Page 93 of Desire

“Kellen. Kitten. What’s wrong?”

“I’m afraid,” I said.

“You’re not alone. We’re here,” he said.

His fierce embrace didn’t make me feel safer, only more desperate. I couldn’t let them face Maeve. Not yet. I could protect them against the trackers, but in my heart, I knew they would not be safe from her when she arrived.

I wrapped my arms around Brandle in return and held him for several long minutes. When I pulled back, I smiled reassuringly enough that he released me.

“The remaining tracker won’t last much longer, and with each passing day, I fear more for my sister. Can we begin to prepare to travel to Turre while I work to break your curse?”

Brandle’s gaze shifted from me to his brothers.

“Waiting may be the problem,” Daemon said. “Worry is a distraction.”

I frowned, uncertain of what he meant, even as Darian and Liam nodded their agreement. Did they believe my worry for Eloise was distracting me from breaking their curse?

“I believe it would benefit us all to start making arrangements,” Brandle said.

“Agreed,” Eadric said. “We should attend to the mines first since it will take several days.”

The rest echoed their agreement.

“All right,” Brandle said. “With one tracker remaining, four can go to the mines, and three shall stay. Kellen isn’t left alone for any reason.”

They decided amongst themselves that Edmund, Liam, and Daemon would stay with me while the others went to the mines.

I kissed them farewell and did my best to hide my fears as that tingle of warning continued to grow. Brandle saw through me, though. He kissed my forehead and promised they would work hard to do what was needed quickly.

“We will return at dusk.”

What had begunas a whisper grew to a roar. The warning refused to be ignored.

Maeve was coming.

Fighting the urge to stretch my senses toward Drisdall, I focused on preparing a stew for the evening meal and checked on the tracker. He was surrounded by beasts and wouldn’t likely live to see the light of a new day.

Daemon stayed beside me, helping with whatever I needed while Edmund sparred with Liam.

“You seem distracted, Lamb,” Daemon said, watching me.

“I am. I’m wondering what’s happening back home. Something feels wrong, and it has me on edge.”

He caught my skirt and drew me back to his lap to comfort me with some cuddles.

“Will you tell me more about your sister?” he asked.

“Eloise is the sun to my moon,” I said. “Golden hair and golden skin with a welcoming personality. On the surface. Cross her and she will lob a rock at your head with practiced accuracy. Yet, for all her fierceness, she is like me. A defenseless young woman.”

Daemon snorted. “It would be amiss to consider you defenseless, Lamb. Do you not see the barrier surrounding this glade?”

I twisted to scowl at him. “The tracker from a kingdom without magic called what I can do a parlor trick, Daemon. What do you think that means? He knows there are far more powerful casters than me out there. So, yes, against those who seek to harm me, I remain a defenseless young woman.”

Enlightenment glinted in his gaze.

“The mother who is not a mother is a strong caster,” he said.

I said nothing as my heart thundered in my tight chest.

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