Her hand suddenly went to her chest. The pendant wasn’t there. Then she recalled how she had rushed to disrobe, and she slipped out of bed and went to her garments on the floor. She dropped down and frantically went through them and sighed with relief when she found the pendant that must have come off along with her garments.
She had to be more careful with the pendant. She could not let it out of her sight.
“Bria!”
Kaelan called out, popping up in bed, his eyes searching the room.
“I am here,” she said, slipping the leather cord over her head as she stood. “I woke remembering the pendant.”
Kaelan tossed the blankets back for her to join him and she did, settling against him, his arm going around her.
“We must keep the pendant a secret and also how I came by it until we know it is safe enough to speak of it.”
“Aye, I agree,” Kaelan said, drawing her closer against him. “But I believe we would be wise to learn more about the woman.”
Bria rested her cheek against his chest, the steady beat of his heart strong in her ear. “You think she was a spirit?”
“I do not know what she was. Only that she appeared because of the pendant.”
Her fingers closed around it where it rested against her skin. The memory of the woman returned immediately.
“I can still feel her heartache,” Bria whispered.
Kaelan’s arm tightened around her. “That troubles me.”
“Why?”
“Because whatever happened to her was powerful enough to reach you through the pendant after all this time.”
Bria had not considered that, and the thought sent a chill through her.
“Then perhaps we should learn who she was,” Bria said. “Or who she once was, if she truly is a spirit.”
“Aye, and why the pendant mattered to her,” Kaelan said. “That matters most.”
Bria found herself tracing a finger over the pendant.
“Let it be for the night,” Kaelan said. “Tomorrow will bring more questions.”
“Aye,” Bria said softly, though wondered if it would bring any answers.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hunters
And the King’s Command
Kaelan slid his arms around Bria’s waist from behind as she finished braiding her hair and pressed a kiss to her neck.
“I would much rather spend today alone with my wife.”
Bria smiled. The suggestion was tempting. Very tempting. After everything they had learned and everything they still needed to face, the thought of spending the day tucked away in their cottage with no one demanding answers appealed greatly.
She turned in his arms. “So would I.”
The smile that spread across his face was enough to make her consider abandoning all responsibility.
Almost.
