Rachel had never let him get this close before. He was right behind her and she didn't like it one bit. He was not touching her, but he was near enough to put her nerves on edge. Not quite convinced anyone else was nearby, she turned her head and glared up at him, but he wasn't paying attention. Instead, he was searching the forest with his eyes looking for movement. Maybe there really was danger.
Rachel turned to her side so he could move closer to the tree. He did the same and they stood back to back, each peeking around opposite sides of the tree. They heard a twig snap and then another. Not more than ten feet away, the lower branch of a tree moved.
More twigs snapped, leaves on the ground rustled, another low branch moved, and it was clear the enemy would be easier to watch from her side of the tree. Connor turned around to face her same direction and felt her move closer until she was leaning against him. He smiled. He wanted her closer still, so he moved his dagger to his other hand, put his arm around her waist and pulled her firmly against him. Then he leaned forward to look around her side of the tree.
She tried to look too, but he had her so tight, she couldn't bend forward far enough, so she looked up at him instead. He wasn't smiling and she held her breath. Another branch moved and she could see it, but it was farther away and hopefully the danger was leaving.
Connor leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Go home."
She shook her head, but when she looked up, he was frowning at her. He was about to become third in command and command was something everyone respected and obeyed. That didn't mean she had to obey him now. Still, she was not at all happy with the hold he had on her and it was the only way to get him to let go. She pretended to be disappointed by letting her head fall forward and finally nodded.
He couldn't believe she let him get this close to her, and he loved the feel of it. He fully expected her to disobey, and when she didn't, he reluctantly released her. He watched her quietly head for home and softly sighed.
Rachel was out of the forest before she realized she was still holding her breath. She relaxed, walked to the bridge and then turned around to wait. She wanted to know what was happening and she would hear it directly from Connor if she had to wait all night.