Page 11 of Bound and Beguiled

“Don’t lie to me,” he snarled, pushing forward until I was flattened between his heaving chest and the wall, my arms pinned between us. “You tremble when you so much aslookat me. I can feel your heart pounding, little Mouse. Don’t. Lie. To. Me.”

Heat burned my cheeks, and I turned my head, looking away. “Not from fear,” I muttered. “At least...not that kind of fear.”

He stilled, solid and unmoving against me like a marble statue. Then invisible hands grasped my thighs, my ribs, sliding me up the wall. I choked as my breasts dragged against his rock-hard, fur covered chest, and then we were face to face. His ears pricked. Tilting his head, Kynan inhaled, his nose brushing my cheek.

He growled, and I squirmed in his magical hold, sure he could smell everything down to the inexplicable wetness between my legs. His nostrils flared as he pulled back to look at me, but I couldn’t raise my eyes to his. I focused instead on his lips. They were sharply, almost cruelly defined, but the bottom one had a tempting fullness. I wanted to sink my teeth into it, then lick away the sting.

“Look at me,” he coaxed.

I swallowed, chewing on my own lip, but didn’t raise my gaze.

“Now, Reza,” he barked.

My eyes flew to his, and I bit back a whimper as my channel pulsed. His dark eyes delved into my soul, and inexplicably I relaxed, melting into the secure hold of his body and magic. A dark, satisfied smile creased his cheeks.

“Well, well, well. You’ve surprised me,” he purred. The vibration made my nipples tighten, and he chuckled, pressing closer until his lips brushed mine. “We’re going to talk about this new development, Reza. After you tell me and the others all about these threats you’ve been getting. I think it’s time to say goodbye to secrets, don’t you?” He stepped back, his magic depositing me gently back onto my feet. He held out his hand, one eyebrow raised in challenge.

I rubbed my palms over the denim encasing my thighs, and the golden bands circling my wrists clinked. I wasn’t so naïve that I didn’t know what he was offering. Ok, maybe not the details, but the gist was clear. Ymet commanded that I share my bed with only one person, and Franklin had been chosen for that position. Nothing I’d experienced with him had been worth becoming an oath breaker.

Kynan isn’t Franklin, a small voice whispered in my mind.Nor is Emyr, or Mared, or Efa.Now, that was getting ahead of myself. But still, a small, rebellious curve played at the corners of my mouth.

“Yes,” I said, and took his hand.

Chapter Six

We disappeared. I made an embarrassing eep! sound, my fingers flexing spasmodically on Kynan’s.

“Just for the walk,” his disembodied voice soothed. “We’ll cloak the clearing, but this is better for traveling. If that asshole is watching you, I don’t want to make it easy for him.”

I nodded, realized he couldn’t see me, and said “Okay.” Following the pressure on my hand, I stepped forward. I tripped on nothing, my head spinning as I stared at the space my feet should have been.

“Don’t look down,” Kynan said, catching me. Laughter fuzzed his words. “Just look straight ahead. Your body knows what to do.”

Doubtful, I snickered internally. But I did as he suggested, and we made it through the woods without too much incident. Warm amber and pink shone between the trees ahead, pix lights glimmering like a magical sunset.

Efa’s head lifted as we entered the clearing where the Bwbachod lounged, her eyes searching the area where we stood. “Kynan?” she asked, coming to her feet, body alert.

“We need a cloak,” he said by way of answer. “Someone’s after Tereza.”

Emyr and Mared shot to their feet. Linking hands with Efa, they glowed briefly, and silence fell. The edges of the clearing went hazy, my ears popping as the distant sounds of birdsong and rustling disappeared.

Then I was visible again, surrounded by a press of furry bodies and sharp, concerned demands for information. It was overwhelming, but I sank into them, my ribs straining to contain the rush of emotion.

I realized I was crying about the time someone—Kynan—picked me up and settled cross-legged with me in his lap. Mared knelt at my back, supporting me as she hummed a heartbreakingly sweet tune. Emyr cuddled close on my other side, our foreheads touching against Kynan’s wide chest. Firm, unwavering hands took mine, and I glanced over, vision watery, to see Efa on one knee.

She said nothing, only caressed the backs of my hands with her thumbs while she watched me with those endless eyes, and fresh tears rose. Emyr whispered soothing, encouraging words as I sobbed out the stress of the past week to the soundtrack of Mared’s song.

Eventually, the wave passed, and I pulled one hand free to tangle my fingers through Mared’s as Emyr wiped the tears from my cheeks with gentle fingers.

“Can I show them the note?” Kynan rumbled.

I nodded, not opening my eyes.

Curses stung the air around me. Kynan told them what he knew, keeping to the facts and not discussing the...other revelations we’d shared.

“Tereza?” Efa’s voice was gentle, but insistent. I raised my head. “Have all the notes been left at the Broken Crown?”

“No. Two of them were left on my car outside of Katarina’s place.”

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