from them, he didn’t think that it was simply that mystery. The feeling was too intense. He wanted her with them.
“Vin still trying to get her to talk?” Colm came up the stairs behind him.
“Yes. Still not sure exactly what he’s trying to get her to tell him or to see. I asked, but he didn’t tell me anything.” Linc frowned. “He’s protective of her, though.”
“Maybe he’s trying to get her to see that we’re not the false Ardin. You can tell by the look in her eyes that she doesn’t trust us.” Colm’s hand flattened against his back, urging him down the inn’s hallway.
“If I’d gone through what she’s gone through, I’d probably still be in the forest. I would have tried to kill them first. I don’t think I’d ever be able to trust someone else having any power over me again. She’s stronger than she thinks.” Linc exhaled heavily, but continued to their room two doors down from Cami’s. Fully gaining her trust wasn’t going to be easy. “But there’s something more to it.”
“Vin always has a reason. If it was important to the Thent, he’d tell us.” Colm shrugged.
“If it was danger or could lead to danger, he would, but you know him, he’s not the type to hint or give us clues if he thinks it something we should already know or see. If he thinks it’s obvious, then we’re missing something.” Linc shook his head and opened the door to their room.
It was very plain. Everything was brown from floor to the walls and the furniture didn’t look as though it would take much activity. The bed appeared in even worse condition than the rickety dresser. It rested at a slight angle even without weight on it. The blanket spread across the mattress appeared thin, but he’d seen worse.
“Something obvious that involves her and keeping her with us.” Colm shook his head. “Maybe we’re supposed to help her learn to trust Ardin or simply someone in authority.”
“I don’t think it’s anything that simple. I think that it might be directly related to us. You’ve seen the way she’s acted. She’s relaxed around some of the other men, but with us, she’s still wary.” Linc frowned as he sat on the bed. It sagged and groaned, but didn’t collapse beneath him.
“She was beaten and cut by men who called themselves the Ardin of her old Thent. That probably has more than a little to do with it.” Colm shut the door and leaned against the wall next to it. He pulled the leather tie from his black hair and tossed it onto the dresser.
Linc shook his head. Colm was trying to avoid thinking deeper about this. Linc knew why, but he couldn’t let him hide from it. Colm needed to begin to see the truth, because getting through to her wasn’t going to be easy.
“That’s not the only reason. If it was, she’s seen enough of our behavior to relax a little. She watches us, though, and keeps a careful distance between us.” Linc met Colm’s golden eyes. “We both know she has things she’s holding back from us.”
“She wants to keep her distance. She doesn’t want any ties with a Thent. You know that.” Colm came away from the wall and paced over to the bed, but the glare he slashed over at Linc spoke of his agitation even more than the movement.
Linc could feel Colm’s frustration and knew it had to be high. Their bond as tierna, bond brothers tied with magic and blood, was extraordinarily strong, but only occasionally were they able to sense feelings from each other. Most often, it was focused thoughts. When they did feel something, it was sure to be intense.
“Colm, her behavior and Vin’s attention to her both point to something different. She doesn’t want to be close to us and I’m certain that it’s not only because we’re Ardin.” Linc scowled, but remained seated as his remark had Colm swinging around to pace the length of the room again.
“You know the list of what she could be to us isn’t that long. The question is, do we let her keep the secrets or work to strip them away and reveal it? Are we prepared to face the truth?” Colm gave Linc a long, hard look.
Linc knew that list and he knew exactly why Colm didn’t want to give it much thought. She could be a mate to one of their men or someone they knew and