Page 27 of Bound

“How did you know that?” I ask, following him.

He winks a dark eye my way. “I know everything, littlehuman. I know you couldn’t possibly want to stay here. Your home is waiting foryou.”

“Yes.” Even though he’s a good foot and several inchesshorter than me, he moves quickly. I have to jog to keep up with the littleman. “I was taken from my home, and then they sold me at some tournamentthingy, and apparently now I’m married, but I didn’t say ‘I do,’ so I don’tthink I am. I just want to get home.”

That’s the right answer. Yes, I should hurry. I need to gethome to my fantastic life on the Earth plane. I need to get back to work, so Ican go back to my dreary apartment at the end of a long day and microwavesomething I don’t want to eat and watch television I don’t care about. I don’twant to stay and explore this strange place. I don’t want to give that gorgeoushunk of a man a chance. I certainly don’t want to meet the other, possibly evenhotter, half of him. No, I wanted to go back to a place that probably doesn’teven realize I’m gone.

I’m being an idiot.

I stop in the middle of the trail. A vision of Beck swampsmy senses, and I’m stunned by how much I feel for him. I’m walking away fromBeck after a day?

Everything crystallizes as I stand in the middle of a faeryforest. I have to shake my head in an attempt to think clearly. I’m in themiddle of a freaking faery forest. All of my life, I daydreamed and readfantasy novels and did anything I could to escape my sad reality. In thosedaydreams I’m a different person. I’m a confident, lovable woman who faceschallenges head on. Who fights for what I want.

Maybe it’s time to be the person I’ve always wanted to be.

I’ve been scared up until now. No. I’m still scared, butsomething else takes over in this moment. Some deep sense of adventure. I’vewaited for this all of my life, and now I’m running away?

“Come along, miss.” The red man stares curiously. “Well,what are you waiting for? I can get you home.”

I can’t believe I’m doing this. I shake my head in thenegative. It’s insane, but my decision is made. I’m going to help Beck save hisbrother. I’m going to explore and see what’s out here. I’m going to gently tryto push Beck into the kind of relationship that will satisfy us both. “Ichanged my mind. I don’t want to go home. Honestly, my life there kind ofsucked. Maybe life here will suck, too, but shouldn’t I give it a chance? Whenyou think about it, it’s kind of cool. I mean, I have seen more weird-ass shitin the last twenty-four hours than most people see in a lifetime. Vampires. Howfreaking cool is that? They have their own plane and apparently are just asinterested in their stock portfolios as they are in blood. And gnomes. Sure,they didn’t actually have any travel tips for me, so they weren’t like the onesat home, but the ones at home are ceramic. They aren’t half as awesome as theones here. And the sidhe.” I sigh. “I think I care about him. He needsme. I can’t walk away.”

“So you don’t want to go home?”

Now that I’m being honest with myself I have no idea what Iwas thinking before. “Screw my home. Somewhere out there is this superhotfaery. He paid a lot of money for me. My ex-husband never took me to any placenicer than a Chili’s because he was a cheap ass. Beck already spent more on methan any man ever has, and then he had to do the Fight Club thing. Noone ever fought for me before. Sure, he was kind of a dickhead afterward, but Ithink I can work on that problem. And I haven’t even met his other half. Ithink they’re identical. Twins should be identical, right? Even if they aren’t,even if he’s unattractive, I’ll be okay with it because Cian is a part of Beck.If I care about one, then I have to accept the other. Right?”

The red man takes a deep breath. “You’re a strange girl. Youspeak faster than my ears work. Are you saying you no longer wish to return toyour own plane?”

“Yes. I’m going to give this marriage thing another shot.Apparently, if it doesn’t work out, murder is always an option. Beck promisedme.” See. I have outs. Of course Beck’s going to be pissed I left. Maybe I cantell him I was looking for a place to use the bathroom. Or trying to find himbecause I got lonely.

Maybe he’ll spank me.

“Well, that throws a different light on the thing, then,”the red man mutters.

“What?” I wasn’t sure I properly caught that last part. Thesmall man doesn’t make sense.

His face is jovial as he looks up, as though all hisconsternation has floated away. “Nothing, dear, nothing at all. I think it’smarvelous that you’ve decided to give the king another chance. Love is moreimportant than any other consideration. I know how to get you back to yourhusband, dearie.”

He starts down the path again. I follow him eagerly thistime. It would be best if I can get back before Beck realizes I’m gone. When Ifind my way to camp I’ll throw off my clothes and sneak into our nest ofblankets. When Beck shows up, I’ll tempt him into bed where I intend to proveto him we’re perfect together.

“How do you know all this stuff?” I didn’t mention that myhusband is the king. I follow the red man off the path and hear water flowingsomewhere close by. Maybe I haven’t gotten so far. We followed a river lastnight to get to our campsite by the lake. I must be getting close.

“I know everything, dearie,” the man states plainly. “It’sall a part of who I am.”

Before I can continue the line of questioning, I’m halted bya sight so beautiful it takes my breath away.

We’ve crested a small hill, and the river is now in view.There’s an early morning mist floating off the water giving everything a hazy,soft feel. Standing gracefully in the shallows is the most elegant horse I’veever seen. It’s pure white and gives off a sheen of sweetness and innocence asit leans down and drinks.

Magic. This whole place is magic. How could I have everthought about leaving?

“It’s so beautiful.” I speak in hushed tones, not wanting toscare it off.

“She’s magic, dear,” the red man explains. “She roams theforest and aids travelers in getting to their destinations.”

I search my brain, trying to remember the one class I tookin mythology and lore. It was mostly about the Greek and Roman gods, but therewas a small section on Irish folklore. I think I skipped that day. My penchantfor urban fantasy and romance novels are the only reason I know what a sidheis.

“She’ll take me to Beck?”

There’s an odd light in the red man’s eyes. “Yes, dearie.She’ll take you to your husband.” He notes my hesitation and shrugs. “Or youcan walk aimlessly through the woods and never find him. These woods areenchanted. If you don’t know your way around them, you could be lost forever.Your husband will wander the woods, seeking you. It happens all the time.”