Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

I looked at Brandle. "Based on Edmund's shout, I thought he was fighting with Eadric. Would you care to tell me what you did to upset Edmund?"

Brandle considered me then shook his head.

"Very well. What goods have you procured?" I asked, looking at Daemon.

"You wish to look at my goods?" He threw his head back and laughed. Brandle cuffed in from the right, and Garron cuffed him from the left.

"Go speak some sense into Edmund," Brandle said.

Daemon nodded and strolled away while Liam gestured to the table.

"You mentioned pastries," he said. "We think we found most everything you should need."

I saw a basket filled with eggs, an earthen jug filled with cream, and a small bag of sugar.

"If used carefully, these supplies should last you a while," I said.

As they had the day before, they all willingly acted as my hands to help prepare the evening meal. Eadric and Garron made another stew while Darian and Liam worked on pastries, and Brandle churned butter with a churner he'd snuck out of the cottage, along with my cloak, when my back was turned.

"You look tired, Princess," Darian said. "I heard you tried escaping through the roof and quite shocked Brandle."

"I believe the blow to his nose shocked him more," I said.

"No, it was the roof," Brandle said.

They all chuckled. I felt a stirring of humor and pushed it down.

"Come sit beside me," Darian said, catching the loose material of my shift between two fingers. He patted the seat beside him with his free hand. "You've had a harrowing day."

I twisted to look back at him and saw a glint in his eyes that didn't bode well for me. It was the same glint Brandle had in his eyes when he'd untied my tunic.

The men in this glade were beginning to remind me of the heroes in the books I'd borrowed from Mr. Bentwell. Headstrong rogues who persisted in their pursuit of the heroine for a single purpose. Ravishment.

My heart gave a dangerous flutter at the idea, and I tugged my shift free from his fingers.

"Unless you wish to feel the heel of my hand against your nose, I suggest you keep to yourself," I said.

"I welcome your hands on me, Princess. Day or night." He had the audacity to wink at me.

For the first time in a long while, I felt a flush creep into my cheeks.

Without answering, I walked toward the cottage. They didn't say anything as I closed the door. Pressing the back of my hand to my heated cheek, I leaned against the wooden panel.

As I'd explained to Brandle, I wasn't impervious to emotions, and being here with these brothers was causing me to feel more than I should. I needed to leave the glade posthaste.

Pushing away from the door, I slipped out of my boots and cloak and took a seat in the chair to stare at the cold hearth without seeing it. My mind started to dwell on why the men lived in the middle of the forest, but I quickly shook away that riddle and thought of Eloise.

How was she faring? Had Maeve punished her for my disappearance? Three days had already passed. How many more would I need to wait to be reunited with my twin?

The light was almost gone from the sky when someone knocked on the door.

Eadric waited outside with a bowl of stew and a biscuit.

"I saved this for you."

"Thank you, Eadric." I held out my hand, but he didn't surrender the meal.

"This is the first time we've made biscuits. It wasn't something Henry taught us. Could you try it out here and teach us more so we can make other foods once you're gone? Darian burns everything. They won't let me use herbs. Edmund only makes soups, and they don't taste good. Brandle?—"

I held up my hand. "I can write down the recipe."

Eadric was already shaking his head.

"No ink or quill or spare paper," he said.

"You're quite persistent."

He grinned widely. "If you had to eat their cooking, you would be persistent too. And probably in the privy."

"Eadric!" Garron scolded from the darkness near the fire.

"If I teach you, will you teach me one thing that will help me survive when I leave?" I asked, looking Eadric in the eye.

His gaze flicked down to the stew he held. After a brief hesitation, he nodded once.

"Very well," I said, stepping into my boots and easing the cloak around my shoulders.

While I ate at the table, I explained how to make a soup that everyone would enjoy. They only interrupted with a few questions. No one flirted or fought. Regardless, I didn't linger.

As soon as I finished the meal, I retreated to the cottage and slept fitfully until dawn.

The pain in my hands had increased through the night, either an indication that the herbs in the honey had lost their potency or that an infection had taken root.

With weak early morning light filling the cottage, I stood and went to the door to step into my boots once more. It mattered not that I wished to avoid the men outside. I needed help.

