Page 63 of Bound By Her

Slow was an understatement. They were over three months in.

They followed her rules, but only because they wanted to stay together, and that card would only take her so far. And it sure as hell wouldn’t help her at the auction. Adria tried like hell to push the image of the Triune watching her present the three. There were so many things Bryson could do that could get her or her mother killed.

Eric said this was the way, and she trusted him. But her gut said something wasn’t right. Things were not adding up; something didn’t fit.

Kaydon’s words kept creeping into her mind.

Show him you care.

He had said it so simply. Like caring was the easiest thing in the world.

No.

He said it like he thought caring was the easiest thing in the world for her?

What had she done to deserve that perception from him?

“Dominant Strategy,” Adria said.

Seth raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“It’s a game theory. A strategy that outperforms, no matter what your opponent does. When I move here—” she pointed to her bishop, “you have only two options, both result in a poor position for you.”

She watched Seth take in the board. Gears turning in his head, his pink lips parting.

Moving, Adria selected a book from the shelves behind her.

“Here, read this. Tomorrow, you play me for real.”

The next few days, Adria saw Seth’s frustrations grow as he continued to lose.

She clicked her tongue. “Good game. Maybe tomorrow you’ll get the hang of it.”

“Again,” Seth said, staying in his seat.

“No,” she said.

“No?” His eyes held fire.

Seth shot to his feet, fury radiating off him in waves. With a violent motion, he flipped the chess table, sending wooden pieces clattering across the floor.

Adria didn’t flinch.

She watched.

It had taken weeks to finally provoke this reaction from him. For all the research labeling Seth as aloose cannon, he had remained maddeningly restrained. Controlled, even. Until now.

“This is so fucked up,” he spat. His chest rising and fallingwith uneven breaths. “You keep making me play you.”

“Making you?” Adria tilted her head. “You’re the one asking to play again.”

She rose slowly from her chair.

Across from her, he seethed.

Her fingers grazed her wrist, the faintest reminder of Eric’s warning.Be careful.Seth at his edge was unpredictable.

But she saw it now—sawthroughit.

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