Page 52 of Bind Me

“So, you’re not planning on moving?”

“Unless you intend to relocate with me, I’m staying by your side.” He’s wearing that stalker grin again.

Chowder, finishing his fish, looks between us. “Are we moving house, all three?”

“No,” I say firmly.

Chowder gives me a pout.

“If that’s what we need to do,” Kaden answers, his tone equally resolute.

“You can’t just make decisions for all of us.” I glare at him, irritation bubbling below the surface along with something warmer.

“I’m not,” he replies calmly. “I’m offering a solution. Your safety is my priority.”

“Me, too,” Chowder chirps in, his eyes wide and innocent.

Feeling outnumbered and slightly overwhelmed, I murmur, “I don’t even know how to process all of this.”

Kaden leans forward, his gaze intense but softer than before. “Embrace it, little mermaid.”

“We family now?” Chowder suddenly blurts out.

“No,” I say at the exact same moment that Kaden says, “Yes.”

Chowder shakes his head. “Confusing.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“We’re… figuring it out,” Kaden adds.

Ipark the car at the side of the busy port, the hustle and bustle of the docks in clear view at the bottom of the street. Reaching over for my backpack on the passenger seat, I prepare to grab just the essentials, but my hand lands on something unexpectedly fluffy. I flinch, my heart skipping a beat, only to glance over and find Chowder popping his head out of my bag, his eyes bright and inquisitive.

“Hello,” he chirps.

“You little sneak,” I murmur. “When did you get into my bag?”

He makes a low grunting sound, which I’ve learned is his attempt at laughing, replicating the sound I make.

I giggle, ruffling his fur. I’d been in such a rush this morning that I didn’t even think anything about my bag feeling slightly heavier than normal. I blame Kaden and his words from breakfast distracting me.

“I can’t exactly leave you alone in the car. Looks like you’re coming with me.” A part of me really hopes this won’t require any chasing down the bad guy. After all, it’s just a checkup on my new target.

Chowder’s chirping now, chin high, his little paws grasping the top of my bag. “I ready to work,” he tells me.

“Well, let’s see how we go today, all right?” He nods, and I grab my bag with him sinking inside. “You just need to remain low, okay?” Once I’m out of the car, I slide the bag onto my shoulder and make my way down to the docks.

The sun shines brightly this morning, the salty sea breeze whipping through my hair.

Today’s job is easy—collect the whereabouts of a twenty-year-old guy due to check in in a day’s time because he’s a high flight risk. The idiot got busted smuggling stolen jewels from the House of Air and Amethyst, thinking he could hide out in the House of Gold and Garnet, living off his treasure. So, we’re tracking him to ensure he doesn’t skip town.

He was last seen working down by the docks.

The place is bustling, merchants dragging in fish, other workers milling about. From my understanding, those who go out on the boats are from House of Sea and Serpentine and usually drop off catches on the wharf for locals, and those running the docks are meant to ensure no one enters the House of Gold and Garnet if they don’t belong here. How well that’s policed is something else unless, of course, mercenaries get wind of those illegal entries and go hunting for them.

My target works on the docks, so I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Pulling down my cap over my eyes, I dressed casually in jeans and a hoodie, blending in easily.

I spot a bunch of men chatting near the edge of a jetty, the sound of their voices growing clearer the closer I get. I’m hoping my target is nearby as there are workers coming and going from that ship, unloading cargo. Fishing boats bob in the water nearby. Seagulls squawk overhead, and the air is thick with the smell of the fish—lovely, just what I wanted to start my day.

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