Free Unbound Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 1) by Kara Jaynes Page A

needed some fresh air. The city always smelled bad but less so when it rained. I went outside and walked down the now-familiar street, throwing my hood back and tipping my head up to feel the rain drops as they fell on my face. The rain here was the same as the rain in the forest.
    “Adaryn? Adaryn!” I heard footsteps behind me, and I just had time to turn around before I was picked up off my feet in a tremendous hug, my feet dangling several inches off the ground. I couldn't breathe for a minute, so tight was the embrace. But I knew that embrace. I returned it, hugging Bran fiercely. Tears stung my eyes.
    Bran set me down, grinning ear to ear. “It's good to see you, Adaryn,” he said, his eyes shining. “I can't tell you how good.”
    I smiled back, fighting the urge to cry. I'd tried not to think about Bran during my capture, knowing the pain of separation would be too great, and it was only now that I realized how much I'd missed him.
    “It's so good to see you, too,” I managed to say around the lump in my throat. My eyes traveled down, and I saw the collar around his neck. I clapped a hand to my mouth, horrified. “You too?” I whispered.
    Bran shook his head and leaned closer. “Relax, it's a fake,” he said quietly.
    “Why?” I asked.
    He grinned again. “Why, to come and find you, of course,” he said, still talking in a lower voice. “You and Caolan. Briar was hiding in the trees, but she saw you and him carried off by the Oppressors.”
    Bran's gaze hardened momentarily as he looked at the collar encircling my throat. “I am so sorry it's taken me this long, Adaryn. But this city is packed with people. I still haven't managed to find Caolan yet. Do you know where he is?”
    I shook my head. I hadn't even known the young boy in our clan had been captured as well. I didn't remember anything after the scuffle I had with Aaric.
    Bran gently took one of my hands. “I can't imagine what pain you must have endured, Adaryn,” he said quietly. “But it's almost all behind you. I'm going to find a way to free you. One way or another.”
    I was about to tell him it wasn't likely. Then it hit me. “There is a way,” I said quietly. I looked around to make sure no passerby was listening. No one so much as glanced our way, but I pulled Bran into a nearby alley just to be sure.
    I told him about Aaric's glider and how he planned to take me into the woods on the first clear day.
    Bran grinned. “Your captor's an idiot. I can't believe he plans to take you out alone on your own territory. Ha!” He barked a short laugh.
    I grinned in spite of myself. “Not an idiot,” I said. “He's just . . . very focused on his projects. He's actually quite brilliant. For an Oppressor,” I added hastily, seeing Bran's eyes narrow.
    “Well, brilliant or not, he'll meet his end in a few days' time,” he said, his jaw firming. A thrill of fear ran through me as I thought of Aaric being in the hands of my people. When roused to anger, they were ruthless.
    “No, Bran,” I said. “You can't hurt him. Promise you won't hurt him.”
    Bran's eyes widened with incredulity. “What? What are you saying? This man captured you, Adaryn. Has hurt you and—”
    “He hasn't hurt me,” I said. “Really, he hasn't.” I couldn't miss the frank disbelief in Bran's expression. “You need to promise me you won't hurt him, Bran.” I leaned toward him emphatically. “He captured me, but he hasn't hurt me or forced me to do anything against my will, aside from keeping me here. Promise me.”
    Bran looked away for a minute, his eyes clouded in thought. “Fine,” he said at last, irritation in his voice. “I promise I won't hurt him.” He didn't fail to notice the soft sigh of relief that escaped my lips. He frowned but didn't remark on it.
    “Where do we meet you?” he asked.
    “At Eagle's Head,” I said. “Remember, he plans to test his glider there on the next fine day we get.”
    “So what's a glider, exactly?” Bran