Songbird

  Teya closed her eyes and laid her head against the tree. Her loss of control frightened her, but it wasn’t as bad as the look on Bran’s face. She’d done what was necessary to stop them, but that didn’t make her a monster. Next time, she’d make sure her feelings were locked away so she wouldn’t lose control of her powers.

  Bran returned and gently tore the fabric from her sleeve to check the wound. “This isn’t too bad,” he said, reassuringly. “It looks like the bullet passed right through, but it might hurt a little.”

  He cleaned her arm and wrapped a bandage around it. “That should stop the bleeding for now, but we can’t stay. They might come back any minute. Can you ride?”

  “Yes. Just give me a drink of grove water. That should help.”

  Bran held the bag while she drank, then he put the supplies away. As he helped her stand, she stifled a moan. Grateful for the grove water, she took a deep breath and mounted her horse. Bran stayed at her side until she nodded, then mounted his horse.

  As they moved out, Bran rode next to her and kept watch over his shoulder for pursuit. Teya clenched her teeth against the pain, but noticed it changing to a dull ache and credited the grove water.

  Bran kept them at a steady pace, lengthening the distance between them and Jesse. An hour later and with no sign of pursuit, Bran relaxed his guard.

  “I can’t believe they used my gun!” he growled. “They must be complete idiots! They could have killed you!”

  His vehement declaration surprised her. She thought he would focus on what she had done instead of his gun. “What I did was a lot worse,” she managed. “I not only killed that man, but I let my emotions get away from me.”

  “You did what you had to. I don’t think we could have escaped from them without your magic.”

  “I had to do something,” she said, encouraged by his acceptance. “Especially since they were shooting at us, but it got out of hand. I almost lost it.” Tears gathered in her eyes, but she held them back. “You brought me back, but the way you looked at me, like I was some kind of a monster...”

  “You just scared me,” Bran said. “Running after them like that. I wasn’t expecting it, and you looked…angry.”

  “I don’t know what I was thinking. I was kind of lost in the moment. I probably would have tried to kill them all. Why did you stop me?”

  “I didn’t want you to get hurt. Sometimes when someone gets out of control like that, they can do dangerous things.”

  “You mean like a crazed monster, or wild animal? Is that why you were afraid of me?”

  “I told you,” he said, his brows drawing together. “I was trying to protect you. I was afraid for you, not of you. I know you would never hurt me. And you’re not an animal, or a monster, so get that out of your head right now. Anyone who has gone through what you have would go a little crazy. I’m amazed at how balanced you are after enduring all those years of captivity.”

  At least he was being honest, and she couldn’t argue with that. But she still didn’t know what to say. Should she thank him for stopping her? She wasn’t sure what was right anymore. If she couldn’t trust herself, then she shouldn’t use her powers.

  “Jesse’s still back there,” Bran said. “And I don’t think he’s going to give up. Next time, he’ll be more careful. If we stay on this road, we should reach the city by nightfall. There’s an inn outside the gates where I keep a room. We can contact Jax from there and find out what’s been going on in our absence.”

  Teya nodded, unable to speak. Without Bran she would be completely lost. She didn’t know what to do or where to go anymore, and she had just proven that her magic was deadly. It wasn’t the most comfortable thought, and she knew it was urgent that she learn how to master it. Not the magic so much as how she used it. That was the key, but doing that was easier said than done.

  The rain slowed to a drizzle, and the clouds receded, letting soft rays of sunshine filter through. With a fresh breeze and the sun, her clothes soon dried, but every once in a while, she got lightheaded and had to fight to stay upright.

  She glanced over her shoulder often, but never saw any sign of pursuit. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jesse was there, just out of sight, and it grated on her nerves. She wasn’t ready to face him. Her tenuous hold over her emotions frightened her too much.

  They kept up a steady pace and made good time until they came to a small town. Bran insisted that they go around it and Teya agreed. By the time they got back to the main road, Bran worried that they’d lost their lead over Jesse.

