Page 108 of Bound
My gasp is loud. “Gage!”
Both males still.
Bran’s eyes shift, their swirling colors roaming around to me. He stares. “Amoret?”
My lip trembles and I rush to the side of the bed. “Brother mine.”
Gage doesn’t remove his hand. “Amoret, keep back,” he snaps.
Bran glares at him and then his eyes flick to my face. He sags a bit. “He is right, Amoret. I can feel the anger still.” He presses his hand to his head. “It beats at me.”
His focus shifts just beyond Gage’s shoulder and he groans. “Oh, Cusnu.”
“Gage can wake him up,” I say fast. “Renvi too.”
Bran lifts his gaze to Gage’s face. “Is that true, Whitehorn?”
Gage’s mouth twists into a terrible smile. “Sure. If you can keep your shit in check long enough.” He leans down. “But if you hurt Amoret, I’ll fucking kill you myself.”
I gape at the side of his face as Bran sits in silence for several long moments. “She is my sister, Captain.” The word is laced with an arrogance Bran rarely uses. “If I harm her, you need not lift a finger.”
My stomach tightens and I push between them. “Stop it, both of you.” I peer from the love I never hoped to have to the brother who has been there for me when no one else was.
Gage releases Bran’s throat, but his eyes are nearly black as he turns and makes for a steel table near the door.
I grip Bran’s face in my hand and he stares up at me. “Can you stand?” I ask.
He purses his lips. “I can try.”
I sling his arm over my shoulder as he shifts to the side of the bed. Even with his much smaller size, it is hard to hold him upright. He teeters in place. “Slowly,” I warn.
His lips curve as he cradles his bruised arm to his bare stomach. “Trust me, sister, I doubt I could move fast even if the room was not spinning.” He peers around. “Where are the others?”
I stare at him. “Jarrah and Liam are dead.”
Bran’s face morphs into feral rage. “The traitorous slime,” he murmurs. Then he seems to weaken, deflating. “I remember Jarrah hitting Rook over the head. The blood …” He turns ashen. “Oh, Rook.”
My hands tighten on him. “Then he is gone too.”
He leans against me, his exhale heavy. “Damn, Jarrah for this.”
Though I agree, I don’t say a word. I can’t. Not yet.
Behind me there is an audible gasp. Bran shuffles, forcing me to turn as Cusnu sits up in the bed. He peers around in confusion.
“Where are we?” he asks. His eyes lock on me and incredulity colors his features. “Amoret? Is that you?”
I offer him a sad smile. “You’re okay now, Cusnu. We’re getting you out of here.”
“Well, thank the gods for that.” He sags back into the pillow.
Bran looks at me and we sidle over to him as Gage rushes around us to wake up Renvi.
