She straightened her shoulders. “I’ll be fine.”
He arched his eyebrow at her. “Fine? If you think we’re letting you leave so you can be raped and beaten again, you’re mistaken.”
“I wasn’t raped!” She said hotly.
“I thought you said you didn’t remember what happened.” He replied softly.
She flushed at being caught in her lie. “I – I know I wasn’t raped.”
He continued to stare at her and she cleared her throat nervously. “Thank you again. Please, I need to get going.”
James sighed impatiently. “I was not joking when I said we weren’t leaving you to roam the forest alone Bree. There are both faeries and leeches in these woods. You are not fully healed and wouldn’t stand a chance against either of their kind.”
She paled at the mention of faeries and leeches and glanced around nervously.
“You can travel with us until we reach our home.” Nicholas smiled encouragingly at her. “You are more than welcome to spend a few days at our home while you recuperate, and once you’re feeling better we’ll give you supplies and a horse. It’ll take you months to get to Vanden on foot.”
“Why are you being so kind to me?” She suddenly whispered.
Nicholas frowned. “Well, because it’s the right thing to do Bree. Also – “ he glanced at James and grinned, “our mother would kill us if she knew we let a little slip of a thing like you wander the forest alone.”
Bree sighed and bit at her bottom lip. They were right – she wouldn’t stand a chance alone in the woods. She took a deep breath, ignoring the twinge of pain in her side, and smiled shyly at the two brothers. “Thank you.”
Nicholas smiled with delight and James gave a grunt of satisfaction.
* * *
They wouldn’t let her help pack up the camp. They made her sit on the log, the blanket wrapped firmly around her as James pulled on a shirt, and they packed up the two small tents and their supplies into two large leather bags. The bags had long straps and Nicholas picked up one and crossed it over his body. He glanced at Bree and then at James.
“It is too far for her.”
“Aye.” James agreed.
Nicholas took the second bag and slung it over his left side. The handles of the bags criss-crossed his broad chest, and he shifted them slightly as James walked towards Bree.
He held his hand out to her. “Come here Bree.”
“Why?” She gave him a suspicious look.
“It’s too far for you to walk.”
“You’re not carrying me.” She protested.
He turned until his back was facing her. “You can ride piggy-back.”
“What?”
Nicholas tugged her to her feet and led her to where James was standing patiently. Before she could protest, his hands were on her hips and he boosted her up and pressed her against James’ back. James wrapped his large hands around her thighs as Nicholas moved her arms around his thick neck.
“I’m too heavy.” She protested.
James laughed. “I’ve carried my younger siblings around for hours on my back, and they both weigh more than you Bree.”
Nicholas wrapped the blanket around her, tucking it firmly around her slender frame as Tia danced excitedly around James’ feet.
“Ready?” James turned to look at her, his warm breath washing over her face, and she flushed and nodded. The warmth and the tingling were back, and she shifted a little as his hands tightened on her bare thighs.
Her calves and feet weren’t covered by the blanket and Nicholas patted her gently on the back. “Tell us if your feet get too cold okay Bree? You’ll have a hard time getting to Vanden if you lose your toes to frostbite.”
Chapter 3
“Do you smell them James?” Nicholas asked quietly.
“Aye.” James replied.
Bree shifted closer to James, straining to hear their quiet conversation. They had been walking for nearly half the day and she had dozed off a few times. James showed no signs of tiring, and she was amazed by his strength and stamina.
“How many do you think there are?” Nicholas muttered.
“Two, maybe three.”
“Shall we wait for them to attack?” Nicholas’ eyes were dancing with something Bree couldn’t recognize.
“No.” James grunted and Nicholas actually clapped his hands with glee.
The two men stopped and Nicholas removed the bags, setting them on the ground, as James slid Bree off his back and set her gently on her feet.
“What’s going on?” She asked anxiously as James bent and picked up Tia. He handed the small dog to her and she clutched her tightly, petting her gently when the dog whined nervously.