Page 41 of Shadow Bound

Remi looks between where Isabeau and I stand side by side like she’s trying to figure out a complicated math problem in her head. After a beat, a slow smile grows on her face. It’s not a friendly smile, no it’s one that would send a shiver of fear down most men’s backs. Leisurely, she moves toward us before going toe to toe with Isabeau. “I’ve decided to like you too, but if you get my brother killed, I will hunt your goth ass down and use one of those cute knives you keep strapped to your thigh to slice you up until that pretty pale skin of yours resembles hamburger meat.” Remi’s smile never breaks as she delivers her threat. Remi pats Beau’s shoulder. “I don’t get the feeling this is the last time I’ll see you, Isabeau.” And with those odd parting words, Remi also slips into the car.

My brother stands there, looking completely unsure of what he should do. “I feel like I’m abandoning you.” He nervously rubs the back of his neck. “But you’re right, I wouldn’t be able to come with you anyway. I have Winslow now and…”

I hold up my hand, stopping him. “You don’t have to explain or justify why you’re putting your mate first to me, dude. That’s exactly how it should be.”

His eyes cut to Isabeau, uncomfortable having this conversation in front of her. “I just feel like I’ve been a shitty brother, haven’t really been around much.” The guilty, ashamed tone in his voice makes my chest ache.

“You found your mate, don’t ever feel guilty for making her your priority. I’ve seen what happens to those who never find theirs, and it’s not pretty. She’s your peace and light, I can’t fault you for needing to bask in it.” I slap him on the shoulder and usher him to the car.

“When you have a mate, you’ll understand,” he offers before folding his tall frame into the car.

“Yeah, if I ever find her.”

After his family left, I went to my room and locked the door. He tried knocking on it a couple of times, but eventually he gave up and went to bed. I’m relieved he left because I needed the night to get my thoughts together. To rebuild the barbwire fence I’d put around myself to keep people from getting too close

I kissed him—no, correction; Imauledhim with my mouth.

I’ve kissed men before, but this was different. The men I’ve spent time with in the past meant nothing. There was no connection or feelings involved, they were just quick and dirty fucks to soothe the itch I occasionally had. I don’t even remember what their names were. They were just fleeting faces in the night. Ransom could have been another fleeting face. I could have just left after I shamefully left him in the woods. I had the time and there was blood there for my taking. I could have left right then and there, but I stayed. And then I offered to help him find the rogue.

Because once again, Ransom Weylyn is fucking with my head.

My body hummed with energy all night from both the blood and Ransom’s touch. Touching him is like being caught in an electrical storm, instead of the air buzzing with electricity, it’s my veins. I’m still recovering and not back to my full strength so my body needed sleep, but it didn’t come easy when I could feel Ransom’s touch still lingering on my skin.

I’m finishing the laces of the leather corset I’m wearing over my black thermal when there’s a soft knock at the door. Instinctively, I reach for the knife already strapped to my thigh, but when the smell hits me, I roll my eyes and relax. It’s Ransom—freshly showered given the heavy scent of his soap.

Taking a step toward the door, I pause and contemplate if I really want to open it. Never have I considered myself a shy or bashful person, but the idea of facing Ransom after what happened last night sounds about as enjoyable as walking barefoot over hot coals. Right now, I’d rather do that then look Ransom in the eyes.

“Beau, I’m being polite by knocking. The locks on this motel are cheap as shit.” The doorknob jiggles some to emphasize his words. “I can snap this lock with a flick of my wrist. Maybe even a flick of my pinky…” The doorknob moves again.

I still stay still, watching the brass knob move.

“Okay, last chance, or I’m going to start counting down from three like I’m dealing with a stubborntwo-year-old.” I can basicallyhearthe smirk in his voice. Still I don’t move. He wouldn’t break down the door…right?“Okay, so clearly you feel like being a brat today. Fine, three… two—” There’s a metallic cracking sound before the door slams open, banging against the wall behind it. “One.” He grins at me triumphantly. “Mornin’, Tink.”

Ransom’s canine teeth are just a tad longer than the rest and pointy. Even in his human form, he has a wolfish grin. His hair is still damp from the shower and standing wild all over his head like he haphazardly towel-dried it. His dark blue long-sleeved T-shirt makes his eyes look even bluer and his faded jeans hang off his narrow hips. In one hand, he holds two to-go coffee cups stacked on top of each other.

“I was going to open the door. You didn’t have to break the lock,” I scold.

“Wereyou though?”

“I was strongly considering it.” I sniff.

Ransom’s eyes travel down my body, taking in today’s outfit. Along with the leather corset, I’m wearing black skintight cargo pants tucked into my knee-high lace-up boots. “Fucking hell, Beau, I swear you’re trying to kill me.” He breathes, eyes flashing with hunger.

“I’m not,” I argue. “Well, not right now anyway.”

Ransom’s lips twitch. “Fair enough. We’ll give it an hour or so.” He lifts the cups in his hands. “I brought you something.”

“I don’t drink coffee.”

“I figured as much which is why—” He brings a cup to his nose, sniffing it quickly. “—I brought you this.” Ransom holds one of the cups out to me. “Had to double-check I didn’t get them switched because that could have been a gross mix-up.”

I take the cup from him tentatively, not even bothering to argue with him about him continuing to give me things. He’s proven that his generosity is given freely, I’m not going to be expected to pay him for anything. It’s an odd concept to wrap my head around, but I’m learning. Bringing the lidded cup closer to my face, I inhale the scent.Blood. He put blood in a coffee cup for me.

“I figured having morning coffee together wasn’t an option. So, I’ll have the coffee and you can have the B positive.” He tilts his cup in my direction. “Cheers.” He winks at me before taking a long pull from his coffee.

He took the time to empty a bag of blood into a cup for me?

“Thank you.” My nails dig into the Styrofoam, but I relax my hand before I break the cup and make a big mess. I pause before taking a drink. “I shouldn’t—I won’t lose control again like I did last night. Now that I have some blood in my system, the bloodlust will be more under control. So, what happened—you won’t have to do that again.”

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