Page 15 of Bound

Dante was tasked with protecting her. Dante is the reasonshe is in the middle of a deadly battle. “Get her out of here. How dare youallow her on the battlefield!”

Dante has the good sense to back up. “The battle is done,cos. It’s time for you to come down now.”

“Not until I’m finished,” I promise, my voice rough withdark emotion. Jealousy threatens to take over. What was my cousin doing allthis time he was sitting beside my woman? Has Dante been courting her? Dantehas no consort. Does he think he can steal Meggie? “You should never havewalked out here. Are you challenging me?”

Dante’s eyes go wide, but Meg moves between us. “Beck, Danteis not challenging you. No one is challenging you anymore. They’re all runningaway. You scared the crap out of them.”

I bare my teeth when I realize she’s correct. They’rerunning. They’re getting away. I take a step and make to follow when her softhand finds the middle of my chest. She doesn’t seem to notice I’m covered inblood.

“Meg, he’s too far gone,” Dante says in a soft tone. “You’llhave to…”

“I heard you in the stands.” Meg places her other hand on mychest and stands very close. So close her delicate scent washes over me. Shesmells sweet, nothing like death. Meg smells of flowers and some womanly scentI can’t name. She smells of life. “Beck, I’m yours. Are you going to leave mealone to chase after the others? Shouldn’t you take care of me?”

“Not going to work.” Dante continues to back up. “Meg, ifyou can’t handle it, then I need for you to run. Run to the stands. I’lldistract him.”

“Shut up,” I yell at the vampire. Jealousy is a roiling painin my gut. “You don’t talk to my mate.”

Meg huffs Dante’s way. “Fine, but you better be right. If Ifind out this was a stupid joke, I’ll stake you myself.”

I try to move her out of the way. She doesn’t understandthat they could still harm her.

She throws her arms around me, going on her tiptoes to pressher mouth against mine. “Please, Your Highness, I am yours. You have to takecare of me.”

My sword falls to the side as another type of need blazesthrough my body.

I worry she’s awakened the darkest beast inside me, and Ipray I don’t hurt her.

Chapter Six

Meg

Terror sparks through me as the second horn blows andthe vampires charge Beck. “They didn’t get in a circle.”

I hate the fact that he’s out there and so completelyoutnumbered. I can’t see any possible way he wins.

“No, they seem to have figured out that won’t go well forthem.” Dante’s sunglasses cover his eyes, but there’s concern in his tone thatwasn’t there moments before.

“Is he in trouble?” A stupid question. He’s one man versus awhole bunch of vampires. Panic threatens to take over, and it doesn’t make alick of sense. I barely know the man.

And if he dies, you’ll get sent off with one of thosevampires. Wouldn’t it be better to end up with the man you feel something for?

“No, not from the vampires,” Dante says, not taking his eyesoff the fight.

Beck seems buried under the group of vamps.

“It looks like he’s in trouble to me.” The thought sends awave of nausea through me. Will I have to watch the gnomes take his big,gorgeous body away? Will they drag him across the sand and declare one of thevampires the winner?

Dante finally turns my way. “Yes, he’s in trouble, but notin the way you think. You remember I explained about the symbiotic twinsthing?”

I nod. “Yes, he needs a bondmate because his brother isdying.”

“It’s beyond that. Beck is the warrior half of unbondedsymbiotic twins. He needs Cian to balance him,” Dante explains, leaning in so Ican hear. “Cian gets lost in his thoughts. He’s the intellectual half of theman. Beck gets lost in something else.”

My stomach turns as there’s suddenly blood all over thesand. Not Beck’s. He’s knee deep in bodies and blood, but he seems to simplykeep going. Almost as though he’s enjoying it. I suddenly understand the dangerhe’s in.

“He can’t control his rage.” He was so controlled with meonly hours before. He took what he needed and nothing for himself. I would havelet him have me in that moment, but he walked away.

Now there is no mercy or kindness in the man who might beking.