Page 20 of Bind Me

Kaden

Here I was, grumbling about heading into the yard to deal with another damn mercenary after the trap went off, so imagine my surprise to find myself staring at the gorgeous beauty from the other night instead.

She’s wriggling, hanging upside down from a branch by the rope around her ankle. My traps are all over the yard, a habit I picked up in Tartarus to avoid intruders, but I’ve never been this pleased about a catch before.

I can’t wipe the foolish grin off my lips or the speeding thud of my heart pounding against my rib cage. Something about her sets me off, and I’m fucking engrossed.

Where did she come from, and more importantly, did she follow me to my grandfather’s home because she couldn’t get me out of her mind? Ever since watching her in her pool, she’s been a constant in my thoughts.

Her gaze finds me in the shadows of the surrounding trees, and she stiffens, her eyes wide, brow furrowed with what I can only imagine is frustration. Long aquamarine hair swings down, brushing the ground. She’s wearing a deep scowl, and somehow, she’s so damn adorable when she’s angry. Her round face, ice-blue eyes, and delicious lips call to me. Leather jacket zipped up and black pants tight around her curves remind me of her in the pool, her breasts bare. That hunger in me stirs awake again, my cock throbbing in my jeans.

I step out of the shadows, pausing by the tree she’s dangling from, grinning at this mermaid who is so much more captivating close up. They’re known for their magical beauty, the kind that can render most weak in their presence, but there’s something about her almond-shaped eyes, those full red lips, her tiny nose, the curve of her neck… something that’s going to ruin me. I feel it already, yet I can’t walk away.

“If I knew trapping mermaids was this easy, I would’ve started long ago,” I say, resting a shoulder against the tree she’s hanging from, studying her intently.

Her eyes narrow as she swings gently, still hanging upside down. “How do you know me?”

I grin, taking my time with an answer. “You insult me, thinking I don’t know you were spying on me in the fjord the other day.”

She stares at me sharply, her mouth opening and closing while she spins slightly on the rope. She doesn’t respond immediately, telling me she thought she got away with sneaking around underwater.

Adorable.

“I wasn’t spying on you,” she finally answers firmly. “I stumbled across you.”

Her voice is a song in my ear, each word playing across my skin, a cadence that’s like velvet against me. I can almost feel the spark of her magic in her voice, an irresistible allure that can easily convince someone to speak the truth. Yet she’s barely using it to her full potential, as though she has no idea she has such a power. An ability that won’t impact me, but others would be fair game if she came into her full strength.

Does she even have any idea of the impact she has on others?

I’ve heard it said that people either fall under a mermaid’s charm and adore them, or if they resist, they despise them. Then there’s the whole connection to how they become sirens… it’s fucking dark. Of course, there are a bunch of rumors about mermaids, and not everything is based on truth.

I nod, still grinning, well aware that she stayed underwater long enough to watch my conversation with Asbesta, but I don’t call her out on it. Instead, I keep my smirk fixed on her.

“And I’m guessing you live here, in your family mansion?” she murmurs. “So, why do you have this stupid trap in your yard?” she grumbles, attempting to reach up to her ankle but failing as the breeze pushes her into another spin.

“I have more than one trap, but I guess you were unlucky enough to step on one.”

“Story of my life,” she mumbles, and I catch the words. “Anyway, are you going to keep me hanging here all day or what?”

I chuckle, enjoying the sass in her voice. “All right, all right, I’ll let you down.”

“Do you have a name?” she blurts out as I slowly push off the tree.

“Kaden Vinter. You?”

She blinks my way as her spin settles, and she’s facing me, as if seeing me for the first time. Was she expecting someone else?

“I have legal permission to be on your property, but if you just help me down, I’ll be on my way.”

I can’t take my attention off that cute face, the sinful body, rather enjoying seeing her tied up for me.

“You never told me your name,” I say, curious what she’s doing here and in the fjord the other day.

“Not important, especially when you’re not a man of your word and haven’t gotten me down yet.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of mermaids and sirens hunted, tied up by their tails once captured.” I lift my gaze to her bound ankle. “My grandfather once told me that if you capture a mermaid and release her, she will be indebted to you.”

She bursts out laughing, the sound like honey, sweet and delicious, yet she rolls those hypnotic blue eyes.

---