  From then on, Teya kept a steady watch behind them. As they traveled, the farms got closer together, and soon there were houses spread all over the countryside. With each one they skirted, they lost time and ran the risk of running into Jesse.

  “We can’t keep going this way,” Bran said. “We’ll have to follow another route. Jesse will probably get ahead of us, but it can’t be helped. We’ll cut toward the mountains and follow the foothills until we’re closer to the city.”

  “All right,” Teya agreed. Her arm throbbed and hunger pains stabbed her stomach, but she didn’t want to stop until Bran did, mostly because she didn’t want him to think she couldn’t keep up or take care of herself.

  Bran had almost died for her, and was doing all he could to keep her safe. Guilt over her grandmother’s deception rose in burning intensity. He had trusted her, and she was using him. She had to tell him what it meant, but didn’t know how she could stand to see the hurt in his eyes.

  The next few hours passed in a blur. The pain in her arm grew worse, but at least it kept her lucid. When they finally stopped, she could hardly wait to get off her horse. In her hurry, she stumbled and had to grab onto the saddle with her good arm to keep her knees from buckling.

  “Wait, let me help you,” Bran said, hurrying to her side.

  “No, I’m fine. Just a little tired.” Bran ignored her, and slipped an arm around her waist, then carefully led her to a shady spot under a tree.

  “I’m sorry I pushed you so hard. Here, drink this,” he ordered. She took the waterbag and forced herself to take a few slow drinks. Bran retrieved his medicine kit and knelt at her side. He took the bandage off and swore under his breath.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “This is worse than I thought.” Teya turned to look, but Bran stopped her. “Just lie back for a minute and I’ll clean it up.” He took the waterbag and lifted it, but she pulled away.

  “No! Don’t use that. We’re almost out.”

  “It might help... unless you can heal yourself.”

  Teya didn’t have the energy to even think about it. “I’m sure I can do something later, after I’ve rested for a few minutes.”

  “Fine,” Bran huffed. “While you’re resting, I’m washing this off. Try not to move.” He carefully poured a small amount of water over the wound, then rubbed it with a clean cloth. It burned at first, but after a minute she relaxed while coolness spread from the wound up her arm. Finally released from the steady, throbbing pain, she took a deep breath and silently slipped into sleep.

  ****

  Bran cursed his stupidity. He should have checked her arm before now, but all he could think about was getting Teya away from Jesse. At least the grove water seemed to have an effect. It congealed when it came in contact with her broken skin.

  The redness and swelling began to lessen while he rubbed it into the wound. He applied it to the back of her arm where the bullet had come out as well. As the tension left Teya’s body, her even breathing signaled that she slept.

  Satisfied that it looked better, he wiped away the blood and wrapped her arm in a clean bandage. Letting out a deep sigh, he sat back against the tree and drank the last of the grove water. The sun sat low on the horizon, and he knew they were a couple of hours away from the city. An hour here meant Jesse might get there before them. He’d undoubtedly watch the road, but it couldn’t be helped. Teya needed to rest.

  Bran gla
nced at her, his gaze traveling over her soft skin and full lips. She looked so peaceful and harmless in sleep, nothing like the woman who’d brought down lightning out of nowhere. There were more dimensions to her power than he realized. The way her power came out seemed to surprise her as much as him. His hair stood on end when the bolt flew over his head to hit the man closest to them.

  Then Teya went charging after them. He was so surprised he almost didn’t catch her in time. He reacted more to the way she looked than what she did. Her eyes held a wild intensity that put him on edge, almost like she’d lost all ability to reason.

  Something else bothered him even more. He had called to her, but it wasn’t until he’d shouted her name in his mind that she’d heard him. A chill ran down his arms just thinking about it. What was that all about? He knew it had something to do with the ceremony in the grove.

  Ever since that kiss, he had an uncanny awareness of Teya. It was more than just his thoughts, almost like she occupied a place in the back of his mind. This awareness hadn’t been there until he kissed her, but he had felt a change between them after the ritual in the grove.

