Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

“I didn’t take any memory. It’s hidden, not gone. When it no longer matters, it will return.” I held Darian’s gaze and felt his doubt. It cut deeply.

“You don’t trust me,” I said.

Guilt flitted over his expression.

“I understand,” I said. “I don’t fully trust myself either. But I trust Garron. If he thought it was dangerous to teach me the spell, he wouldn’t have. And if he thought the memory was better forgotten, then I believe him.”

Darian sighed and held me close. “Brandle won’t be happy. You might need to offer more than a kiss to distract him from it.”

“Such as?”

“A bath should do. I would find it difficult to focus on anything you said if your hands were sliding over my skin unhindered by clothes and aided by soap.” He shifted underneath me. “Bathe me instead, and I’ll gladly calm Brandle’s temper.”

I snorted and set my head on Darian’s shoulder.

“I’m less concerned about Brandle’s reaction and more about Edmund’s. I don’t want him to lose his temper and tear his stitches.”

“And you can’t bathe him,” Garron said in agreement. “You are wise. How do you plan to tell him?”

“I don’t know. Do you have a suggestion?”

“He’s Eadric’s twin and has a similar fascination. We all do, truthfully.”

I frowned in confusion for a moment, then flushed in understanding. Darian grinned widely.

“My smart, beautiful Princess. I look forward to seeing how you tame my brother’s temper.” He stood with me. “Since Brandle just finished, I believe now is the perfect time.”

He carried me out the door with Garron trailing behind us.

“Let me walk, Darian, or they will misunderstand and worry that I’m unwell.”

He kissed my neck again and set me down.

The others stood around the benches. Liam lay on his stomach on one and Edmund on his back on the other. Wet cloths covered Liam’s back, but nothing covered Edmund’s bare torso and the neat row of stitches that almost crossed his midsection.

His eyes were closed, and his breathing steady.

I went to him, kneeling near his head to kiss his cheek.

“Here. Get him to drink the rest of this,” Brandle said, handing me the cup.

I took it and slipped my hand under his head. Eadric knelt on the other side and placed his hand under mine to help me.

“Drink, Edmund,” I said.

He opened his mouth and drank the rest of the tea. Feeling the echo of Edmund’s pain, I looked at Brandle.

“I added the leaves to take away the pain. Why isn’t it working?” I asked.

“It is working,” Brandle said. “His breathing isn’t hitched, and he’s not shaking anymore. Liam’s already sleeping. They will be fine, Kitten. I promise.”

“Should we move them inside?” I asked.

“I would prefer not to move them until they wake again.”

I gently stroked Edmund’s cheek and looked up at Darian.

“Why don’t you go with Brandle and leave Edmund for now?” He nodded his head toward the well.

Understanding, I stood and held out my hand to Brandle. He picked up the empty water bucket and twined his fingers through mine.

“Is there a reason we need to be alone?” he asked as we rounded the corner of the cottage.

“Alone? No. Away from Liam and Edmund so we don’t disturb them? Yes.”

He set the bucket down next to the well and started drawing some more. He didn’t say anything as he worked, and I waited until he had the clean water up before taking it from him and heating it.

“Garron asked me to do something. I did it, and Darian believes you’ll be upset by it,” I said, dipping a cloth into the wash bucket. I motioned for Brandle to sit on the edge of the well and moved to stand between his legs.

“No falling into the well,” I warned as I began washing his face.

“Are you going to tell me what Garron asked you to do?”

“I will. Darian said you all have patience. I disagree. You’re an impatient lot.”

Brandle smiled widely, the corners of his eyes crinkling with it.

I stared into his eyes and lost myself. “You are so handsome.”

He chuckled and reeled me closer.

“We heard what you said to Daemon this morning. Thank you for trusting us.”

I tipped his chin up and wiped the cloth over his neck.

“I do trust you. But do you trust me?”

Some of his humor faded. “Why do you ask?”

“Garron said I needed to know how to remove memories to protect everyone in the glade if something should happen to him. I successfully hid a memory of his, one he asked me to remove. Darian said you wouldn’t be happy.”

“And that’s why we’re at the well? So I wouldn’t disturb Edmund and Liam with a lecture?”

I nodded.

“The wrong person accompanied me, then. Any lecture I have is for Garron, not you.”

“Lecturing him won’t undo what’s been done. And he can’t explain why he did it. The memory is gone for now.”

“But you can explain,” Brandle said.

“I can, but I won’t. I trust Garron. If he believes it’s best forgotten, then so do I. When it’s no longer an issue, the memory will return as it will no longer need to be a secret.” I set the cloth aside. “I don’t like secrets, Brandle. They’re frustrating and often cause problems when they finally are revealed.”

