Page 9 of Bind Me

That’s why I need to track down my fated mate before I go insane. And Asher’s got it bad, too. That’s why he joined me. Otherwise, we’re both fucked.

“Thanks for that.” I throw the words over my shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it.”

He’s strolling over to the guy I’d tossed into a tree. He now slumps against the trunk, his groans echoing through the clearing. I move to wipe the blood from my hands on one of the fallen men’s shirts, then straighten up and head over to Asher, who’s grilling the guy for answers.

Just as I get there, the man gurgles, “You fucking idiots, you think you can waltz into our House without repercussions? Every damn mercenary will be on your tail. Get the fuck off our land while you can. No one wants you here.”

I exchange glances with Asher, who’s grinning at the news.

“Well, I didn’t expect that. Looks like we’re in for more fun, then.”

Asher leans in closer, fisting the guy by the hair, wrenching it sideways harshly. “Who’s in charge of this House, then?”

The man grins, his teeth stained with blood, clearly in no shape to get up anytime soon. “King Kaspian,” he manages to rasp out. “And trespassers are free game.”

With a grimace, Asher puts the man out of his misery with a blade to the throat. Quick and merciless.

In no time, we’re leaving the bodies behind. They might serve as a warning to any other mercenaries who think about crossing our path.

Asher releases a low rumble in his voice. “How did these fools find out about us so fast?”

“I bet that dick of a captain on the ship sold us out,” I reply, recalling the way the man eyed us suspiciously on the trip over. “He never trusted us.”

Asher cracks his neck. “Fuck, he shouldn’t trust us.”

I chuckle, scanning the woodland around us and the snow-tipped mountains in the distance. We were dropped off at a small port far from the city of Bergen, specifically to avoid drawing attention and to slip into the country unnoticed. We’ve learned enough to know the new world is divided into Houses, and joining one requires approval by those higher up and isn’t as simple as just walking in—though that’s exactly what we’re planning on doing.

Asher strolls beside me, shoulder to shoulder, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his pants, looking beyond calm, reminding me of when I first met him in Tartarus at a market. I was in the middle of a fight, and he stepped in to give me a hand—especially since there were twenty men against one… me. He wore a grin on his face the whole time, not worried. Just like now.

Turned out we had more in common than I expected, one of them being our shared desire to get the fuck out of that prison and find our fated mates.

“So,” Asher murmurs, his dark eyes glinting my way. “Where do we start?”

“Tracking down my grandfather’s place, see what’s there, what family still exists, and start digging into exactly what the fuck happened five thousand years ago, before he got shoved into Tartarus.” Thing is, many supernaturals, including my family, live for thousands of years, so there’s bound to be someone in Norway who remembers my grandfather.

Asher chuckles and slaps my back, his laugh deep. “I don’t envy you that mammoth task.”

I laugh along, knowing it’s going to be near impossible, but I’m a determined bastard when I set my mind to something.

The road ahead twists and winds around a mountain. We press forward. The sunlight filters through the dense woods on either side of our worn path, and descending before us, the city comes into view.

It sprawls at the base of mountains with towering peaks and houses of varied colors gathered together by the water. Even from our location, the harbor shines with the sun. The whole place feels like a mix of old and new, buildings fitting into the curves of the mountains and the edges of the water.

Sunlight reflects off the homes and the sea, and it’s hard not to compare this world to the one I knew in Tartarus. Darkness had been a constant companion there, consuming the land. No sunlight, no natural warmth, no seasons—just a dull atmosphere and weather. Unless my father spoke of the outside world from his learnings or stories we’d heard from elders, I wouldn’t have known any differently.

Now, the touch of sunlight on my skin, soft and warm, is a sensation I’m slowly growing to appreciate. The bright colors of the land and vibrant greens of the forest all feel new, almost surreal. Even the smells are sharper and crisper, like the pines, the fresh grass, and the soil.

After growing up in that darkness, I adapted, learning to accept that world—after all, it’s the only one I’d known. I even found ways to care for people there, especially those who bent the knee to my family out of loyalty. After my parents died, that dedication only grew stronger around me.

I lived comfortably in Tartarus after I moved out of my parents’ home. Yet, everything became mundane, repetitive, and I craved more. So much more.

I focus on the city ahead of us, eager to discover it.

“Notice how even the air smells different out here?” I say, then take in a long breath.

Asher grins at me, inhaling deeply. “It’s sweeter than back at Tartarus.”

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