Page 96 of Bound By Her

Bryson dropped to his knees with a painful thud, unable to look away.

He watched.

Watched as Seth’s breath steadied.

Watched as the tension in his body unwound.

Watched as his Seth came back, inch by inch.

And without realizing it—Bryson’s own breath started to mirror Seth’s.

His chest rose and fell insync.

Adria didn’t look at him. Didn’t acknowledge him. Her entire focus was on Seth.

“Kaydon,” she murmured, voice calm, hands still stroking through Seth’s hair, “go to your room.”

Kaydon hesitated—just for a second—then stood and left.

She barely paused before continuing.

“Eric,” she called, “show Bryson to the third-floor room, and come back with a sedative.”

A hand landed on Bryson’s shoulder.

Eric.

Bryson didn’t flinch.

Didn’t resist.

Didn’t fight it.

Seth was in good hands, and they were not his own.

He let himself be led away. Up the stairs. Through a door.

And then he was alone.

The dim light cast long shadows across the floor.

The back of his hands were still wet with blood.

Kaydon’s blood.

His entire body vibrated.

The silence pressed in, but it didn’t calm him.

Bryson crouched on the floor, knees pulled tight to his chest.

Feeling like he might just come apart.

CHAPTER 24

NORTH CAROLINA

Bryson paid no attention to the latch clicking and the room door swinging open. It was Adria. He would have preferred to ignore her, except the energy radiating off her was palpable.

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