“In that, we agree,” he said. He reached up to smooth back a wisp of my hair. “I saw Garron return the tracker to the forest. Was the tracker’s memory cleared?”

“Garron ensured he would only remember small men and a weak woman. Nothing of what he saw or heard in the cottage.”

“Good. His memory will then match what the ones outside the cottage saw.”

“We also took the tracker’s coin. He wouldn’t say what it was for, though.”

“You both did well.”

“Not well enough. Once the others find him, they will try again.”

Brandle leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Until Liam and Edmund are well, I would like you to stay inside the cottage.”

“And I would like to be where all of you are,” I said. “It feels safer.”

“All right,” he agreed much too easily. He saw my suspicion and chuckled. “I would rather keep you where I can see you.”

He took my hand, and we returned to the others with the warm bucket of wash water.

I bathed Liam’s hands and face while he slept. Edmund roused at the first touch of the cloth to his swollen knuckles.

“I’m so sorry you were hurt,” I said softly.

“Not your fault, Trouble,” he slurred. “Stay close.”

“I will.”

He closed his eyes and held my hand as I cleaned all the minor cuts. By the time I finished, they were almost healed.

Daemon took Garron around the back with a saw, intent on creating boards to fix the table.

Darian and I stared after them.

“Did you promise Daemon something?” he asked.

“No. They both don’t want Liam to see the reminder of what happened. But I think Daemon’s feeling guilty that Liam was hurt so badly when he only suffered a bruise. He thinks it’s because he didn’t try hard enough.”

Darian glanced at me in surprise.

“I’m keeping myself open to watch the trackers. That means I can feel what you’re feeling.”

The corner of his mouth tilted. “You don’t say.”

His desire wrapped around me. Inviting. Coaxing.

“You want me to sleep on you again. You liked holding me.”

“That’s easy to guess. Tell me something harder.” He held his arms out, inviting me to delve deeper.

His desire branched out with love and fear. Love because he adored everything about me—even the way I lashed out when they pushed for too much. He feared losing me before I could grow to love them.

Them.

I searched for jealousy. I found hints of it but only with yearning, never with anger or hate.

“You like when I hit you,” I said, unwilling to admit the rest. “Perhaps I’m not hitting hard enough.”

He laughed and pulled me into his arms. “I would prefer your caress to a strike if I have a choice.”

I reached up and trailed my fingers over his brow and along his jawline.

“Like this?” I asked with a small smile.

He made a pained sound.

“I like touching as much as I like being touched. Thank you for removing your shirt last night.”

“Vixen,” he said before kissing my temple. “Tell me you’ll sleep on me again tonight.”

My gaze searched his as I said, “I think Eadric needs me most.”

I saw his disappointment even as he nodded his agreement. “Edmund scared him. He scared us all but Eadric the most.”

“Agreed,” Brandle said, proving he’d been listening to us. “That leaves the four of us to keep watch tonight. Help me prepare a light stew Edmund can eat when he’s hungry, and then go nap, Darian. You’ll take the first watch.”

We worked together to boil the root vegetables and mash them into a very watery soup. Once it was ready, Darian coaxed me into helping him make his bed in the cottage.

While he unrolled the mattress, I gathered two blankets. Turning my back on him was a mistake. Once I faced him again, I saw he had his shirt off and his hand extended in invitation.

He tempted me. They all did.

“Will you sleep if I lie with you?” I asked.

“Will my answer influence your decision?”

“Yes.”

“Am I allowed to lie?”

I laughed and settled in next to him, resting my head on his chest.

“Close your eyes and sleep, Darian. If you do, I promise to kiss you awake.”

He rumbled his anticipation and held me close, running his hand over my hair. Soothed by his touch, the tension from what had happened began to melt away.

“There it is,” Darian said softly.

I realized my fingers were wandering lightly over his ribs and smiled against his chest. A few minutes later, his breathing evened out. I carefully eased out of his hold and studied his sleep-relaxed face. He, like his brothers, was a very handsome man.

Shaking my head, I stood and turned to leave.

Brandle leaned against the doorframe outside the cottage, watching me.

“What were you thinking just now?” he asked gently.

“How impossibly handsome you all are. What will I do with seven of you? Daemon believes I’ll be the envy of every woman in Turre. His idealistic imagining of the future is a bit unrealistic.

“It’s never the man who suffers due to a tryst; it’s the woman. I will suffer seven times over when I accept the love each of you holds for me. Yet, I won’t turn away. I will endure whatever fate may result from my choices so long as I am the only one to suffer.”