The door opened with a quiet click. While I thought it was barely noticeable, the brothers stopped what they were doing around the table to turn and look at me.

Darian winked, and it set my heart fluttering again, which I ignored.

My gaze swept over them until I found Brandle.

"My hands hurt," I said.

He nodded. "Would you like Eadric to help you wash them while I fetch more honey?"

"Please."

Eadric followed me to the well.

"I'll use the privy first," I said.

"I'll get the door for you," he said, quickly moving ahead of me. He flashed me a grin as he opened it for me. "I'll wait until you tell me to open it this time."

"I appreciate the courtesy," I said.

The simple act of lifting my shift sent shards of pain through my palms. I pushed the pain away and focused on hurrying. Eadric stayed true to his word and didn't open the door until I said I was ready.

Brandle waited for us at the well. He didn't offer to unwrap my hands but allowed Eadric to do it. However, I wasn't reassured by Brandle's distance. I hadn't mistaken the look in his eyes the previous day. Or in Darian's.

So, my attention remained warily fixed on Brandle as Eadric carefully rinsed my palms with water. His touch was gentle and soothing. Brandle's presence was not. His calm gaze held mine the entire time.

"They don't feel hot," Eadric said. "That's a good sign."

"They hurt fiercely," I said without looking at him. "More than they did yesterday."

Eadric's fingers brushed over the backs of my hands. The gentle caress drew my attention from Brandle.

"I know you said it's not my fault," Eadric said with a sad smile, "But the guilt I feel isn't listening to reason. Would you like to know a secret about the forest?"

"Yes," I said, allowing his continued touch.

"People think it's only filled with creatures, but it's not. Animals live in there too. Many of them."

"I saw a rabbit," I said. "It distracted a creature from finding me."

Eadric nodded. "We had stewed rabbit last night. But there are bigger animals too. Bear. Wolves. Not many, but they're still out there. Sometimes, the creatures will fight with them."

I turned my head to consider the woods.

"Are they equally matched?"

"It depends on the animal and the beast," Eadric said.

When I looked at him, I met his tender smile with one of my own.

"Thank you, Eadric. That is truly helpful."

His bright smile, paired with his blonde hair, reminded me so much of Eloise that it hurt. Without thought, I brushed the backs of my fingers against his cheek. The surprise in his gaze brought me back to the present.

Averting my own gaze, I quickly pulled my hand away.

"I apologize."

Brandle cleared his throat.

"Leave us, Eadric."

I didn't look up at Brandle as he took my first hand and gently applied the honey. It helped the pain almost immediately. He worked quietly and efficiently.

"You're right," he said. "A woman with magic hurt Edmund. She hurt us all. It's hard to trust. But I think you understand that better than most since you don't trust men either."

I finally looked up and met his gaze as he tucked the end of the last wrap into itself.

"No, Brandle. It is not men that I cannot trust but myself. For your safety, do not venture to understand me. Simply help me leave as quickly as possible."

"I think you were meant to appear here, Kellen."

I looked away for a moment and attempted to ignore the tingle of awareness skimming over my skin, but it proved impossible.

"I think so, too," I said softly. "And from a kingdom that forbids magic, I find the idea terrifying." I lifted my gaze to meet his. "As a man hurt by magic, you should find it terrifying, too."

He slowly shook his head. "It wasn't the magic that hurt us but the woman who wielded it. I don't believe you are anything like her."

"In three days' time, you think to know me?" I shook my head and started for the front yard.

The others stood around Eadric, and they all turned to watch me enter the cottage and close the door.

I sat in the chair again to think.

My current circumstance was growing dire due to reasons they would never understand. I needed to act soon. But how? As Eadric had stated the day prior, willfully doing something that would cause my death wouldn't help Eloise or my father.

Someone knocked on the door, and a frustrated sigh escaped me.

I rarely sighed. Things were more serious than I'd first thought then. My control was fraying.

When I opened the door, Edmund stood there, scowling at me.

"Breakfast is ready. You're to join us."

"It would be better if I didn't."

"In that, we agree. However, as the observant woman you are, you'll likely agree that we are outnumbered."

"Tell them I refuse." I moved to close the door, but he reached through, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me sharply forward so I fell into him.

