Page 39 of Bind Me

“You’re not a prisoner, but there’s no way my fated mate is living in a separate home from me. And your cabin isn’t big enough for me and all the space I need.”

The weight of his words leaves me frustrated that all of a sudden, we’re living together.

“I’m… I’m not ready.”

“I know you’re not,” he admits. “Which is why I’ve given you the master bedroom. I’ll sleep in one of the spare rooms until you’re ready.”

Anger slithers through me. “I have my belongings in the cabin, I have a rental contract, and?—”

“I’ve already paid it for the term of you giving notice, and your items will be packed and delivered here,” he interrupts, speaking smoothly, as though he’s had this planned for weeks and I’m supposed to just go along with it.

Hell no!

“I didn’t give you permission.” I blink at him, feeling a burning inside me. “And what if I don’t want to move into this fancy mansion but want you to move in with me?”

“You do?” he asks.

I notice Chowder hasn’t moved from his cushion, just watching us.

“No.” I pause. “Maybe… I don’t know, but what I’m saying is you can’t kidnap me because I bet you wouldn’t like it.”

He studies me, lips tight, his dark hair sitting messily around his face, a few strands hanging over an eye. Dressed in black pants and a matching button-up shirt, it’s hard to ignore the muscles that push against the fabric and how the curled tattoos peer out, spreading across his collarbone and thick neck. The guy is pure muscle, and he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. Yet I’m fighting him because I’m scared of how fast things are going.

The whole true mate is not a joke. We’re talking about a forever decision, and it kind of freaks me out every time I come face-to-face with it.

“I know how being ripped out of your house feels more than anyone. I left the only home I knew back in Tartarus, a world away, and moved here.”

“Wait, what did you just say?” Coldness slides through me. “You’re telling me you’re from Tartarus? And you escaped? Because no one walks out of Tartarus.” I’m suddenly pacing and shaking all over. Of course my fated mate is also a criminal. It’s my track record of love interests.

“They opened the portal, and after interviewing me, they released me.”

He’s talking like this isn’t a big deal. My thoughts are rushing ahead. My boss told me that his grandfather was put in there for a crime he committed, and anyone born in that place stays there, serving a life sentence as well. So, Kaden had no choice. I jumped to conclusions, but can you blame a girl?

My response is jammed in my chest, mostly because I want to keep being furious at him, but instead, a sliver of pity fills me. He would have been forced to grow up in a prison for no wrongdoing of his own… I swallow hard, trying to process this revelation.

“So, you were born in Tartarus, raised in that hellhole?”

He nods, his gaze steady.

“But still,” I protest, anger and confusion swirling inside me. “You can’t make decisions for me. I have a life, a job… responsibilities. How can you do this?”

“I’m not taking anything away from you,” he replies calmly. “I’m giving you a better life, a safer one.”

A hitched breath spills past my lips. “I don’t need saving. I’ve looked after myself this far and did pretty well.”

His head tilts to the side, studying me, most likely pitying me, and I grizzle internally at the notion.

“I know you can,” he says softly. “This is about giving us a chance to get to know each other and without danger.”

I shake my head, but he’s on his feet.

“My little mermaid, we’ll make this work, no matter what I have to do. You tell me anything in the world you want, and I will move oceans to make it happen.”

“Not everything,” I murmur, mostly to myself.

His words hang in the air, and there’s almost sorrow in his voice, disappointment. I won’t deny that the idea of not making it work with my fated mate squeezes my chest, shortening my breaths. Deep down, I want this so badly, but what happens if I turn? Will he face the same fate as my father?

“So, you’re saying if I want to leave, I can go?” My inhales are coming faster now, my thoughts flinging about in my head between giving him a chance and hating that I’m losing control.

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