Page 18 of Bound and Beguiled

There was a beat of silence as everyone shuffled back around and sent each other darting glances as if daring each other to speak first.

There was a knock at the door, then my cousin burst in, a scowling Fenn hot on her heels.

“I’m going to kill that fucker!” she shouted. Then she blinked, taking in the fact that I was not alone on the bed. “Let me take a picture. I’ll send it to him and his brain will explode.”

“No!” I yelled, ignoring the enthusiastic agreement from Emyr and Mared. “What is going on, by the oath? Why are you all in my room?”

Katarina narrowed her eyes at Sid, who shrugged and waved a graceful hand. My cousin sighed and flapped a hand at my lovers. “Scoot, you two. And put on some clothes. You’re distracting.”

“Li’l bit...” Fenn growled warningly when her eyes lingered on Mared’s swaying hips.

A fleeting grin crossed her serious face before she took my hand. “Franklin left a package at the house today.”

“He got through the ward?!”

“No.” Sid reassured me, placing a hand on Fenn’s shoulder as the werewolf growled low. “He hired a courier who left it by the street.”

I blew out a breath.

Katarina hesitated, then straightened her shoulders. “It had ceremonial binding robes inside. And a dead mouse. The note said, ‘Choose one.’”

“I’m going to skin him alive,” snarled Mared. Efa was suddenly by her side, face grim as she laid a staying hand on her shoulder.

“Get in line,” Fenn growled.

I winced, shooting him a glance from the corner of my eye. His anger didn’t seem to be directed at me, even though I’d dismissed his concerns and put Katarina in danger.Stupid, I chided myself.Short-sighted and selfish.

The bitter voice in my head was too loud for me to hear the next part of the discussion. I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them, mentally flagellating myself as everyone’s righteous anger eddied around me.

Ghostly fingers brushed my cheek. I didn’t move, and they tightened around my jaw, moving my face until I met Kynan’s burning gaze. He leaned against the far wall, but slowly straightened with a hunter’s slowness as he read my eyes.

“Ok, so that’s the plan?” Katarina’s voice was loud, jarring, and my attention flickered, finally tuning in to my cousin’s words. “Tereza, Sid, and I will go on a little trip while Fenn and the rest of you take care of Franklin?”

Dread, shame, and embarrassment made me feel three inches tall. I buried my face in my knees, breaking contact with Kynan’s too-sharp eyes.

A warm, fur covered hand slipped under my sweats and wrapped around my ankle. I looked up in the sudden quiet and gaped. Kynan knelt before me, one knee raised, his serious face inches from mine.

“Is that what you want, Reza?” he asked, quietly. No one else said a word.

The silence was so heavy. Unable to pierce it, I shook my head.

“Do you know what you want?” No hint of impatience touched his voice.

I swallowed, but shook my head again.

He tilted his head. His eyes stayed on my face, his hand solid and warm on my ankle, but he spoke to the others. “Plans can wait. Everyone is warned and warded. Tereza needs coffee and food, and a chance to breathe. We’ll let you know when she makes a decision.”

“But—” Katarina started.

“She’ll be safe with us,” Efa cut in, smoothly ushering her to where Fenn and Sid stood.

Katarina made a frustrated sound, then fell silent. I tore my gaze away for a second and saw understanding bloom on her face as Sid whispered in her ear. Her eyes darted between me and the Bwbachod who had gradually moved closer until they surrounded me, and she grinned.

“If he comes anywhere near Katarina, I won’t stay my claws,” Fenn warned. Then he nodded, a quick dip of his chin. “Let’s go, Li’l Bit. Your cousin’s in good hands.”

Katarina shot me a thumbs up and made a “call me” gesture, mouthing, “Details!” The door closed behind them, and for a moment, no one moved.

Then Efa spoke. “Alright. Kynan, we promised breakfast. Mared, Emyr, I think Tereza could use a cuddle, hmm?”

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