  He remembered her grandmother calling the ceremony a song of life and creation. Had his participation brought out these feelings of connection between them? He’d kissed her when it was over, unable to deny the desire that throbbed deep inside of him. It felt right, like the completion of something more. Without her grandmother’s presence, he would have made love to Teya and never doubted the reasons, but what if it was a compulsion brought on by the magic?

  Teya had asked him to sing, but that was all he had agreed to do. Now, it looked like there was more to it, and it bothered him that she hadn’t told him. Why? If they’d asked, would he have agreed? Maybe not. So they did it anyway, without asking, and without telling him anything. He didn’t like that one bit.

  Teya moaned softly in her sleep, and Bran caught his breath. Her brow puckered, almost like she was reacting to his frustration. He thought she’d gone back to sleep until he glanced at her eyes, and realized they were open and watching him.

  She frowned, and her gaze turned into a silvery pool of concentration in the deepening twilight. He got the distinct impression she was trying to read his mind. With a suddenness he wasn’t expecting, she rose to her feet and mumbled something about needing some privacy before scrambling up the rocky hillside behind them.

  He opened his mouth to speak, but held back, deciding to try a different approach. Concentrating hard, he shifted his focus to Teya’s mind and got the distinct impression of fear. He pushed deeper, and abruptly slammed against a mental barrier. He physically jerked away, almost hitting the back of his head against the tree. Astonishment and a sense of dread drove him to his feet, but he clenched his jaw and mastered the impulse to charge after her.

  In a steady climb over the rocks, she soon topped the rise. Without breaking stride, she stepped around a large boulder and disappeared from sight. Bran took a deep breath to calm down. As hard as it was, he knew it was important to wait a few minutes before he followed. He made it to thirty seconds, then threw caution to the wind and charged up the hill.

  She sat at the top of the craggy rocks facing the fading light. A gentle breeze tossed her hair, but other than that, she sat still as a statue. The blankness on her face reminded him of the first time he saw her at the palace, and a small shiver coursed through him. It came to him that the coldness she showed the world was what happened when she locked away her feelings and humanity.

  With the gray hues of evening, her face shone chalk-white against the darkness of her hair, giving her an ethereal glow. He could almost feel the power emanating from her. When she fixed her attention on him, his breath caught at how cold and predatory she seemed.

  A barrier between them opened like a deep chasm, too wide to cross. He remembered her grandmother’s words, and his heart beat furiously at the implication that Teya wasn’t quite human. But if she wasn’t human, what else could she be?

  She captured his gaze like a predator contemplating its prey before she sighed, and a flicker of emotion broke the spell. The world tilted back to normal and Bran let out a relieved breath. She was warm and real, not a specter to be frightened of. Still, he couldn’t help the nervous tension in his legs as he climbed the short distance to her side.

  He sat down and glanced out over the countryside. “The view from here is beautiful,” he said, hoping to put her at ease. “The transition between night and day has always been a magical time for me. I like watching the moonrise, and see the first star in the darkening sky. Have you ever made a wish on a star?”

  Teya’s shoulders slumped, and she took a deep breath, but didn’t turn to face him. “I don’t think so.” She let down her guard and Bran sighed to feel something like relief through the bond, even if it was distant. As she relaxed, Bran became even more sensitive to the turmoil within her. He felt her fear, but a thread of warmth flowed between them and overshadowed it.

  “I can’t remember what I wished for as a child,” Bran said. “But right now, I think I’d wish to hear you sing.” Her surprise wafted over him. “There’s nothing more beautiful anywhere…than you.” A heartfelt smile lit up her face. “So what do you say?”

  She took a quick breath and shook her head.

  “Please?” he asked, knowing she could hardly refuse after all they’d been through.