“We’ve given you our trust. Now give us yours. We vow to protect you and keep you as our own for the rest of our lives if you allow it. You will not live a life filled with persecution and hate as you imagine. Please believe in us.”

I crossed the room and studied the sincerity in his gaze.

“Very well. I will choose to believe you. But we both know achieving such a life will come at a steep price. Are you certain it is one you are willing to pay?”

“Without hesitation.”

I thought of Maeve and all of the lives she’d already taken and the people she’d hurt.

“You know nothing of what you will need to face to free my sister.”

“And you know nothing of what you will need to face to?—”

He stopped speaking abruptly. He held my gaze steadily, and I knew what he couldn’t say. The curse that bound them wasn’t an idle curse. It had been cast by someone powerful. Someone with ill intent. Someone like Maeve. Or…perhaps Maeve herself since I knew nothing of Maeve’s life before she’d arrived at our home.

“I believe I have an inkling,” I said. “Do you truly believe I can help you? My abilities are chaotic and unreliable.”

“We don’t need your abilities, Kitten. Just you.”

I nodded and made to leave. He caught my hand and spun me into his arms.

“Will you kiss me, Kitten?”

“Do you know no other question? You repeat it so often that it makes me wonder if you were starved for attention as a child or are simply a lustful man. Which would you prefer me to believe?”

He grinned at me. “Whichever will earn me a kiss.”

“Your answer will help me understand the type of kiss you desire.” As I spoke, I leaned into him and trailed my fingers from his temple to his chin, following the line of his jaw.

“Are you teasing me, Kitten?” he asked.

“Am I allowed to?”

“Most definitely.”

A small smile tugged at my lips as I shifted close enough to press a kiss to his chin and jaw.

“I like to tease, Brandle.” Remembering his reaction to my last kiss, I set my hand on his chest, just over his heart, and I dipped my head and flicked my tongue against his neck. My teeth lightly followed. His hands caged my sides.

“Which do you prefer?” I whispered against his skin. “My tongue or my teeth?”

I felt the shiver that ran through me and grinned.

“A little of both, then?” I licked and nipped his neck until I found a particularly sensitive spot. He growled and grabbed the back of my head. His heated gaze met mine a moment before his lips crashed onto mine in a kiss that melted away my teasing intentions.

“Do you think she’d kiss me like that if I asked for tongue and teeth too?” I heard Daemon ask.

I broke off the kiss, panting for air, and turned my head to see Eadric, Daemon, and Garron watching us. Garron had his arms crossed, but his gaze held no censure. Only adoration. Daemon’s gaze held hunger. So much hunger.

Brandle’s fingers caught my chin. His gaze swept over my face when I looked at him.

“Thank you for the kiss.”

“You’re welcome,” I said. Leaning in, I lightly brushed his lips again and whispered, “I’ll choose a different place to use my tongue and teeth the next time.”

I slipped out of his stunned hold and laughed my way to Daemon’s side.

“I think you broke him, Lamb,” Daemon said, watching Brandle over my shoulder. “What did you say to him?”

“He invited me to tease him. So I did.”

Daemon’s gaze shifted between Brandle and me. “I want to be teased too.”

“Me too,” Eadric said, opening his arms to invite a hug. I could feel his desperate need for distraction and his worry for Edmund. They were all worried, but Eadric’s clung to him like a wet tunic.

Daemon’s arms wrapped around me before I could oblige Eadric.

“Me first,” Daemon said. “Tease me.”

I lightly kissed his lips. “I don’t believe you would survive, my earnestly handsome pillow.” As I spoke, I dragged my hand down the front of his chest, stopping at his waist.

He made a playfully pained sound. “We will never know what I can survive until we try.” He dipped his head, but I twisted out of his hold and retreated several steps.

He tried grabbing for me, but I laughingly danced out of his way. He chased me around the partially repaired table and right into Eadric’s waiting arms.

Eadric’s grin didn’t fully reach his eyes as he kissed my face and vowed to protect me from his brother’s roving hands.

“What of your hands?” I asked, plucking one from my backside.

“They are your shields, covering your most precious places.” He palmed my breast through my dress, and I rolled my eyes at him.

“I see through your ruse, Eadric. Unhand my person.” My actions contradicted my demand, though, as I arched into his hold. He needed my distraction, and I felt the moment his worry shifted toward desire.

Unerringly, he pinched my nipple through my dress. My heart skipped a beat, and I fought to keep my breathing steady.

