Aerenden: The Child Returns (Ærenden) by Kristen Taber Page B

spoke.
    “Why
didn’t they see us?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
    “They
couldn’t,” Nick answered as he shifted out of the backpack. He opened it,
smiling when she raised an eyebrow at him, but did not continue to explain. He
pulled out the blanket and unfolded it. “I realize we’ll be a little crowded,
but it’s safest if we sleep here tonight.” He spread half the blanket on his
side of the cave, and then flipped the other half in her direction so she could
do the same. He sat down. “Tonight, we can get a full night’s sleep. It isn’t
necessary to remain on watch.”
    “I
still don’t understand why,” she said and sat down opposite him, crossing her
feet in front of her. He grinned and she sighed. “You’re being juvenile.”
    “Probably.”
He chuckled. “It’s a relief to be here, and I guess I’m having some fun at your
expense.” He pointed to the entrance of the cave where several small, white
crystals hung from the ceiling. “Those crystals are used for protection.
Guardians hang them around cabins and caves throughout dangerous areas to
provide safe havens for travelers. The hiding places appear to Guardians or
people in need of them. To anyone else, this cave looks like part of the mountain.
We’re safe for now, but the Mardróch know we’re in the area so from now on, we
need to be on guard and more discreet about our travels. Tonight, though, there’s
nothing to worry about.”
    He
stretched out, lying down along the back of the cave and she did the same,
filling the space in front of him. Though the rain brought a chill to the air,
the small cave consolidated the warmth from their bodies. By morning, she knew
their clothes would be dry.
    Feeling
safe for the first time in days, Meaghan smiled and rested her head on Nick’s
arm. His steady breathing soothed her and soon she drifted to sleep.

CHAPTER NINE
    C LOUDS CONTINUED to blacken the sky as the night’s storm persisted, denying morning
its rendezvous with the rising sun. Nick could hear the rain pelting the soil,
muted thumps hinting of large, skin-soaking drops. The thought of slogging
through another mud-filled day did not thrill him, nor did the idea of trying
to scramble along narrow mountain paths with limited visibility. Though the
forest had been unpleasant, a dense canopy had kept some of the rain at bay.
The mountain would not provide the same protection, and the slick rocks would
be treacherous with Meaghan’s injury.
    He
considered staying put until the rain subsided. He felt warm, comfortable, and
somehow content despite the fact the cave left them little room to move and the
floor remained hard and unforgiving underneath the blanket. He guessed it had
more to do with the company than the cave. During the night, he had awoken to
find Meaghan shivering and had taken her into his arms to warm her.
    Although
holding her had filled a functional role, he could not deny the pleasure it had
brought him. She had curled into him, pressing her face into his neck, her soft
breath tickling his skin, and he had fought the urge to stroke her hair in
return. She had shifted and he had tightened his arms, drawing her close, but
had stopped short of caressing her back. And once, while she had remained lost
to a dream that curled a soft smile onto her face, she had lifted her mouth to
his.
    The
electricity he had felt when they connected jolted him backward, knocking his
head against the rock wall. He had not been able to decide if he had seen stars
in front of his eyes or the crystals flickering against the black night, but
the pain had been enough to bring him to his senses. He let her go. Shivering
would not harm her and it seemed better than the alternative.
    Even
without the direct contact, the confined space had left her too close to him.
The slightest movement had brought light touches and brush-ups that had
elevated his heart rate and bred excitement. Although he hated to admit his
weakness, he knew he could not