  Her lips twisted downward, but she gave in with a quick nod. Focusing on the night sky, she filled her lungs with air and sang a simple melody that wove through the fabric of his imagination. She sang of a journey to the stars filled with wishes and dreams, a journey fraught with uncertainty, but undertaken for a noble purpose. A journey that ended with a return to a home filled with love and peace.

  It reflected the journey they were on now, and surprised him with so much longing, that his chest hurt. “Thank you.” Bran took her hand, barely able to speak. “Someday, I’d like to sing that song with you.”

  Taking a quick breath, Teya snatched her hand away and shook her head.

  “What is it?” he prodded. “Just... tell me. It’s time I knew whatever it is you’re so afraid of.”

  “All right,” she agreed. Several moments passed while she gathered her courage. “Something happened in the grove. But I’m afraid to tell you, because... I don’t want you to hate me.”

  Bran smiled wryly, knowing that however mad he got, he could never hate her. “I don’t think it’s as bad as you make it out to be. I could never hate you. I could be angry, but hate? That’s pretty strong.”

  “Just remember, it was Leona’s idea,” she said

  Bran’s smile widened, despite the gravity of the situation. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  She steadied herself, then gazed at him with such earnestness that his heart softened. “Leona wanted to do more than strengthen the grove, she wanted to protect me. I didn’t understand the full measure of what she did until later, after it was done. You have to believe that.”

  She waited until Bran nodded before continuing. “It was during the ceremony. The powers of creation and life are also the same powers that are used to bond a man and a woman. Leona helped create a link between us that has opened a connection to our feelings. She did this so that I could draw on your strength and your protection.

  “It was selfish, and we did it without your consent... which I know is wrong. I hope you can forgive me, but she gave me little choice.”

  “How is this supposed to help you?”

  She hesitated and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure. I just know that she didn’t want you to leave me, and with this connection, you wouldn’t be able to.” Her gaze flashed to his with desperation. “Please understand. I don’t intend to hold you to this when you never meant for it to happen. When this is all over, the bond can be broken and I will release you, I promise.”

  Even though he’d expected something like this, a surge of anger poured over him. “I’m not sure I understand why your grand
mother thought she needed to do that. I would never have agreed to it.”

  At Teya’s stricken expression, he continued. “But only because I don’t need this bond to help you. I wouldn’t leave you unprotected and alone. I’m not that kind of person. If she would have asked, I could have told her. Now look at this burden she put on you. It’s hardly fair.”

  Teya’s expression cleared and the tension seeped out of her. “My grandmother had good intentions, but she didn’t know you. After what Korban did to me and our people, she doesn’t trust easily. But thank you for telling me.”

  She glanced away, and her brows crinkled together. “There’s something else you need to know. I can’t sever the bond, only Grandmother can do that. But... I can shield you from my feelings.”

  Something clicked into place and Bran paused. Maybe Leona created this bond between them for an entirely different reason. “There might be something else that we don’t understand yet. I don’t think you should block your feelings from me.”

  “It’s best if I do,” Teya explained. “When I was held captive, I never seemed to feel things as much as I have lately. I used to shut my feelings into an imaginary box, so I could cope with things I couldn’t control. I kept that box locked up tight so my emotions wouldn’t touch me. I’m used to shutting my feelings away. I don’t want to lose control. Not like I did today. You saw what happened.”

  Bran nodded. “I understand that. After being in captivity that long, it’s amazing you kept your sanity at all. You remained true to yourself, even though it was at the cost of your feelings. That is an amazing feat for anyone, let alone a child. Most people would have done whatever their captors wanted for acceptance and love. Even if it was wrong.”

  “I was ready to kill myself,” Teya confessed. She glanced at him, her face glowing with wonder and gratitude. “Then you came and took me away from all that. You took me home to the grove, and even though it had changed, it was the first time I had ever felt at peace. Using my abilities to nurture and protect life filled me with more joy than anything I have ever known. That’s where I belong. I realize that now, this world is foreign to me. My power was not meant to kill.”