Page 106 of Bound
Chapter 38
Amoret
Branwen is close.
I try to rein in my nervous excitement. But all I can feel is a rush of hope.
Gage stiffens. He pulls free fast as two men barrel around the corner. With a speed I didn’t know he possesses, he spins in place, throwing a punch with the full force of his body behind it into the first. The male sidesteps, leaving Gage’s knuckles to graze his ear.
Both men converge, their bodies large and deadly in the odd black uniform they all seem to wear. I wait for Gage to draw his fire, to force them away with his beautiful flames. But he doesn’t.
He drops under one man’s punch, seating his fist into the man’s belly. His head turns and he snaps his leg out, catching the other in nearly the same spot. They both cave inward. Gage grabs my arm, hauling me around the down men as he sets off at a blistering pace.
We pound down the stone halls. He remains tense at my side, never looking over his shoulder, as we take the next corner and draw up short in a round antechamber.
The space is full of strange equipment and monitors that show zagging lines in pale green. Across the space, behind thick glass, are three beds. The bodies on top of them are so familiar it leaves a soft moan ripping from my lips.
I start toward them and Gage grabs me. “Hold on, baby,” he tells me, his hold firm. “They have them in a kind of coma.”
My head whips from Bran’s still face to Gage’s tight expression. “What?”
He motions to the monitors. “They have them under human medication. If we pull them out too fast, I don’t know what will happen.”
His words temper my excitement. I still in his grasp. “Then what do we do?”
The smile he gives me is mild, but I can see the pride in his gaze. “I’m good with tech, baby. But I need you to keep watch.”
I shudder. “Okay.”
He leans down and kisses me hard. A flush of warmth spreads from his mouth to mine before trickling down into my stomach like strong liquor. He nips at my lower lip as he pulls back, breathing, “Someone gets too close, you have some of my fire. Use it.”
I press my hand to my belly. With a nod, I move back to the corner and watch back the way we came. Clacking sounds behind me and I turn to find Gage bent over the first set of monitors, his focus locked on the screen as the soft green color illuminates his features like his flames.
Beyond him, I can just make out Bran’s pale hair. I send up a silent prayer to any gods that may listen before facing the hall once more.
Distant voices trickle to me past the concrete. I strain my ears, trying to discern a direction. The clacking behind me continues and there are several gentle beeps. I shift beside the cool stone, feeling for the heat inside me.
Four dark-clad shapes break past the corner at the end of the hall.
Their shouts are loud. I jerk at the loud noise.
“Gage?” I call, wanting to bolt to his side and knowing I can’t.
“I’m working on it, baby. Buy me as much time as you can,” comes his deep growl behind me.
I lock myself in place, bolstered by his presence. His calm surety that I can do this.
I feed the heat inside me with Gage’s passion, his warmth. His touch.
Desire mixes with the heat, scalding me despite my fear. The men near, their boots thumping loudly, the cadence breaking past the rush of blood in my ears.
Almost …
Mere feet separate them from me.
I throw my hands up, forcing the heat from my body in a burning rush that sends shivers down my spine.
Lilac fire flares across the stone, rising high and blocking off the soldier’s path.
