those damn trees are dangerous. It’s like they have a mind of their
 
 own.”
 
 “I won’t need it,” Meg said with utter certainty as she walked
 
 toward the small cabin.
 
 The trees weren’t afraid of her. They knew her. They had been
 
 waiting for her. As Meg approached the cabin, the vines receded
 
 quickly, unveiling the small, dilapidated hut Cian had sought to hide.
 
 The sun came brilliantly out from the clouds, flooding the whole
 
 forest with bright light.
 
 Bound
 
 301
 
 “You know, you might have a career ahead of you as a landscaper
 
 if you can do that on a regular basis.”
 
 “Shut up, Dante,” Meg replied. “I can shoot you, too, you know.”
 
 Dante smiled and wisely closed his mouth.
 
 Meg pushed open the door and immediately saw her husbands.
 
 They lay side-by-side in complete stillness. Light from one small
 
 window filtered in, illuminating her men. Had Meg not been able to
 
 feel them in her body and her soul, she would have thought they were
 
 dead. She would have wept over their lifeless bodies.
 
 Instead, she knew just what to do.
 
 Meg placed herself in between them and put a hand on each. Their
 
 flesh was cool, and not a breath seemed to come from their bodies.
 
 She wasn’t sure how they were alive, only that they were and she was
 
 the key to wake them.
 
 She opened herself wholly to them and let them invade every inch
 
 of her. She sighed as the connection flooded with them. Everything
 
 the hag had taken from Beck had been safely stored in Cian. Now,
 
 that magic flowed through her, seeking its true home. Beck received
 
 his magic with great satisfaction, and Cian let her feel his relief as he