Page 60 of Bound
There is no answer.
And the loneliness inside me builds as I start the walk across the field.
Where are you brother mine? Where are you?
Ruin and the others are waiting outside the manor as the guard pulls up to the colony house. Gage climbs from the passenger seat and I extricate myself from the back.
Nisha is on me before my feet touch the sidewalk. “Woman,” she says, her tone fierce. “Are you okay?”
I stare as her tawny hands grip my arms, her sea-green eyes bright. “I’m fine.”
She continues to scour me. “Like hell. You smell like blood.” Her eyes lock on my bare feet. I shift, trying to hide the small scratches decorating my skin. When she looks up, her pupils have shifted. The elliptical lines are long and blown wide.
“Gage!” Her voice is tinged in a growl.
He turns from speaking to Ruin. “What, Nish?” The nickname pierces me through the heart, but I try to hide it.
“Are you aware that she’s bleeding?”
He turns. “What?”
My cheeks scald. “Scratches. From the grass and rocks. I’m fine. Really—”
Strong arms slide around me, lifting me against an unfamiliar but broad chest. I startle and look up.
Horan’s face is blank, his golden hair like burnished copper, honey, and sunshine in the afternoon glow. “Where is her room?” His voice is a deep rumble under my arm.
Gage’s eyes narrow and he takes a step closer. Ruin grabs his shoulder. “Nish? Can you show him where she’s staying?” Ruin asks.
Gage’s jaw flexes, his lips mottled.
Nisha nods. “Sure. There’s a first aid kit at the front desk, Caine. Will you grab it for me?”
The demon seems to appear beside her, his grin lascivious. “And what will you give me, kitten?” he all but purrs.
Her answering smile is knowing. My head whips between them. “I won’t kick your ass,” she tells him.
His laughter echoes up into the trees. “Fair enough, pet. Fair enough.” They stalk toward the manor and Horan follows tight on their heels.
Gage rips from Ruin’s hold. “I can take her.”
Horan stops walking to look at him in silence.
“No, Gage,” Ruin says, his tone brokering no argument. “Horan can take her, and you can explain to me how my SUV got stolen off the side of the road.”
Gage looks like he wants to argue, the swirl of his eyes building with that faint glow from earlier.
“It’s fine, Gage,” I mumble. He looks at me, and I inhale sharply at the anger radiating from him. “Nisha will be with me and I can ask Caine to find Wena.”
Chaperones. To protect my virtue.
Not that I expect Caine or even Horan to try anything wayward. But if it will appease the fire building under Gage’s skin …
He scours my face. “As soon as I’m done, I’ll come find you.”
The words settle like warmth inside me, though I try not to show it. “Do you know which room?”
He closes the space between us, his chest brushing Horan’s arm and my bare shoulder. His nostrils flare. “I will find you no matter where you are, Amoret.” His gaze darts over me. He gives a small nod, as though satisfied by something, and steps back.
Horan never makes a sound, merely stalks us into the blessedly cool house.
But my body remains hot, burning for Gage.
With a small sigh, I wonder if I can talk Nisha into letting me take a cold shower before she looks over the scrapes.
