Page 12 of Bound

“My sister would never allow me to fight in thistournament,” Dante shoots back.

The big vampire, who looks like he might be taking steroids,laughs. So do all his friends. They seem to be having a laugh at Dante’sexpense. “Big sister doesn’t want baby brother to get a boo-boo?”

“Big sister knows it’s stupid to fight the warrior half ofsymbiotic twins.” Dante’s face twists into a smirk. “Besides, I would neverfight my cousin.”

It seems like the entire arena suddenly falls silent. Thevampire named Palgrave goes even paler than before as he stares up at hisrival.

“Beckett Finn is here?”

Dante points toward the back of the arena, and there’s Beck.There’s confidence in his easy gait as he strides into the arena. The rest ofthe males sink into the sand, but Beck seems to almost glide above it. He’sgraceful. He is a shark, and suddenly everyone else looks a little likeguppies.

“They’re scared of him.” I can sense the anticipation in thecrowd. The minute Beck steps out, the crowd falls silent and the whisperingbegins. Every eye in the arena is on the big, dark-haired man with the stormygray eyes.

“He’s the greatest warrior of his generation.” Dante sitsback down. He opens his jacket and pulls out what looks like a tablet computer.He pushes the screen a few times and then touches his ear. I hadn’t noticed itbefore, but there’s a small device there. “Yeah, give me my sister. Hey, Susie,you gotta dump all the stock we have with the Palgrave funds. No, I am not outdrinking. Listen to me. Kinsey Palgrave is about to fight Beck. Yes, that’swhat I said. Even if Beck lets him live, he’ll be out of commission for weeks.His even dumber brother will be acting CEO. Dump it now before the price goesdown. You’re welcome.” He smiles smugly my way. “That will teach them to callme a screwup.”

“How many does he have to fight?” This is really happening.These men are going to fight. The one left standing will expect me to go homewith him.

“Stop panicking.” Dante leans back negligently. “It’s allgoing to be fine. You’ll love Beck, and you’ll be crazy about Cian. No womancan resist Cian when he’s on his game. They’ll treat you like a princess. Thisis going to be a piece of cake for him. There’s only twenty-five, no, therethey go…fifteen to fight. Wow, they must be desperate. I was sure we’d get itdown under ten.”

A group of men shake their heads in disgust or fear and walkout of the arena.

“They don’t want to fight the great Beckett Finn,” Reeveexplains. “He’s a legend across the planes. The vampires will stay because ofpride. If the word got out that they paid for an entry and then wasted themoney by walking away, they would bring their families shame.”

Dante nods, agreeing with the gnome. “Vamps are damn seriousabout corporate funds. The Fae can walk away because there’s no shame insurrendering to the king.”

“King?” I heard Beck referred to that way, but now it seemsserious.

Dante’s arrogance is gone, and in its place is anearnestness that makes him almost angelically attractive. “Yes, Beckett Finn isthe rightful King of the Seelie Fae. A pretender sits on his throne and hassince Beck was seventeen years old. Beck lost his mother, father, sister, home,and kingdom all in one day. He’s been on the run ever since. He’s been forcedto live as a peasant, barely getting by. He sells his sword to put food on thetable. All he has in the world is his brother.” Dante sits forward, placing hishand on mine. It’s slightly cool to the touch. “You can change that for him.You can make his life worth living. I love my cousin. He’s more like a brotherto me. If Cian makes a comeback, it is entirely possible I can get my sister toback them financially. Once the money starts flowing, Beck’s loyalists willcome back.”

Well, I knew there was more to this than simplelust-at-first-sight. Beck has ambitions, and I figure into them. “He wants totake back his throne?”

“Yes,” Dante replies, as though it should be blatantlyobvious. “He wants to overthrow his murdering uncle. I know that you intend torun at the first opportunity. Don’t try to deny it. I would do the same thingin your place, but I’m asking you to give him a chance. Is there anything youcould do on your home plane as important as freeing an entire population fromtyranny?”

Well, put like that, getting home so my TBR doesn’t fill upseems self-absorbed. What do I have to go back to? When I don’t show up atwork, the district manager will fire me and put another in my place. I’ve beentold on more than one occasion that I’m a dime a dozen. There are overeducatedmorons everywhere who need a job. My parents divorced years ago and started newfamilies. It will be months before they even realized I’m gone.

This is not my problem.

I didn’t ask to be brought here. Just because my life isdull doesn’t mean it’s inconsequential. I have friends. Well, I had Michael’sfriends, and they had all taken his side in the divorce, but I’m going to makefriends one day. I can’t do that if I don’t get home. Cara’s small hand pattingme in a comforting way doesn’t count as friendship. The little gnome is myjailer.

No. No matter what that vampire says, I’m leaving as soon asI can.

A loud horn sounds, and the crowd leans forward expectantly.The battle is beginning. My breath catches as I watch Beck scan the crowd.Somehow I know who he’s looking for. Our eyes meet, and he bows formally myway.

I can feel his pull as though we’re already connected onsome intimate level I can’t deny.

Yes, I’ll leave. Even though he makes my heart pound, Ican’t stay.

Can I?

Chapter Five

Beck

I have to force myself to look away from her. It’s asif I’m already caught by the thread of psychological bonding that will tetherus to our own sweet Meg forever.

That bond is the thing that will save me and my brother, butright now it’s a distraction. The fact that she’s out there makes me…antsy. Ican’t protect her yet, and that anxiety sits in my gut.

I have to tamp it down. I can’t afford to get emotional now.Cian isn’t the only one feeling our lack of a bondmate. He’s simply far moredramatic about it. He always has been. My hold on my temper has been slowlydissolving over the last few years. My rage seems to build after a fight ratherthan dissipate as it should.