She watched him more carefully after that. His shoulders remained rigid. His hands opened and closed at his sides. Every muscle in his body seemed tightly wound as though holding something back.
Suddenly she understood why he had not taken her hand. He did not want her to feel what churned inside him.
A root caught the toe of her boot unexpectedly and she stumbled, her hand instinctively reaching out and finding nothing to stop or ease her fall.
Before she got anywhere near the ground, Kaelan’s arm wrapped around her waist, strong, steadying her.
Briefly, his eyes met hers. Gold burned brightly in them.
Then he set her back on her feet, released her immediately, and continued walking.
The distance returned in more ways than one and Bria’s worry only grew.
Enough was enough.
She hurried to walk beside him. “You are angry.”
Kaelan kept his gaze fixed ahead. “Nay.”
“Don’t deny the obvious.”
“I’m not.”
Bria frowned. “You have barely spoken for hours.”
“I have spoken.”
“A word or two does not count as conversation.”
A faint smile threatened the corner of his mouth. Then vanished just as quickly, but she had seen it and confirmed her suspicions. He was definitely upset.
“You are troubled and I understand why.”
His jaw tightened, yet he still said nothing.
Bria stopped walking.
Several paces passed before Kaelan realized she was no longer beside him.
He turned.
Fiora continued ahead before noticing neither of them followed.
Bria crossed her arms. “I am not taking another step until you speak to me about it.”
For a moment neither spoke, they simply stared at each other, the autumn wind stirring the leaves around them.
Then Kaelan looked away.
She grabbed his arm. “It is my possible execution that troubles you, isn’t it?”
His eyes turned bright gold briefly, fury left in their wake, and his arm snatched at her waist, dragging her up against him.
“I will kill anyone who dares to try to execute you, even the king himself.”
And there it was, what she feared… he would give his life for her.
“You will do no such thing,” she ordered firmly.
