bria argued.
“Aye, I can,” he insisted. “We will leave Driochmor together, on that you have my word.”
Together.
Why did the one word make a difference to her? She could not say. But it did. It fell heavy in her chest, yet it was oddly reassuring.
She rose from the bench and moved closer to the table, closer to Kaelan. “Aye, together.”
His gut tightened. Her brief words made it clear. She would not leave his side. That meant she felt it stirring in her, yet she still had not come to understand it.
“I do not know who or what to trust here,” she admitted.
“Winnie is kind, yet she speaks in riddles. Kilham looks at me as though he knows something I do not. This council rules a land that seems alive in ways I cannot begin to understand.” She wrapped her arms loosely around herself.
“At least when I am with you, I feel safe, protected, and I don’t want to leave your side. ”
The moment the words left her mouth, Bria wished she could pull them back. Because they revealed far more than she intended.
Kaelan rose slowly from the table.
The movement alone made her pulse quicken.
“You trust me?” he asked.
Bria held his gaze despite the dangerous warmth beginning to spread through her again now that he stood near.
“I think perhaps I trust you more than I should.”
Something dark and intensely satisfying flickered briefly through Kaelan’s eyes at the admission before restraint settled over him once more.
He stepped closer. Too close for sensible thoughts to survive comfortably.
“And if I told you that leaving you behind would trouble me far more than taking you with me?”
Bria’s breath caught softly.
The fire crackled low behind her while rain whispered steadily beyond the cottage walls. And suddenly the small space between them felt far more dangerous than all of Driochmor beyond it.
“It would please me,” she said barely above a whisper.
Kaelan’s arm circled her waist slowly and drew her just as slowly against him.
He lowered his head, his lips close to hers.
“You please me, Bria, since I first saw you, since you first laid your hand upon me, since you followed me into Driochmor without thought, and that you stay by my side no matter what.”
His lips settled on hers gently and she welcomed his kiss, had hoped he would kiss her again, feared she might kiss him if he didn’t kiss her soon.
She pulled her head back, the thought startling her.
“Let yourself feel,” Kaelan whispered. “Let yourself feel what I feel.”
Was he inviting her to let her use her comforting skills? To touch, feel, sense? She did not bother to confirm it. She placed her hand on his chest.