Page 112 of Bound
I try to reach for him. “Gage, that isn’t—”
He twists away from me, his body straightening to his full height. For the first time since my arrival, his size is threatening. I can’t quite stop the breath of fear.
For a moment, something in his gaze cracks and I glimpse a trace of remorse. Of the familiar affection. But he seems to choke it off, smothering it under the anger boiling from him in waves.
“Let’s go,” he says and stalks off.
I take a step and stop, hand curling into a fist against my chest, like I can stop the pain there. I sag.
“Do we follow him?” Cusnu asks from behind me. I peer at them.
“He got us out,” Renvi murmurs. “We can let him lead for a while longer.”
Bran glances at him, then at me, his eyes pinched. “Fine.” He motions them off. Cusnu and Renvi give Bran a final nod before following Gage.
“We will talk about this, Amoret.” Bran’s voice is hard. Like iron.
I raise my eyes to his, forcing all my pain deep, deep inside. “Of course, brother.”
He holds his arm up and I dutifully slip under his reach, wrapping my hand around his lean waist to support his weight.
We set off after the others, but I am no longer happy to be free. Or to have Branwen back.
A part of me wants to walk away from my brother. To catch up to Gage and make him look at me. To tell him I didn’t mean to pull away.
Though … I am not sure why I did.
Gage is nothing like what Bran said. I know it.
Now, I just need Bran to see it too.
It takes many steps to make our way down through the trees and to a long roadway cut into the forest. Gage once again looks at the sky and sets off, his boots barely making any noise over the pavement. Bran, myself, and the others have to pick our way over the warm stone with care thanks to our lack of shoes.
I watch the strong line of Gage’s shoulders as we walk. The tension there.
My stomach twists again and I open my mouth to call to him, only for Bran’s side to brush mine, forcing me to fall silent once more.
Every step seems to echo my frustration. My discontent.
I should not have to explain myself to Bran. I’m grown.
And I want Gage. It’s that simple.
I want him as a woman wants a man. For as long as I can have him.
I know Bran fears Gage’s fire. His ability to take care of me, perhaps. But I need to take care of myself, too. It’s not my brother’s job or Gage’s.
I love both of them, but in different ways. And they will have to come to terms with that.
A low rumble resonates through the trees and Gage raises his fist, halting our progress.
Down the roadway, several large black vehicles speed over the pavement toward us, windows glinting in the fading sun. A loud beep fills the air. Then another.
Gage breaks into a loose jog, arms waving.
The vehicles come to a stop yards away and doors open.
Ruin, Tanner, and Nisha leap from the first one. At the sight of the shifter female, I lift Bran’s arm from my shoulders and rush toward her.
