Page 6 of Bound

Heat curls through me, sharp and immediate. But I hear the fear at the edge of his voice as well.

That is what stops me from pushing too hard.

I see it in the tightness around his mouth. In the way he has placed himself between me and every exterior door since we walked in. In the way his eyes keep returning to my body, my face, my hands, checking for injuries that aren’t there.

He’s fraying. I grab his hand in mine. “I’m here,” I say. His eyes close for half a second.

Rafe approaches before either of us can say more. He’s reporting back after Freya’s visit.

“The house is secure,” he says. “Isobel is contained in the east guest suite under watch.”

I can’t help but stiffen at the sound of her name.

Lucian notices.

Again. Always. “Erin.”

“I’m fine.”

“You are not.”

“No one here is fine.” I use Gregory’s words. ‘Not fine’ is kind of on brand here.

Bayne moves to the fireplace and holds his hands out toward the warmth as if he owns the place.

He probably could if he wanted to.

I’m not sure Lucian will be summering in Iceland after this.

Now, his voice shakes as he looks at Rafe. “And the outer perimeter?”

“There’s only one main access road,” Rafe says. “Two service tracks, both monitored. The weather is closing in by midnight. After that, unless Carlos has learned to ride storms, no one approaches unseen.”

“Comforting,” Cass says. “Nothing says relaxing family getaway like weather as a security measure.”

Rafe’s tablet chimes.

Everyone stops.

One sound, and every room becomes a battlefield.

Rafe looks down.

His face gives away nothing.

Then he says, “It’s clean. Confirmation from the second perimeter team.”

The pressure valve releases, only a bit.

Gregory looks at Cass. “Can we eat now?”

“Hell yes.” Cass starts toward the kitchen. “Come on, Oxford. You can chop veggies.”

Gregory blinks. “Can’t I watch and taste-test your biscuits instead?”

“Too late,” my bossy older sister says. “You’re hired.”

He follows. Happily.