Page 30 of Taken By the Exiled Laird

He blinked. "I… She's nae me⁠—"

The older woman scoffed. "Dinnae try tae fool an old woman. I ken love when I see it, lad."

Theon opened his mouth to protest, but it died on his lips. He would rather not hear that word, didn't want to think about it, but he could no longer ignore it. Since he was a boy, he'd only had his brothers, by blood and by choice, to love. He'd long since rejected the idea that he'd love a woman beyond a few shared nights. Everything had turned upside down since he'd found Briana in that carriage, and though it disconcerted him, he could not claim to hate it.

"Mister Theon?"

He looked down and saw Rosie standing in front of him. "Aye?"

"Briana says ye have tae leave once we're done here. Must ye?" she asked.

Theon paused, then reached into his belt and drew out a sheathed dagger. "Here," he said. He placed it in her hands. "Be very careful with it, aye? Look after yerself and yer brother. Brighter times will come."

"And ye?" Neila asked. "What will ye do now? Have ye completed yer business in this village?"

Theon glanced over at Briana again, and unconsciously he rubbed the back of his neck. "Nay," he admitted, then added, "But it can wait."

Before they left the village, Briana handed over the money that she had stolen from the guards. Along with Theon's money, it would be enough to boost the village for a short time, and she left them with strict instructions to locate a herbalist to help with healing, her mind on the injured woman who'd given up hope. Neila promised to see the children safely back to the tavern with the coins and their new clothes, and after some hugs and goodbyes, Briana and Theon returned to their horse, each lost in their own thoughts.

"May I help ye mount?" Theon asked after they had unhitched the creature and made sure it was ready to go. "Or will ye bite me head off for tryin' tae touch ye again?"

"I havenae decided yet," Briana replied primly, hiding her smile.

She climbed up onto the horse herself, and Theon mounted behind her in one elegant move. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and though she pretended to bristle at his presumption, she allowed herself to lean back against him. They began the journey out of the village and back down the road toward the rebel camp. They didn't talk much, but at one point he did draw her even closer, more of an embrace than a security measure, and Briana knew she had to say something.

"Are ye afraid I'm gonnae fall off?" she teased, trying to ignore the way her body tingled at the touch.

"I'm just tryin' tae stay warm. I left me cloak behind, ye ken," he murmured in her ear.

His voice vibrated, warm and pleasant, like a deep song, and she closed her eyes afterward as they rode. They lapsed back into silence, and Briana did not open her eyes again, trusting Theon to be their eyes and ensure that they made it back safe.

He seemed a different person than he had when he'd half-dragged her onto the horse hours before. She could not understand him. Why had he been so angry? Why was he now so kind? Which one of them was the real Theon? She leaned back against him, fervently praying that she knew the answer and knowing that she couldn't trust it no matter how much she wanted to.

They arrived back at the hidden base after some time, both of them laughing at a joke they had already forgotten. Briana felt light—lighter than she had not only since meeting Theon again but perhaps in her whole life. Seeing the smile on those children's faces, knowing she'd been able to make a difference no matter how small… it had changed something deep inside her, even though she didn't know exactly what yet. And the way Theon had spoken to those children, the self-sacrifice he'd shown without any ceremony… well, she didn't think it would leave her mind for a long, long time.

Theon got down first and helped her down afterward, his hands lingering on her waist after her feet were on the ground. She smiled up at him, but there was no urge to tease him now. In fact, she would be quite happy to stand there with him forever.

"Theon," she said seriously, examining his face as though she was seeing it for the first time. "I want… I need ye tae ken somethin'. Whatever has gone on between us, whatever ye've done and whatever ye plan tae do, I think that what ye did for those bairns and for that village was wonderful. I think ye're a better man than ye like tae pretend ye are."

His hands tightened briefly on her waist. "Do ye?" he murmured. For a second, she thought he was going to lean down and kiss her again, but instead he went on. "We make a good team. Until we get caught."

She stepped a little closer. "Then next time we dinnae get caught."

There was only a breath between them now. The moment seemed to stretch into eternity.

"I got ye something," he said at last.

His tone was strange, unlike any that she'd heard from him in her dreams or in real life. It was uncertain, almost shy, in a way that was as endearing as it was confusing. He released her and moved to the saddlebags and withdrew a length of carefully folded material. When he shook it out, it tumbled into a dress of deep forest green, made from soft summer fabric.

"I think it should be the right size. I felt bad about ruinin' yer only nice dress, and I thought the green would match yer eyes."

Words failed her. She stared at the gift, then silently accepted it, holding it almost reverently.

"Do ye dislike it?" he asked. "I ken some women prefer tae avoid green so as nae tae offend the fae and bring bad luck, but I thought perhaps⁠—"

"I have nae fear of bad luck," she replied. She moved close to him again. "I think, in fact, me luck has changed at last."

He half-smiled, leaning down. "I'd say the same," he agreed.