Songbird

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Authors: Colleen Helme
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“At least he can’t do that anymore.”
    “You’re right,” she said, letting out a breath. “He’ll never be able to put me in that box again.”
    Bran opened his mouth to say something else, but held back. She suddenly wanted to thank him again for rescuing her, but knew he wouldn’t like it. “I hope my people have the answers you’re searching for.” It was small consolation for everything he had risked.
    “I hope they can answer your questions as well.” Bran stood. “Get some sleep. I’m going to take care of the horses.”
    After he left, she sat listening to his movements, taking comfort that he was close by. She knew that finding the Kalorians and sym was important to his task, but to risk his life to rescue her? It took a lot of guts to do something like that.
    Maybe part of it was because he actually believed her captivity was wrong. He seemed truly outraged at how the king had treated her. Then he had trusted her enough to take off the kundar . She didn’t know anyone who would have done that. Not one soul. He seemed too good to be true, and that didn’t sit right. Maybe there was something more he wanted from her?
    Finally giving in to fatigue, she tried to find a spot that wasn’t too rocky and snuggled into her blanket. As she drifted into sleep, Bran kept watch. Even with her suspicions, it warmed her heart. Somewhere deep inside she wanted to trust him. It was nice having someone on her side for a change, and she decided to believe what he said. For the first time in years, the dark cloud of oppression looming over her dissipated into a mellow contentment, and she slept peacefully.
    ****
    The gray light of dawn filtered through the trees, waking Teya from a sound sleep. The horses chomped on grass nearby, but there was no sign of Bran. Untangling from the blankets, she stood and stretched, then used her fingers to comb through her hair. She straightened her clothes and brushed at the dirt on her pants. She wasn’t used to being dirty and sleeping in her clothes, but to be free, she could get used to it.
    She glanced up at Bran’s approach, and her heart pounded at the sight of him. He wore the same clothing, but his wet hair curled enticingly around his ears. Taller than most men, he walked with an easy grace that she admired. With his unshaven face, he exuded masculine strength that was more than a little exciting. His dark eyes danced when he smiled, and left her speechless.
    “There’s a stream if you’d like to wash up.”
    Teya couldn’t seem to think straight and merely inclined her head in acknowledgment before she fled his presence. Her heart still pounded when she found the stream, but the cold water shocked her back to her senses.
    What was she thinking? Bran was her rescuer, and nothing more. There could never be anything between them. He had a mission to accomplish. Once he took her home, he would leave and go back to Braemar. End of story.
    Too bad she’d confided in him last night. For some reason it had opened a crack in her heart. Sure, she liked having someone to talk to, but it left her feeling vulnerable and unsettled and she didn’t like it. Everyone she’d been close to was gone, and once he took her home, he would leave as well. It was better to keep a distance between them.
    With a deep breath, she pushed her attraction to him aside. It didn’t matter anyway. All that ever mattered was getting home, and hopefully, today she would be there. Excitement coursed through her. After so long, her memories of home had faded, but not her feelings. Home meant love and warmth. She was willing to risk anything to have it again. But what if they weren’t there? What if the king had killed them all? What if they’d left to some distant place?
    She shook off these senseless worries and pushed them to the back of her mind. Now was not the time to get panicky. She had to believe that they were there and she would see them soon, or she’d go crazy.
    She returned to camp to

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