Page 100 of Bind Me

Sasha

I’m back home after dropping Kaden off in the city. He mentioned he had a few people to ask about Lilia, so he took off while I took Zane to my work. After handing him over to my boss, I felt an enormous weight fall off my shoulders. My boss was ecstatic, singing my praises, which I’ve never had a boss do before. She even called up my old work in South Africa with me standing in her office, putting him on speaker. My new boss knows that this is the first mark I ever missed and hence, it got me transferred to Norway. I didn’t say a word, but hearing my old boss stammer and sound honestly surprised made me smile so hard my cheeks hurt.

The authorities are involved now, and there’s a comfort in knowing that something that has haunted me for so long is finally being resolved. Sure, Zane has others he works with, but catching him is a huge step toward stopping his animal-trafficking operation.

With a lingering smile, I stroll through the mansion, calling out, “Chowder?”

In seconds, he comes scrambling toward me, chirping excitedly. His little legs can barely keep up with his enthusiasm. I scoop him into my arms, hugging him tightly. “Today has been a great day,” I murmur into his fur. “Sure, there are other issues, but that asshole who hurt you is now caught.”

Chowder stares up at me, his gaze innocent, as if he’s trying to comprehend the gravity of the situation. I kiss the top of his head, unable to resist his adorable confusion.

“I think we need a celebration,” I announce, the thought of a carefree evening lifting my spirits even more.

“Food!” Chowder chirps instantly, his eyes lighting up at the prospect.

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re insatiable with food. But I was thinking we could go swimming down in the basement pool afterward.”

His tail wriggles with excitement, his entire body vibrating with anticipation. Chowder loves the water almost as much as I do, and a swim sounds perfect after such a tense day.

I set him down, watching him scurry around my feet, and head to the kitchen to whip up something quick. My thoughts drift back to the confrontation with Zane and the information he spilled about Lilia. There’s a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, a sense that things are far from over.

As I prepare a simple sandwich, I keep one ear tuned to the soft sounds of the house, listening for any sign of Kaden’s return. The shadows in the corners seem darker today, the usual comfort of my home tinged with unease. There’s something about the quiet that feels charged, like the air before a storm. I can’t work out if it’s me or that I know she’s still a threat to me and is out there somewhere.

Chowder and I are at the table while he munches happily on smoked salmon. After we finish eating, we head to the basement, and I’m ready to dive in and unleash my mermaid side. It feels like an eternity since I’ve done so. The corridor is dimly lit, and the sound of our footsteps echoes softly against the stone walls.

“When do we go back to visit Eryx?” he asks.

“Not sure,” I reply, smiling at his enthusiasm. “Why? Missing your new friend already?”

“Yes! I like him. And flying! Do you think we can do it again?”

I chuckle at his eagerness. “We’ll see, buddy. I’m sure Eryx would love to take you on another flight. But first, we’ve got to figure out some other things.”

The hallways seem darker than usual, the shadows looming larger as we descend the stairs. I try to shake off the feeling, focusing instead on the plans for our swim. But my instincts are screaming at me, a subtle warning I can’t ignore.

As we reach the bottom of the stairs, a creaking noise behind us makes me stop in my tracks. The hairs on my nape prickles with unease. Chowder spins around, a hiss on his lips.

“What is it?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Before I can react, something hard slams into the back of my head. Pain explodes across my skull, and my vision blurs. The world spins and darkens, swallowing me whole as I fall to the ground, unconscious.

A dull ache throbs across my head as I slowly regain consciousness. I groan, blinking against the dim light of the room. The space around me seems to sway, but I can’t tell if it’s the room or just my pounding head. I struggle to sit up, rubbing the sore spot on my skull, trying to piece together what happened.

“Chowder?” I call out, my voice hoarse.

A small squeak answers me, and I look to see him curled up beside me. My heart aches at the sight. I reach over and scoop him up, holding him close to my chest.

“Where are we?” I murmur, glancing around the room, trying to ignore the pulsing pain in my head.

“Why he bring us to boat?” Chowder asks.

The room sways again, and the salty scent of the sea fills the air, confirming Chowder’s words. We’re on a boat. The walls are wooden, creaking softly as the ship moves on the water. It’s a small room, empty except for a single door.

“Who brought us here?” I ask, though I’m not expecting Chowder to know.

“Big man,” he squeaks. “Why did he throw us into this room?”

“I don’t know,” I reply, moving to the door and finding it locked. I place my ear against it, listening for any sounds outside, but all I hear is the muffled creak of the ship. I glance around for anything useful and find a pin in my pocket. Thank God for my paranoia. I always keep tools on me just in case things go bad.

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