Bonded to the Rakian Berserker (Rakian Warrior Mates #3) - Elin Wyn Page 0,23

tell us.”

Tela looked at her mother, obviously unsure if she should be more afraid of her mother’s wrath for getting into a forbidden treat or at revealing a secret to strangers.

“We’ll talk about what you should or shouldn’t be doing with it later,” Brynlee urged her. “You have to tell us what happened”.

“I pulled for the jar,” Tela whispered, fidgeting with the ends of her hair ribbons. “You know, just until I could reach it with my hands.”

Another gift, Gavin thought. Some sort of telekinesis by the sound of it.

If they ever had any down time on this planet, Kennet should start a database of all possible variations of these gifts that these women seemed to take for granted.

Void, knowing Kennet, he probably had started one already, maybe as a hobby when he couldn’t sleep.

“But that’s not what scared you, was it?” Esme urged the child.

“No, there was a man. A townsman, and he saw me.”

Freya shook her head. “It’s not a secret what you can do. It’s a gift from the Lady. An honor,” she said firmly. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I’m not ashamed,” Tela pushed away. “But he, he didn’t feel right”, she continued. “He wanted to see if I could do it again. Promised me a treat if I could show a friend of his how I did it.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Wanted me to come with him.”

Brynlee wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter. “You did the right thing to run away,’’ she said. “Good girl, brave girl.”

“What did he look like?” Gavin asked, hoping against all past experience that she’d be a decent witness. He didn’t hold her age against her, it was just that most people he met couldn’t remember any useful details about a person they’d just been talking with.

Much less a stranger.

“Ummm….” the girl started. “His hair was short, and dark and his eyes were mean,” she finished with a nod.

Not exactly helpful.

“Was he tall or short?” Esme prompted.

Maybe taller than Uncle Henrik,” Tela decided after long deliberation. “But not as tall as you,’’ she pointed to Gavin.

“Well, that narrows it down some,” Esme laughed. “Was there anything else you remember? Even the smallest thing?”

The little girl shook her head. “There was a mark or something on his wrist, I think,” she said. “When he reached for me I saw it, but I don’t know what it was.”

Henrik came back and rejoined the circle and quickly Esme and Brynlee repeated the child’s story.

“Runners have been sent,” he glowered. “We’ll know if there’s anything strange going on in Kinallen before dawn.”

Esme shook her head. “It’s not safe here. That man, he was trying to take the child. How do we know,” her voice caught, “how do we know they won’t do the same thing here that they did to my clan? You need to leave Kinallen.”

Henrik rocked back and forth, shaking his head slowly. “Safe or not, the gates are closed for the night,” he announced.

“We’ll have to stay.”

12

By the time they returned to the inn, the tavern was filled with boisterous diners, but Declan was nowhere to be seen.

Esme bit her lip, the vague sense of anxiety that had rolled through her all day threatening to burst free.

“Should we go look for him?” she asked quietly as Gavin surveyed the room.

Something in her voice must’ve caught his attention because his hand immediately moved to the spot between her shoulder blades, gently rubbing in circles that eased the tension, just a bit.

“I expect someone that knows his way around the town as much as he seems to will be catching up with old friends,” he said lightly. “Let’s get some dinner.”

Esme started to shake her head, but he stopped her, his hand cupping the side of her cheek.

“I saw how little you had for lunch,” he growled, eyes narrowed. “I know you’re worried. But if you want to fight to get those children back, you have to keep your strength up.”

“That’s not fair,” she grumbled. “But you’re right.”

He guided her to an empty table, close enough to the fire to be comfortable and Mistress Neva hustled to meet them.

“I expect your friend will be in later, she said. “Considering how early he likes to be on the road, he keeps late hours. However,” her eyes twinkled. “an early dinner gives the two of you plenty of time for a pleasant evening.”

The flush that ran through Esme had nothing to do with the fire, and the rushing in her ears