Page 35 of Bound

It explains everything. I can still understand logic.

“Well, ain’t that surprising?” Liadan’s perfect featuresmake for a perfect sneer. “You’re completely good for nothing. I don’t know howyour brother puts up with you.”

“And I don’t see how he can stand to touch you long enoughto get off,” I shoot back as I make my way toward the edge of the pond, feetdragging in the mud. The soap seems to have floated away.

Why am I here?

“I take care of him just fine.” Liadan stands looking at mewith one hand on her hip. She seems supremely sure of her own attractions. “Heloves me, you know.”

“No, he doesn’t.” There’s no question in my mind about that.If Beck is in love, then it follows that I would be in love, too. Liadan hasnever understood the link between symbiotic twins. She treats us likecompletely separate beings when we aren’t. If Beck’s heart is engaged, then Iwouldn’t be able to help myself. I would fall in love, too. I shake my head.Why had the name Meggie suddenly shot through my brain? I don’t know a Meggie.There isn’t anyone named that in the village. Or is there?

Liadan tosses the towel my way. “You’re too stupid toremember. Beck and I are getting married one of these days.”

I stride out of the pond, wrap the towel around my waist,and start back up toward the cottage. I still remember where I live, at least.I don’t pick up the clothes I brought with me. They don’t matter. No one careswhat I’m wearing. “No, you’re not. He won’t marry you. You aren’t a bondmate.”

Liadan keeps pace. “He loves me, and there are no morebondmates to be had. He needs to marry. He needs to have children. You knowit’s true. He is too important to languish out here on this piss-poor excusefor a plane. He’s let you hold him back far too long.”

My heart aches at the thought of children. I thought wewould have a few by now. I love children, and they always love me. I started asmall school when we settled in this village. It hadn’t taken long before anentire community of immigrant Fae built up here. They brought their childrenwith them or adopted the orphans they found along the way. Those childrenrequired an education. I remember looking at their little faces. I lovedteaching them.

Am I supposed to be at school? I should be dressed if I’mgoing to school.

“Where am I?”

Liadan exhales heavily. “You really are far gone, aren’tyou? You won’t remember a thing I say five minutes from now, you poor excusefor a royal. You should lay down, Cian. You should fade. The world would bebetter if you faded.”

My vision clouds over. I’ve heard this before. I hear thatvoice when I think about getting up from time to time. I’ll be lying in bed andwonder about something. It can be anything. A recipe. A new way to grow ourcrops. Cleaning the kitchen so Beck doesn’t think I’m a slob. I’ll think thesethoughts and curiosity urges me to get out of bed, but then that voice comesback.

Life will be better for Beck if I fade.

Sometimes I wake up and she’s waiting at my bedside,whispering the words over and over until I believe them. There’s some sort ofsmoke that goes with these episodes. I always feels so much farther away when Ibreathe that smoke.

“Get back in your bed, Cian,” Liadan says in a commandingvoice. “It’s time to fade. You’ll be happier, and so will Beckett.” The voicebecomes soothing. I feel her hands on my shoulders. They’re cold. “It will benice, won’t it? You can go someplace warm. You can be with your mother and yoursister again. You miss them, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes.” A picture of my sister forms in my mind. She wasmy playmate. Beck was too serious for that. He was always with our father insome important meeting, even when we were young children. Bronwyn was the oneto run through the palace halls, screaming with laughter. She’d been the one toexplore the river with me and make fun of me when I started to notice girls.

Bronwyn died in my arms.

There’s something wet on my face. Tears. I’m sick of tears.Yes, it would be best to fade. I can’t help Beck. I’m weak. Beck will have abetter chance if I’m gone.

Woodenly, I turn toward the cottage. I hear Lia’s satisfiedsigh as I leave her, but it doesn’t truly register. I begin to walk past thebarn with one thought in my head—I will lie down, and this time I won’t get upfor anything. I will be stalwart. I will fade, and the world will be a betterplace. I walk around to the front of the cottage. I will bolt all the doors,and no one will be able to stop me.

“Beck?”

It’s another feminine voice that pulls me away from mymission, but this one I don’t recognize. I look down and see a petite, curvywoman with a mass of wavy brown hair. No. It isn’t simply brown. There’s redand blonde in it, too. It’s a glorious auburn. The lighter strands catch thelate-afternoon light and sparkle. Her hair is beautiful and a bit wild. Aproper Fae lady would never wear her hair so wild. Her clothes are travelingclothes, and they aren’t perfectly proper either. She’s left the top of theneck unbuttoned. I’m fascinated by her creamy skin and the soft rise of herbreasts.

She’s beautiful.

“No, sweetheart.” A very familiar voice corrects her. Dante.My cousin showed up last night, riding that flying vehicle of his. I used tolove to ride on the back of it. Dante threw a fit when I tried to take itapart, though. “That’s not Beck.”

“Leave me alone,” I say, trying to take my eyes off thelovely woman in front of me. There’s nothing cold about this one. Her hazeleyes look up with great concern. Those eyes pull at me. Still, I hear myselftalking to my cousin. “Go away, Dante. I have to go to bed. I’m tired.”

Dante’s sigh tells of his weariness of the subject. “Notagain.”

The woman reaches out and puts her hand to my chest. Herskin is warm after the chill of the pond. “No, Cian. You need to get dry, and Ineed to brush out your hair. It’s a mess. It hasn’t been brushed in weeks, itlooks like.”

Her small hands suddenly fuss in my hair. She plays gentlywith it, and I like it. Her hands feel like the flutter of pixie wings againstmy skin. How long has it been since I was touched by soft hands?

“What is your name?” I look down on her in wonder. She’s sobeautiful. She’s a lovely siren, calling me away from duty. I have something todo, but I would rather stay here with her.