Page 31 of Bound By Her

Kaydon leaned in, voice low. “It’s been three days. When do we see Little Bo-Peep?”

Bryson didn’t answer. He’d been wondering the same thing. Since they arrived, the script had been flipped. Instead of being paraded or punished, they were examined. Fed. Cleaned. A doctor had come by. He’d even been given prescription meds for his rib.

It was disarming. And that was likely the point.

“She’s wasting everyone’s time,” Seth muttered, stabbing at his eggs.

Kaydon tried to speak, but his mouth was full, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk.

“Maybe she’s scared,” Bryson spoke in his native tongue. He had tested Adria, and it was clear she spoke the language. However, it was unlikely the rest of her staff did.

“If she says jump, then jump,” Kaydon said. “It’s the best way for us to stick together.”

Kaydon had been on Bryson’s nerves since leaving his father’s house.

“My father signed the contract. You two don’t have to stay here,”Bryson said.

Bryson wanted them out of his father’s home. Contract or not, he didn’t trust his father so close to them. But the longer he stayed here, the more uneasy he felt having them around. His father's attention was no doubt elsewhere by now. There was no reason they needed to see whatever dance he and Adria were about to engage in.

“I don’t trust him, Brys. I want to stay together,”Kaydon said.

Bryson leaned back in his chair, stuffing more bacon in his mouth, saying, “We all know why you want to stay.”

Kaydon balked, “That is not why and you know it.”

“Sure as shit isn’t a reason you don’t want to be here,” Bryson said, throwing a piece of bacon at him.

Kaydon turned a delightful shade of pink.

“I’m thinking about you and Seth. How to keep you safe. That’s it, period.”

“Wait, am I missing something? Why does Kay want to be here?” Seth asked.

Kaydon glared at him—withdon’t you dareeyes.

Bryson broke out into a huge grin, never wanting to miss an opportunity to embarrass Kaydon.

“Our burly mountain man here had a crush on her since we were kids.”

“When we were kids,” Kaydon clarified.

“I’m not so sure,” Bryson said.

“We are staying because it is the safest course of action,” Kaydon grumbled into his plate.

“Do what you want,” Bryson said. “I mean, maybe it won’t be so bad. Who knew the beast’s belly would be so comfortable?”

Kaydon served himself a second helping of sausages. Seth, as usual, ate only a small portion from his plate. It wasn’t from lack of choices. Over the past three days, they’d been given multiple options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Seth mentioned he was allergic to mango during the doctor’s visit and mango was removed from the table the next day.

“Just follow the rules, go through the motions.Mata blanda zgarie rau, (the gentle cat scratches badly) and we won’t have to go anywhere,” Kaydon said.

Bryson had no idea what to do, but it definitely wasn’t that.

Kaydon eyed him. “Promise me you will do what you can to keep us here. I don’t want Seth and me on the street.”

The look Seth gave him was like a dagger to the chest. Who did they think he was?

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