Like his brother, he didn't jostle at the impact.

He righted me and quickly retreated a step. It didn't save him. I struck out, but not with my abused hands.

Unhindered by my skirts, my knee would have nestled between his legs—quite sharply—had he not turned slightly. Instead, it hit his thigh with such strength that he grunted and limped away a step.

From their seats at the table, his brothers witnessed the whole thing.

"She warned you not to touch her," Daemon said with a shake of his head. "I'll bet my next portion of whatever Kellen makes us that Edmund is the first one to feel her knee in full."

"I'll take that bet," Eadric said. "But it won't be Edmund. It will be Brandle."

Brandle frowned and gave Eadric a sharp look. His brother shrugged indifferently.

"You stare at her too much, and she doesn't like it."

"Since when are you observant?" Liam asked, looking at Eadric in disbelief.

Eadric simply gave another shrug.

I focused on Edmund, who was watching me.

"The secret you owe today has increased to two," I said.

"No, the knee makes us even for the wrist."

"Shall we see who sports the larger bruise tomorrow and let your brothers decide?"

Darian stood abruptly. "How hard did you grab her, Edmund?"

Edmund stared at me. His hands remained loose at his sides, but his anger showed in the slight sneer tugging his lip.

"Better," I said. "Relax your mouth."

He let out a snarl and stomped away.

"Provoking him won't see you leaving this glade sooner," Brandle said.

"Perhaps he should stop being so provokable." I shrugged like Eadric had and went inside for my boots and cloak before I joined them at the table.

They'd boiled the eggs.

"Foolish," I said. "They would have kept for weeks."

"We'll get more," Daemon said, setting an egg and a biscuit before me.

Eadric fed me my first bite of each. Both were edible. The egg was cooked through instead of soft in the middle, and the biscuit was chewy.

"The dough was handled too much. Lighter touches and less mixing will yield a more tender biscuit. The egg should have been removed several minutes sooner."

Eadric and Liam nodded.

Edmund returned and joined us at the table, taking the only open spot. Right next to me.

"Covering your scent is a large piece of hiding. Clothes that match the trees is another piece. Brown is broken with white when it snows. Shades of brown for spring and fall. Brown and greens for summer."

"Thank you," I said.

"The creatures are smart. You can't use onions every time. You need to change what you use to hide. A blend of herbs that commonly grow together works too. If it's a combination associated with people, though, you'll give yourself away." His gaze locked with mine. "That was two."

"Thank you, Edmund," I said. "Salt your egg, and it will taste better."

They all reached for the salt at the same time.

"Who is remaining with me today?" I asked.

The fighting for the salt slowed, and they all looked at each other.

"If I have a choice, I would prefer Daemon and Eadric," I said.

"Why?" The heavy suspicion lacing Edmund's tone didn't surprise me.

"They aren't provoked by me in any way."

"What about Garron?" Brandle asked, watching me closely.

"I make Garron uncomfortable."

"I'll stay with Daemon," Garron said.

He didn't look at me but continued eating the simple morning meal they'd made as we all stared at him.

"Well, that's settled then," Brandle said. "Garron and Daemon will stay today." His gaze held mine. "Your word you won't attempt to run?"

I lifted both my wrapped hands.

"That isn't your word, Kellen."

"I liked you better when you underestimated me," I said. "You have my word that I won't foolishly run into the woods before my hands are fully healed. Better?"

"For now." He stood, and the others followed him around the back of the cottage, leaving me with Garron and Daemon.

Daemon grinned at me, folded his hands, and rested his head on them to watch me eat.

"Want me to feed you?"

"No, thank you."

"You're not supposed to be using your hands."

"I think Brandle would have said so."

"He did. Before you came out. But he was afraid you'd retreat into the cottage again if he tried to dictate what you should do."

I paused my effort to grip the spoon and weighed the wisdom of Daemon's words. By stubbornly refusing help, was I re-injuring my hands and prolonging healing? Likely. Would allowing Daemon's help cause problems? That I couldn't answer until I tried.

While I debated, Garron stood and began to collect the dishes.

Grudgingly, I handed Daemon my spoon. He grinned and pulled my egg and biscuit toward him. Then he fed me. A smirk hovered around his mouth each time he offered me a bite.

