Page 21 of Trapped By the Exiled Bastard

“If that’s what ye still want,” he added.

“I do,” she replied quickly. She wanted to learn. She wanted to be free. “I do.”

The cheerful blaze of the campfire was a welcome sight but Keir barely got a glimpse of it before Theon had grabbed him into a rough one-armed hug.

“We were beginnin’ tae think ye’d gone missin’, ye bampot. We’ve nae the resources tae waste on a search party, ye ken,” Theon teased. Keir huffed and shoved his arm off, but softened the accompanying eye roll with a slight smile. By the cheer in Theon’s voice, it was clear that Noah had found some ale or wine along with whatever else he’d retrieved from the village, and the atmosphere at camp was so upbeat and hopeful that it felt almost alien compared to the place they’d left.

“Oh, ye poor thing, ye look exhausted,” Briana exclaimed. Her voice was steadier than her husband’s, though there was a rosiness around her cheeks too. She wasn’t talking to Keir. In fact, she walked right past him to take Elin’s hands in her own. “Ye mustnae allow these lads tae drag ye about the place. Ye’re nae wearin’ the right shoes for such things, first of all. Men dinnae notice these things. That’s why they need us around.”

Keir glimpsed Elin’s face and saw a whirlwind of emotions in response to that declaration, ranging from confusion to amusement to even being slightly touched. Rather than express any of it, though, Elin simply gave a neutral nod.

“Where’s Noah?” Keir asked, turning his attention back to Theon. “Given ye stink like a brewery, I suppose he’s been back a while.”

Theon snorted and shoved him lightly.

“That was me doin’, actually,” Graeme called over from where he was lounging by the fire. He had a tin mug in his hand from which he took a joyful gulp. “I got bored waitin’ on the lot of ye tae return. It’s nae so hard tae find a place tae charm some drink when ye need it.”

Keir frowned, his muscles tensing. “So Noah…”

“I’m here.” Noah’s soft voice came from behind them, and Keir turned to see Noah walking toward them from the direction of their little stable. He relaxed, glad he hadn’t expressed his concern, but equally glad it had been unfounded. “I was just seein’ tae the horses. Nightwind in particular has had an eventful day, and what with Theon and Graeme’s drunken ramblin’, I wanted tae make sure they were all right.”

“Sit down and have a drink, ye whinger,” Graeme told him gleefully. “Nae wonder women flock tae me and avoid ye. Ye must be half horse by now.”

Elin spoke up at the same time, her voice brighter, her careful poise snapping into something more animated. “Nightwind is here? Ye brought him back?”

Keir’s heart contracted at the simple sweetness of the excitement in her voice. She loved that creature, it was clear in the joy that sang from her, and something about that love was purer than any emotion she had let him see before. Something in him longed to celebrate with her, to take her in his arms and share her joy. He collected himself and, allowing only a slight smile, said, “I told ye so, did I nae?”

She rolled her eyes and gave him a look, but its harshness was somewhat tempered by the clear happiness behind them. What eyes they were. So restrained, yet so filled with stories that she guarded them tight. What would happen if he stared for too long? Would her soul stare back?

“Come,” Briana insisted. “We can see yer horse, then I’ll see ye tae bed. Let’s leave the men tae their revelries, aye?”

Theon put an arm around Keir’s shoulders again and steered him toward the fire. “Aye, love, as if ye’ve let nothin’ pass yer lips, is that it?”

Briana stuck her tongue out at him and led Elin away by the hand. Keir watched the women go, then allowed Theon to herd him to where Graeme waited with another mug, trying not to let his eyes linger on Elin’s back.

The four of them settled down around the fire and Keir accepted the mug that Graeme shoved into his hands. He would have preferred something hot, but the first sip of the sour wine heated his stomach enough.

“So?” Noah asked. “What happened? Why are ye back when it’s gettin’ closer tae mornin’ than night? I was beginnin’ tae think I’d imagined goin’ along tae that place with the two of ye.”

“Nae doubt they were bickerin’ in the forest after gettin’ lost,” Graeme suggested with a snort.

Theon laughed but raised an eyebrow, silently echoing Noah’s question. Keir met his brother’s eyes, then looked away.

“Nothin’ happened. Graeme’s right. We went tae the tailor, then we ate at the inn. Then, of course, Elin insisted she kent the way back, and we ended up lost,” Keir lied smoothly. He wasn’t sure why he wasn’t telling the other Blades what had happened. He just knew that, for now, the events of the day and night were a secret he had to keep.

A secret that he and Elin would share between only them.

Noah frowned, watching him closely, but didn’t say anything else. Theon, too, tilted his head. But Graeme just laughed again and said, “Och, I’ll dig yer grave the day that lass is the death of ye, me friend. Though I think ye’ll probably deserve it when that comes. Never mind. Have another drink.”

They all laughed at that, and Keir took the opportunity to hide his face between another swig of wine. Yes, perhaps Elin would be the death of him.

So why, for the first time in as long as he could remember, did he finally feel so alive?

10

Elin lay on her back in bed, Keir’s jacket wrapped around her, comforting her with the lingering remnants of his scent.

Every time her eyes fluttered closed, she saw the day over. The way he’d stormed off when he thought Stephen was flirting. The feeling of his calloused fingers against hers. The fury that had shone in his eyes when he’d defended her from those awful men, and the way his whole being had changed when he’d protected her. He’d been terrifying, a dark fey creature or an avenging angel. She let out a soft sigh and pulled the jacket tighter around her, wondering to herself why, when faced with such a fierce protector, she had felt safer than she had ever felt in her life. The image of his face swam in her mind, stubbornly refusing to leave no matter what she tried.