“I could release you,” he said agreeably, “but then I couldn’t help you tease my brothers by making you flush so prettily.” He rolled my nipple and added in a conspiratorial whisper, “It tempts them to the point of madness. Look at them.”

I turned my head and saw Daemon, Brandle, and Garron watching us. I met their gazes as Eadric continued to fondle me through my dress, and I felt myself sinking. With my hand on Eadric’s shoulder, I tried to anchor myself. He brushed his lips against my ear, turning me slightly so I faced the others.

“Let’s show them how much you like being touched, Sparrow,” he said softly.

His words wrapped around me like a weight and pulled me deeper into what I was feeling. The well pulsed, begging to be opened. I shook my head, denying the well and trying to deny what Eadric wanted me to acknowledge.

His fingers left my breast only to delve into my bodice and tease the skin directly.

“Then tell me to stop,” he whispered against my ear.

The sound of my pulse in my ears muffled his heavy breaths as he kissed my jaw. The lid on the well slipped a fraction, and drowning in the flood of desire not my own, I moaned softly. Eadric’s whispered praise encouraged another moan from my lips, and I arched into his palm.

Another wave of desire swept over me. My skin tingled with it.

“I think that’s enough, Eadric,” Brandle said, his voice low.

My eyes snapped open, and I flushed scarlet at the realization of what I’d allowed.

The hue of Garron’s face matched my own. Shame crashed over me.

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered.

Garron strode forward, plucked Eadric’s hand from my dress, and hugged me.

“You humble me,” he said. “Your courage. Your strength and unwavering determination. Never lose that. Not for anyone…even us. Don’t ever apologize when you’ve done nothing deserving of regret.”

He pulled back and met my gaze. “If we push too far, it’s us who owe the apology. Do you understand? You only need to speak our offense, and it will be corrected.” His hands shifted to my shoulders. “Now, did Eadric press too far?”

I glanced at Brandle and Daemon over Garron’s shoulder.

“No, Kellen,” Garron said gently. “Only you can answer this question. Did Eadric take more than you were willing to give?”

Meeting Garron’s gaze, I considered what he was asking.

If I were home and the same coddled miss I’d been months ago, the answer would have assuredly been an affirmation. But the home I knew had been cruelly ripped away from me. The life I once thought I would live—one of solitude with only my sister at my side—no longer seemed possible. Not the way it once had. In my heart, I knew I would never again be content with that future. What I truly wanted was here in this glade with these men. Companionship. Adoration. Devotion.

“No, Eadric didn’t take more than I was willing to give,” I said. “I am embarrassed and fear censure from you, but I liked what Eadric did.”

Daemon pivoted on his heel and walked away. His need to touch me as Eadric had heated him from the inside. Eadric’s gratitude and need to tell his twin what I’d admitted kept me where I was instead of closing myself in the cottage.

“He’s not angry, Kitten,” Brandle said.

“I know,” I said. “I can feel his desire.”

“Let me know what you feel when he douses himself with a cold bucket of water,” Brandle said with a chuckle.

“Perhaps it’s time to focus on something else,” Garron said.

I nodded, ready to escape from my embarrassment.

Garron and I spent the next hour in the small study, trying to solve the question of energy consumption while we also monitored the trackers. It worried Garron that I couldn’t tell how much I used or how much energy was in my well.

“What if you remove the lid from the well and leave it off? Perhaps allowing it to fill will help us understand what’s already in it.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Things will die, Garron.”

He scratched his jaw, clearly frustrated that he wasn’t able to better guide me.

From the main room, I heard a rustle of movement.

“Let’s take a break. I made a promise to Darian,” I said.

“I heard. A kiss. He’ll try to negotiate for more if you make it interesting. The privy will need to be re-dug soon.” Garron’s smirk didn’t hide his intent. They needed me to be the playful instigator to help them forget their worries. So I grinned at his suggestion.

“Oh, that’s positively devious,” I said before hurrying from the room.

Rather than lying next to Darian, I straddled his waist and carefully lowered myself, bracing my weight on my hands and knees. When I was in position, I leaned forward and licked his nipple before nipping it gently.

His breath left him in a rush. Knowing he was awake, I settled my weight against him.

“Princess,” he murmured, running his hands down my back and gripping my hips. He arched into me and ground his hard length against my center.

My eyes went wide, and I lifted my head to meet his sleep-fogged gaze.

“I never want to wake,” he said, arching against me.

The shock of our contact faded as a tingle expanded from my center. On his next arch, I rotated my hips. Intense pleasure sparked to life inside of me, and my breath caught.

He groaned and had me pinned underneath him a second later.