She turned to leave before she could give it any further thought, then stopped and turned to glance at the bed again.
What if it could help? What if it could reveal where Kaelan had gone? Or was it that she wanted to know what made him leave? Or would it reveal the unexplainable pull she had toward him? Was temptation worth it or would it make matters worse?
Bria battled with herself over what she should do.
Finally, with a sigh of resignation or perhaps surrender, she stepped toward the bed.
That’s when the door opened.
She turned as Kaelan entered the cottage unable to hide the surprise on her face.
“You thought me gone?” he asked and closed the door behind him, then stepped toward her.
For a moment, he seemed larger somehow… his shoulders broader, his muscles thicker, and his presence more commanding than she remembered. She did not quite understand, but it was enough to have her taking cautious steps away from him.
She quickly gestured to the tankard on the table. “For you, as promised. And, aye, with the cottage empty, it seemed a logical conclusion to presume you had left.”
“Personal needs called for a brief absence,” he explained and went to the table and took the tankard in his hand. “Fear haunts your village. Is there anything being done to find this creature?”
She noticed then how easily he moved as if he suffered no pain, and that he wore his leather vest when he was advised against it.
“Word was sent to the king and Lord Edmond, regional lord of southeastern Leighfeld,” she said.
“And will he be of any help?” he asked before taking a generous gulp. Her hesitation told him enough. “He is a useless lord?”
“Edmond has been a good regional lord.”
“So, he is old and no longer capable of serving the king as he should.” Kaelan lowered the tankard to the table. “Your men should make sure to keep weapons close, though I doubt a creature as large as you claim would enter the village.”
“Why?” she asked, wondering how he might know that.
“Fear. The creature is probably just as fearful of humans as they are of him. He may have stumbled out of Driochmor and seeks to find its way home.”
She offered a counter opinion. “That seems unlikely after all these years of nothing escaping Driochmor.”
“Do you know that for sure?” he asked, taking slow steps toward her with each word.
Heat drifted off him as he got nearer to her, along with a scent that was quite pleasing, yet unfamiliar to her. It wasn’t a sweet scent or like the forest, filled with pine and fresh earth. Though it was earthy and unique and she found herself attracted to it.
Kaelan stopped in front of her. “There are no gates, nor fences, nothing to stop anyone or anything from leaving Driochmor.”
He moved closer, though he warned himself not to, so close their garments brushed. He watched as his scent consumed her, taking hold and not letting go. A soft gasp escaped her lips and she reached out, resting her hand on his chest to steady herself.
It was instant. Her touch delivered a jolt racing through him and leaving no doubt as to what he felt.
Her mind, not quite clear, had her speaking without thinking. “You should not be wearing your vest.”
Again, he warned himself to be cautious, but it did little good. He spoke low and soft, but it carried like a command. “Help me remove it.”
Bria tilted her head, staring at him for a moment.
“Your touch soothes and my shoulder aches,” he said as if sensing she needed an explanation. Or was he the one who needed it?
She nodded and undid the ties on either side, then lifted his vest, his hand coming to rest on hers to help her.
A jolt shot through her, swirled around, and almost swept her breath from her.
“In time, you will come to understand,” he said, having felt it himself.
