Page 12 of Bound and Beguiled

Emyr snarled, but settled as I rubbed my forehead against his.

“And you’re sure it’s your ex leaving them? Have you seen him?” Efa persisted, her hand tightening on mine.

“I haven’t. But yes, I think so,” I answered over Mared’s muttered, “Who the fuck else would it be?” One corner of my mouth lifted, but I felt no amusement. Shame twisting in my belly, I forced out the rest. “Some of the notes...they said private things. Things only he knows.”

This time, the snarl rose from all four of their throats.

“Fucking asshole,” hissed Mared into my hair. She vibrated against my back with barely contained rage.

“I don’t know how he’s finding me,” I ventured, hesitantly. Efa tilted her head and Mared didn’t explode, so I continued. “Sid did an anti-tracking spell for me, and Fenn warded the house. I didn’t think he’d—I thought I was safe.”

Kynan’s chest vibrated with a subvocal thrum that was strangely soothing. His hand grasped my knee, and it was as though my body exhaled.

Fingers brushed my hair. “May I?” Efa asked, and I nodded.

I shivered as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, then again when her magic tingled over me.

She hummed, nodding. “It’s good.”

“You said you’d found them on your car?” Emyr mused. “And today, tucked in your jacket?”

I pulled back enough to bring his thoughtful face into focus and nodded.

Kynan grunted above me. “He doesn’t have to track you. He’s got a line to something you have. You going to argue about what needs to be done?”

My eyebrows drew together, and I twisted to look up at him. “That depends. You going to be unreasonable about ‘what needs to be done’?”

Emyr snickered.

Kynan’s cheek creased, but his voice was deadly serious. “You need to tell Sid. Then we need to talk to Khalon. You accepted the Cairn Rider’s protection when you started working at the Broken Crown.” His fingers brushed the sigil glowing dimly on my neck. “They need to know about this. Khalon can get you a room upstairs. Get you keyed into the wards here. You staying at Honey’s place isn’t safe, not for either of you.”

I wanted to protest. It felt like such an imposition, and Khalon barely knew me. I’d seen him plenty this week, but we hadn’t spoken outside of his initial welcome Monday afternoon. I’d made friends with a few of the other riders, like Mouse, but...”Okay,” I dragged out the word, conflicted. “Ifhe agrees.”

Mared snorted behind me, and I elbowed her. She chuckled, cuddling closer.

“And you have to get rid of your stuff. Clothes, phone, everything. We don’t know what he’s tracking, so it’s all got to go. We’ll get you new things.” Kynan spoke without room for debate, his words falling like edicts from some bossy god.

“No.” My voice was flat.

“Not forever,” Emyr wheedled. “Just until this is sorted out.”

And how, exactly, is that going to happen?I didn’t ask the question out loud. I was pretty sure their proposal would sound a lot like Fenn’s, and I wasn’t ready to think about that. “I don’t need you to buy me things,” I muttered.

“Is your money in an account he might have access to?” Efa asked.

I paused. Franklin’s mother sat on the board of our bank. “Shit.”

“Everything, Reza.” Kynan sounded smug, the bastard.

“Sid will give you a cash advance,” Mared cut in. “If you give me a list, I can pick things up for you.”

I sighed, about to agree when she continued, her tone chipper.

“If you give me the fucker’s picture and location, I can take care of the whole problem.”

I twisted and stared at her. A bloodthirsty, sharp-toothed smile stretched her beautiful face. My gaze bounced to the others, seeing the same murderous intent without a hint of hesitation. I coughed, but my voice still sounded strangled. “I can write you a list. Just some jeans, shirts, shoes, nothing fancy.”Nothing bloody, I finished silently.

“Something is going to have to be done about Franklin, Tereza,” Efa said, delicately.

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