Page 41 of Bind Me

The hairs on my arms lift at the stillness.

I reach a set of grand stairs that lead both upstairs and downstairs. I’ve yet to see a front door, so I assume it must be upstairs. When another great splash sounds again, I know with certainty it’s coming from downstairs. I glance down at the spiral stairs, its wooden banisters intricately carved with flowing wave patterns, while glowing sconces pierce the darkness.

I can’t see anything down there, not from my angle, and when something splashes again, sounding louder, a shiver races through me. Is Kaden in his true form?

With a deep breath and a bucketful of curiosity, I slink down the stairs, each step silent. The darkness thickens around me, but I press on.

At the bottom of the stairs, I find myself in another hallway, this one dimly lit with soft, glowing sconces on the walls. The splashing sound is louder now, coming from behind a large, ornate door at the end of the hall. My heart pounds as I approach, pushing it open slowly.

No sign of Kaden.

Inside, I’m greeted by the sight of an underground room that has me stunned. It’s as though I’ve stepped back in time to when kings and forbidden lairs existed.

The room is enormous, the walls a deep blue marble that seem to absorb the light from the sconces dotted overhead. Lofty pillars, engraved from floor to ceiling, line the walls, creating an air of majesty. To my right, the floor dips into the water, shimmering under the low lights, glowing bluish. There’s a narrow walkway in the middle of the water that leads directly to an arched open way that I instantly recognize as the cave from the fjord waters. Except I’m inside the cave now, and past the opening, it’s pitch black. The fjord waits out there.

Farther on my left stands a decorative stone, almost resembling an oversized gravestone, yet so much more beautiful. It’s smooth and carved, and the center is hollowed out several inches, revealing an exquisite painting of a mermaid. Red hair flows like fire, her gold-and-green tail sparkling and curving beneath her. The stone is etched away in spots, the painting missing small bits here and there, yet it’s still breathtaking.

In front of it are several steps with a flat stone table—more of a solid, oversized sacrificial table. At least, that’s what comes to my mind. I really hope I’m not right about that, yet that’s all I can think about now.

I move into the room, stepping closer to it, noting that on either side are more paintings on lofty stone murals. One of a kraken taking down a ship, its tentacles wrapping around the vessel with terrifying might. The other shows a siren with dark, piercing eyes that feel like they’re following me. My skin crawls, the image of my mother flashing in my mind.

“What in the world is this room?” I murmur to myself, a shiver running down my spine. I drift closer to the mantel with the paintings, thinking there might be something more I should know about Kaden. I run my hand across its smooth surface—cold to the touch. Walking around the stone table, I notice a dug-out section behind it. A shelf catches my eye, something glinting back at me. A blade.

My stomach hardens.

Well, this isn’t creepy at all. Just a casual sacrificial table in my new fated mate’s mansion. Totally normal.

This place, beautifully disturbing, feels ancient and dangerous.

I draw in a long inhale, sensing the faint pull of belonging as it ripples over my skin. I rub the chill out of my arms when another splash behind me makes me twist around.

My heart leaps into my throat because, in the dim light of the room, it takes me a few moments to see a figure emerging from the water.

I freeze at first, trying to work out who it is.

Then the light hits his strong face, that powerful jawline, the piercing eyes.

Kaden.

Muscles, dark hair washed off his face, abs that go for miles, well-built thighs, and… I might just fall over at his size.

He’s completely naked, water running down his chiseled body. And I’ve suddenly forgotten how to breathe.

He’s carved of muscles, so many of them. Powerful and built, all those angled lines, and I realize how much larger he is when he’s not hiding behind clothes. The V at the front of his hips, the one that makes most girls go wild, is sharp and pulling my attention lower and lower.

His eyes glint as they find me, like a predator catching sight of its prey. I’m trying my damn hardest to ignore how casual he is in his delicious nudity. If I thought I had problems ignoring him before, I’m completely distracted by all the flesh, by the huge thing dangling there.

I gasp for air, and he suddenly picks up a towel I hadn’t noticed discarded near a pillar and wraps it around his waist, coming my way.

Partly relieved, I pinch my lips, still grinning like a teenage girl about to fangirl at seeing the most gorgeous man in the nude.

He strolls toward me, arms dangling by his sides, and I fight to find my breath, my words, my sanity. Heat pours through me, a force so powerful I’m left burning up. My reaction to him… it’s the fault of this cursed fated-mate bond, isn’t it? Here I am, trembling, trying really hard not to lower my gaze to the bulge pushing against his towel but holding his intense stare.

There’s something different about him tonight. He’s normally got that “I’ll destroy you” look on his face, but tonight, it’s cranked up to maximum. It’s overwhelming, potent… and it’s affecting me on a deeper level that leaves me quivering for him. Yet he hasn’t even touched me.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he mutters, his voice a low rumble. “Sometimes, I can’t be trusted around you… and especially on such nights.” His gaze devours me, strands of dark, wet hair falling over his face. He’s still dripping wet, beads of water rolling down his muscles. It’s almost hypnotizing to watch.

Words slip past my lips. “What sort of night is that?”

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