Bonded to the Rakian Berserker (Rakian Warrior Mates #3) - Elin Wyn Page 0,19

said. “Do you want to rest?”

“Not particularly. We have things to do.”

Why wouldn’t he look at her? What was he thinking?

“Then, while you get washed up, I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he continued. “I assume you want to go find the woman you saw? I can ask around, see if I can find where the caravans are likely to be set up.”

Esme tossed her veil onto the bed, finger combed her hair out and quickly re-braided it into two plaits, the upper one circling the crown of her head, the second falling between her shoulder blades. Hair dealt with, she scrubbed her face roughly with the still steaming water.

“There, I’m ready.”

“Don’t forget that,” Gavin nodded at the scrap of fabric on the bed.

Esme glared at it. Dingy from the dust of the road, the veil had fluttered in her vision all day long.

It was annoying. It was worse than that, it was terrible.

“Why do I have to wear it?” she muttered. “Adena and Rhela don’t bother.”

Gavin picked up the delicate cloth, took it to the window and shook it out briskly.

“As far as the matrons in the town are concerned, they’re not respectively married,” he answered dryly. “My understanding is they’re not exactly considered to be polite company anymore, but the town needs Adena’s healing gift too much to make a fuss about it.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Esme snapped. “You just have to look at them with their mates to know they’re just as married as anyone else.”

“I can see that, you can see that. But apparently there are some sharp tongues in town just waiting to make nasty comments on people who don’t follow the rules.”

He handed her the veil, now back to its pristine whiteness. “And those rules, traditions, whatever you want to call them seem to be much more heavily enforced the closer we get to the capital.”

Scowling, she turned to the mirror and began repinning the wretched thing to her top braid.

I’ve survived worse, she reminded herself.

“It’s just so annoying,” she said aloud. “There, decent enough?”

His fingertips brushed her cheek. “Actually, I rather preferred it with your hair loose altogether,” he said gruffly, then caught himself. “Let’s go take a stroll through the city, shall we?”

“Don’t you need to check in with your brother first?

Esme held her breath. Maybe, just maybe, Rhela’s mate had already found the children.

Maybe this nightmare would end.

Not that anything would bring her clan back to life, but at least the children and Layla could be spared any more trauma.

Gavin’s jaw tightened as he shook his head. “Already did, while you were talking with our hostess.” His grim expression made it clear there’d been no good news to report. “Jormoi found where the wagons had been on the road. We know they made it this far. But he hasn’t found any trace of where they stopped. He’s checking the road between here and Raccelton, in case they just passed through. If he doesn’t find anything south of here, it’ll be time to tear Kinallen apart.”

No! Esme wanted to yell. Do it now!

Every hour they waited, every hour they failed to find the children, the knot of dread grew heavier in her belly.

His strong hands gripped her shoulders. “If I thought it would help, I’d search the city now, myself. But if they’re not here and we make a ruckus, whoever took them will know we’re coming after them in Raccelton. We might lose any chance we have to find them.”

Esme closed her eyes, too aware of how thin the shell was that kept her from falling apart, how easy it was to just let him hold her up, just for a moment.

“You’re right. I know you’re right,” she finally said. “I just feel like I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re doing everything you can,” he said softly. “Come on. Let’s go find that woman.”

They met Declan downstairs, sitting at one of the tables by the fire. “Mistress Neve won’t have dinner ready for a few hours yet,” he said as he stood. “That will give us time for me to introduce you to some of our buyers, see if there’s anything new and interesting we want to bring further south.”

“I’m sure you can handle that on your own,” Gavin said. “My bride and I are going to take a walk, get a sense of the town.”

Declan frowned, lines creasing his forehead. “You need to be more…” he caught himself, then shook his head and the three moved through the room and out the front door of