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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 they were supposed to keep her safe. There was also the
possibility that she was their mate. As well as one or two others that were
much less likely to apply considering the circumstances and that Vin had said
nothing to hint that it would be something beyond what would be obvious.
    “No, that isn’t the question. Regardless of what we do, she
won’t be able to keep those secrets for long. Maybe if it doesn’t take long,
she’d be able to make it through the time to bring these men to justice. Do you
really intend to let her walk away and disappear as you know she means to do?
It’s obvious she doesn’t want to be with a Thent . Who would? But that
fear isn’t going to resolve on its own.” Linc rose and paced over to the
rickety dresser the inn provided for its patrons.
    It would probably break apart if he leaned against it. She’d
fight having her defenses stripped away and the truth revealed. Doing it could
destroy any trust she had in them. It wasn’t