Page 29 of Bound

I almost make it to the hill above the river when a wave ofpure fear crashes into me. For the barest second I struggle but then realizethe powerful emotion isn’t coming from me. I feel Meg’s terror before I hearthe scream. It floods my body, causing my heart to pound and my soul to ache.She’s so scared, and she instinctively reached across the distance to find me.The bow is in my hand as I crest the hill. In one smooth move, I pull and notchan arrow. I’m aiming before I even know what threatens her.

A kelpie. A fucking kelpie has Meggie. She’s on the kelpie’sback, and it’s already taking off. Her scream echoes through the forest. Thatsound will haunt me forever. I let the arrow fly, hoping to hit the heartbefore the horse gets away with my wife. I hear the thud of the arrow strikingflesh, but it doesn’t slow the damn thing down. The horse plunges into the icyriver and Meg disappears.

Her panic threatens to take over my mind. She doesn’t knowhow to shield, likely doesn’t understand she’s flooding me with her fear. I dothe only thing I can. I forcefully cut the connection between us. I can’t dowhat I need to do if I’m overwhelmed with her fear. I rush out into the river,cursing the cold. I take three deep, long breaths to fill my lungs, pull out acold iron knife, and dive after them.

The river is clear and the early morning light illuminatesthe scene. The kelpie has gone deep. She sits patiently at the bottom of theriver among the thick reeds that sway with the current. It would be a peacefulscene except for the woman struggling to survive. She can’t. The horse willhold her in place until the river takes her life. When Meg is dead, the kelpiewill release her and devour her. If I hadn’t found her, the only thing I wouldbe left with is her heart. The kelpies never eat the hearts of their victims.

Meg is still struggling, but I can tell she’s alreadyfailing. Her eyes flare as she sees me swimming toward her. She tries so hardto push her body toward me, as though in her last moments, she needs to get asclose to me as possible. I swim straight to her and take her head in my hands.I kiss her, forcing the air I hold in my mouth down to her lungs. It’s notmuch, but I need every second if I’m going to save her.

I try to cut through the coarse hairs that hold her hands tothe kelpie. The horse is having none of that. She kicks out, trying to catch mewith her powerful legs. I don’t dare touch the mane with my own hands, lest Iget as trapped as my wife.

The horse catches me in the chest. I fly back in the water,all the air blowing from my lungs. I float helplessly up to the surface. I dragair into my chest. The knife is still in my hands. I managed to hold onto it.

How long had she been under? How long can a humango without breath in her body?

She isn’t Fae. Her small body is more fragile. Goddess, I’mgoing to lose her. I breathe in one last time and dive again.

This time Meg is slumped over. She moves as the currentmoves, and her beautiful hair sways with the reeds. I can’t give up. I gostraight for the monster trying to take my woman. I avoid the strong, kickinglegs of the kelpie and savagely go straight for its throat. This time I don’teven try to keep my hands clear. I forcefully plant my left hand in the horse’smane. It sticks immediately. I can’t move it, but it serves as an anchor. If Ican’t kill the fucker, I’ll go down with Meg. I’ll die as close to my mate aspossible.

With a sort of savage glee, I shove the blade I hold in myright hand deeply into the horse’s throat. The kelpie, unable to kick me atthis angle, tries to use her teeth to bite. I dodge her mouth. I use every bitof strength I have left to drag the blade through the kelpie’s thick flesh. Asthe water around me clouds with blood, I know I’ll kill the monster, but it’stoo late. I feel my consciousness begin to fade. We’ll die down here. Cian willnever know what happened. We’re too far from each other. He might feel somesense of my panic, but nothing solid. Cian will fade, never knowing why Ididn’t return.

Then suddenly my hand is free, and I feel myself beginningto float.

I shake my head as my lungs start to burn and force myselfto move. I have to get a hand on Meg. I pull at her shirt and start to swim forthe surface. I kick my legs, even though weariness threatens to drag me backdown. I use every bit of my will to propel myself and Meg toward the lightabove.

The sun is warm on my skin when I reach the surface and amfinally able to breathe in sweet, clean air. Meg is a deadweight in my arms. Ihave to get her to land before I can try anything. I swim as fast as my legswill take me. Seeing her skin so blue sparks an adrenaline rush that powers methrough the water. When I can touch the bottom, I pull her small frame into myarms and race to the shore.

“Please come back,” I mutter as I lay her down. I fill mylungs and then open her mouth. I cover her lips with mine, sealing themtogether, and then push the air into her lungs.

Nothing.

I try again, my heart racing. She can’t be dead. I wouldhave felt it. I’m sure I would know. But then I threw up barriers. If she diedalone, I’ll never forgive himself. She would have died reaching out to me, andI coldly closed our bond.

I try a third time. I worry this is how they’ll find me.Trying and trying to save the most precious person in my life. I’ll just stayhere, filling her lungs until I can’t anymore.

Suddenly her eyes flutter, and her whole body convulses. Iturn her over as she throws up the water in her lungs. Her body shakes as Ipull her close. I freely opened our connection, letting her feel the reliefflooding my body. She starts to cry and turns over to clutch at me. Her armswind around me and she sobs against my chest.

I stroke her hair and rock with her. I close my eyes andhold her close. She’s alive. That’s all I can ask for.

ChapterTwelve

Meg

I’m still shivering hours later as I sit in Beck’slap atop Sweeney’s great back. Beck has spoken very little since he saved me.It seemed like a good thing to let him stew at the time, but it’s been manymiles since he said a word. I’m getting tired of the silence. I want to startover. I’ve made the decision to give us a real chance and I’m impatient.

After the incident with the homicidal water horse, Beck tookme back to camp and warmed me up. He carefully laid my wet clothes by the fireto dry. He cleaned and cooked a couple of rabbits and forced me to eat. He layunder the blankets with me until he was satisfied I wouldn’t die from the cold.Then he gave me back the dry clothes and packed up our camp. He said all of tenwords to me, most of them commands. The silence is becoming unbearable.

I do the only thing I can think of. If I’m staying with him,then I need to start training him. Sure, it usually goes the other way. Thesubmissive gets trained by the Dom, but I’ve decided that my Dom is a dumbassand things will work differently for us. I never actually got those books Iordered off the Internet, so I’m on my own. I have to let my instincts guideme.

Everything I’ve said or done has been consciouslysubmissive. I’ve been giving in to my every urge. I cuddle up against him,giving him all of my affection. Even while riding, I hold on to his waist andbury my face in the curve of his neck. He probably doesn’t notice, but herelaxes when I cling to him. He prefers to be in physical contact with me.

I watch from my cozy place as the forest gives way to whatlooks like an endless field. Still, Beck is silent.

“Are we almost home?” I ask, looking up at him.

“Almost,” he replies stoically.

“I’m sorry.” I nuzzle against his neck. I absolutely lovethe smell of him. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”