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

"I enjoy putting something in your mouth."

Garron cuffed the back of his head so nimbly I barely saw him move.

"Take the dishes," he said, plucking the spoon from Daemon's hands.

Daemon laughed and took away everything Garron had gathered. Garron watched him go then looked down at my spoon.

"I can feed myself," I said.

Rather than surrender the spoon, he sat across from me. With a growing flush, he scooped out a bite of egg and offered it up. He didn't look at me. Just waited for me to take a bite before digging out another one.

"Can I have the biscuit?" I asked. Only one bite remained. He held it up between his fingers. When my lips accidentally brushed them, he jolted out of his seat and walked around to the side yard where I could hear Daemon drawing a bucket from the well.

Twisting in my seat, I stared after him and wondered if he was like me. Feeling things he knew he shouldn't. I'd read in the books in the attic at home that men were sometimes like that too—able to feel the energy around them. But it was more rare in men.

My thoughts drifted from those books to Eloise. This day marked the fourth morning since I'd left her, and I felt a pang of sorrow. It tingled along my skin along with the need to do something. To move.

To… run.

A whisper of noise behind me gave warning I wasn't alone a moment before a wad of cloth roughly and deeply filled my mouth.

I let out a muffled yell of rage as I was lifted from the table and carried backward toward the trees. My captor felt and smelled the same as the day before.

Denial filled me. I refused to be the tool they used to control my sister. Thankfully, he'd lifted me high again, likely thinking I would be at a disadvantage if my feet couldn't reach the ground.

Jolting forward in his arms, I flung myself back with all my might and felt my head connect with his nose.

The tracker's pained grunt followed the satisfying crack, but he didn't loosen his hold as he leaned away from me. I twisted and thrashed as I attempted to kick him. Each thump of my heels against his legs brought another grunt, but he didn't release me.

No, he quickly dragged me toward the trees. I lost a boot in my efforts to free myself.

Think, Kellen, I told myself. You cannot be taken.

I attempted to force the cloth from my mouth with my tongue and gagged.

Garron rounded the cottage just then. His eyes went wide when he saw me. Desperate, I locked gazes with him and yelled from behind the cloth as I kicked again.

"Daemon!" Garron bellowed as he charged across the clearing.

The man swore, shifted his hold on me while still keeping my arms pinned, and started running. I tried tossing my head back again but only hit the man's shoulder.

The man slammed his fist into the side of my head then dropped me. Dazed from the blow and the sudden impact with the ground, I forgot about my hands and tried to use them as I struggled to lift myself up.

The sounds of a fight didn't register until a boot stomped on my fingers. I quickly jerked my arm to my chest. Hands closed on my shoulders.

I swung out blindly.

"It's me, Kellen," Daemon said, catching my upper arm and using it to pull me to my feet. He leaned me against a nearby tree. "Stay here."

He took a running start and launched himself at the man's back. The chokehold he managed after landing was impressive, as was the way he brought the man to his knees. I could see Garron standing before the man, chest heaving and lip bleeding. He threw a punch that snapped that man's head back into Daemon's.

"Dammit, Garron."

"No cussing," Garron said before rapidly punching the man three more times.

Daemon released him, and the tracker toppled to his side.

Both of the brothers turned to look at me.

"You're bleeding, Lamb," Daemon said. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"None," I said.

"Well, we know her mind is still sound," he said with a glance at Garron. "You want to deal with him or her?"

"Him," Garron said.

It hurt. I didn't know why. It shouldn't have. Yet, it did.

And Daemon saw it.

"Aw, he doesn't mean it like that," Daemon said, coming to wrap an arm around my waist to support me in place of the tree. "He doubts I'll do the job as well as he can. And rightfully so, Lamb. If you haven't noticed, I tend not to put a lot of effort into things."

He began walking me out of the trees, and I glanced back at Garron. Our gazes met. He quickly looked down at the man.

"Garron," I called.

Daemon paused and turned us.

"Don't let the creatures eat him," I said. "My father is still out there."

Garron nodded, picked up the man's foot, and started dragging him away. A man twice his size.

Frowning, I looked up at Daemon.

"I think I might be sick."

I promptly vomited at our feet.