Page 51 of Bound

The room returns to movement.

Rafe starts assigning positions. Gregory maps gate sequences. Blaze checks weapons with the expression of a man finally being given something useful to do. Isobel sits very still, as if any sudden movement might make her regret offering herself as a ghost.

Lucian pulls me aside when the others are occupied. We stand near the window; the Icelandic coast crashes black and violent below us.

I think he might kiss me. Instead, he grips my chin and tilts my face up.

His voice is low enough for only me. “I am agreeing because I’m doing my part in this.”

My heart stumbles. “In us?”

“Yes.” His eyes burn. “If this goes wrong⁠—”

“It won’t.”

His thumb strokes once along my jaw. “If this goes wrong, Erin, everything right left in me goes with it.”

My chest tightens. He’s the man trying to choose trust while every scar on him screams cage. “Then we make sure it doesn’t go wrong.”

His mouth lowers to mine.

The kiss isn’t soft or sweet.

It is terror in the shape of possession.

I kiss him back just as hard. Because I’m scared too.

When Lucian pulls away, his forehead stays against mine. “I hate every second of this,” he says.

I close my eyes. “I know.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Erin

Carlos is waiting somewhere between old gates, dead credentials, and the ruined bones of Bachman Village.

Rafe has sent the leak. Gregory has mapped the delay. Blaze has sharpened his violence into something almost cheerful, while Saint Cleopatra of Eternal Patience has generously offered to stay with Cass and Ryan in order to tutor Ryan, who has been AWOL from school since who-knows-when.

Blaze hated the idea. But he agreed to let her go since he has a weak spot for Ryan.

As do we all.

Isobel has gone silent in that way that makes me think she’s either praying or remembering every bad decision she ever made.

And Lucian has agreed to let me appear with the controlled arrival team.

The man looks like compromise is swallowing glass. And like he may shatter at any moment.

So, when his hand closes around mine and he leads me down the hall, I do not ask where we are going.

The black door opens beneath his palm. Warm gold light spills out. Leather. Velvet. Silk.

The ocean throws itself against the dark cliffs below, savage and endless.

Lucian steps inside first, then turns back to me.

He doesn’t pull me in. He waits for me to step inside. Which seems rather scary right now.