Chapter 27 #2
Fiora zipped off where she sat on the edge of an empty plate and flitted in front of Kaelan’s face. “Let’s go before she face-plants on the table.”
“Fiora, manners,” Lord Oaken admonished.
“I know, do you believe she keeps yawning in front of us?” Fiora said and circled Kaelan’s head before stopping in front of his face. “No dallying, let’s go.”
Kaelan rose, his eyes on the fairy, smiling slightly. “Are you sure you can fly straight? You’ve spent a lot of time in the one tankard.”
“I can see where I am going perfectly fine,” Fiora said and turned abruptly smacking into Marek’s shoulder. She righted herself quickly enough and shook her head. “Watch where you’re going, you big lug.”
Marek laughed. “Good luck following her.”
It was a challenge following a crooked- flying fairy but she managed to get them to a cottage.
Once inside, Kaelan took his wife in his arms and brushed a faint kiss across her lips. “Are you alright? It cannot be easy, learning what you did about your parents or meeting a great-grandmother thought dead to you, or having it confirmed you truly are part of the Wise.”
Bria rested her hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart and his concern for her.
“I should have told you what Winnie said to me,” she said.
“We were still new to each other.”
That he made an excuse for her, brought a gentle smile to her face. “That was not why I kept it to myself. I feared for your life.”
His brow wrinkled. “Why would you fear for my life? It is you who would be in danger.”
“And you who would risk your life to keep me safe.” His heartbeat quickened beneath her hand.
“Aye, you are right about that.”
Her hand went to rest at his cheek. “Promise me you will not do that.”
“That is not a promise I can make, Bria, nor will I. I love you.” He took her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “I will do whatever is necessary to protect you.”
He didn’t expect her to walk away from him, but he let her go, knowing this time could not be easy for her and not wanting to add to her worries. But he would not lie to her. He would protect her with his life.
Bria walked over to the hearth to stare at the flames. “My life was so simple in Willowmere and now…” She shook her head slowly.
Kaelan came up behind her, his arms going around her waist, easing her back against him, and resting his cheek against hers.
“Yet you followed me into Driochmor without a thought. Something must have called to you, though I would rather believe it was me you chased after.”
She laughed softly. “I will admit that I very much dislike the empty ache I feel when we are apart. It is like I am missing a part of myself, and nothing feels right until we are together again.”
“I feel the same, which is why I will make sure time apart is far and few between for us.” He kissed her cheek. “I believe your parents would be proud that you found your way home to your people, your tribe, and that their sacrifice was not in vain.”
Bria turned around in his arms. “I am eager to speak with Wynn tomorrow and learn more about the Wise, about myself.”
“I am glad for you but know now I will not take a chance with your life and Wynn agrees with me. When we finish here, we go home to my tribe.”
“What about Braden? You came to Scotara to find him and bring him home.”
“My tribe will understand that my wife’s safety came before my mission. Another will be sent to deal with him.” He rested his brow to hers. “I want to kiss you so badly but if I do, I will want more and you are exhausted from this tiring day and need to sleep.”
She brushed her lips across his, surprising him. “I am not that tired, especially when we have a proper bed to sleep in tonight. Not a cell or a cave but a fine bed we can take our time and make love in.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, “because I fear I may exhaust you further.”
She grinned. “Promise?”
Kaelan chuckled. “Aye, wife, you have my word on that.”
She surprised him again when she stepped away from him.
“First, I need to step outside for a bit,” she said.
“I will go with you.”
“Nay, we are safe here. There is no need and I will hurry since I am eager to return to you.”
Kaelan smiled wickedly at her as he started shedding his garments. “I’ll be ready and waiting impatiently for you.”
Bria kissed him again and if nature hadn’t called, she would be shedding her garments just as eagerly.
“I will be but a moment,” she said, seeing he was almost naked already.
“I will warm the bed for us.”
She hurried outside, her passion mounting at the thought of the night ahead and encountered Fiora sitting on the edge of a rain barrel. She looked about to topple in.
Bria scooped her up and placed her on a patch of grass beneath a tree and covered her with a few leaves and pine needles as well since the night had a sharp chill to it.
“I like you, Bria. You have courage,” Fiora mumbled and cuddled beneath the leaves and pine needles.
She hurried, wanting to get done and back to her husband quickly, missing him already. She was almost done when a mist suddenly rolled in gathering around her ankles. She knew how fast a mist could gather and leave one unable to see anything around them and she turned to hurry back to the cottage.
A wall of mist greeted her. She could see nothing.
Something was amiss, seriously amiss. She had to get to the cottage, to Kaelan.
She took another step and the mist cleared leaving the shimmering shape of a woman, slim with long blonde hair, and a lovely face, though it was not easy to see with the way her ethereal form shimmered.
Surprisingly, Bria felt no threat from her, but she did sense distress, and she immediately sought to comfort her. “Let me help you?”
The figure floated away from her, though pointed at her and it took a moment for Bria to realize what she was pointing at. It was her chest where the pendant lay.
Bria slipped the leather cord from around her neck and held the pendant out to her. “Is this what upsets you?”
The woman reached out, her misty hand reaching for it and it passing right through the pendant.
Bria took hold of the pendant. “Place your hand on mine and feel it.”
The woman rested her hand on Bria’s and closed her eyes for a moment.
The pain struck Bria hard and fast, stealing her breath.
Never had she felt such heartbreak. It tore through until she thought she would perish from it.
Then darkness began to surround her, growing darker and heavier, and she heard a whisper.
“Keep it safe for the one who will claim it.”
Before the darkness completely consumed her, she thought she heard someone shout her name.
“Bria!”
Then everything went dark.