Page 64 of Bound

But I see someone who might be more helpful. Liadan iswalking toward the shops at the center of the village. “Thank you, Bri. Tellyour father I’d like to talk to him about the mill. We’ll need more flour ifthis goes on for too long.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” Bri says as I start to walkaway. “The queen has already taken care of it.”

Well, of course she has.

I hurry along, pursuing Liadan across the square. Liadanwon’t be under the new queen’s spell as everyone else seems to be. “Lia!”

The blonde turns and when she sees it’s me, makes her bow.She’s cool and polite. “Your Highness. You returned early. You weren’t due backfor another week.”

Yes. That’s why Cian thought he could get away with it. Inanother week, the three weeks of celebration will be over. My brother is atricky bastard. Cian might not be able to cover the fact that he held thefestivities, but he would be able to say they were small. He would haveattempted to convince Beck that the parties were small but necessary to thevillagers’ acceptance of Meg. He’s a sly one, my other half, and he’s about toget that magnificent brain of his bashed in.

“Would you like to tell me what the bloody hell has beengoing on while I was away?”

Liadan smiles sweetly. “It is a celebration for your queen,Your Highness. I was surprised you authorized it. It is very expensive andseems a strange thing to do when so many are hungry. I wouldn’t be surprised ifour food stores are empty by the end of the festivities.”

I haven’t thought of that. Cian always handles those things,but he seems to be derelict in his duties lately. I hoped that once he bonded,he would go back to his responsibilities. “And what has my brother been doing?”

Liadan shrugs gracefully. “He rarely leaves the queen’sside. He dotes on her when he should be working. She demands it. I thought shewasn’t royal, Your Highness, but she certainly acts like it. She forced thewomen of the village to sew her a new wardrobe and the miller to up his workall because she has to make some strange human food. She even took one of mydresses. The new queen thinks that anything to catch her eye should be hers, Isuppose.”

“Is that a fact?” I ask.

Liadan looks properly intimidated by my low growl.

“She’s even forcing the villagers to work for her.” Liadanpoints out a stall to her left. There’s a long line, and two young sidheare working hard to sell some sort of food product.

My queen got out of hand while I was gone.

It’s time she understands the king is back.

ChapterThirty-Two

Beck

I make sure I have a tight hold on my mental shieldsas I approach the cottage. Even as I look around, I keep the walls up so Idon’t alert my brother to my presence.

I’m shocked at the state of our lands. I left a sad, rundowncottage and am returning to a home someone gives a shit about. Someone weededthe gardens and planted flowers. The front walk is lined with orange and yellowmarigolds. The walk has been swept, and someone wove ivy up and down the frontwalls. The cottage looks lovely. There are pretty yellow linens hanging in thewindows.

I stop and look out over the fields. Someone has workedhere, too. It seems Cian hasn’t been so derelict.

Liadan’s words come back to me, making me worry about how somuch has been accomplished in so little time. I hope my twin hasn’t beenforcing the villagers to work while he pays court to our new wife. Cian can belazy at times, but he isn’t cruel. He does sometimes take a different view ofwhat is due to us than I do.

What if Meg sides with Cian? What if Meg thinks it should beher right to take what she wants simply because someone put a title in front ofher name? She’s about to discover that it is my right to set her straight.

“You wanted to see me, Professor Finn?”

Meg’s voice is soft but audible through the open windows. Ipause before opening the door. I can see my brother and our wife through theopen shades. She’s so beautiful. She wears a pretty skirt and a shirt that dipsawfully low on her chest. She unbuttoned the top two buttons, and her breastsswell out of the white linen. It makes my mouth water to remember how goodthose breasts feel in my hands and pressed against his chest. She wears herlong hair in pigtails, tied with white ribbons.

“Yes, I did, Megan,” Cian says in what I recognize as histeacher voice. It’s stern and a little intimidating. Why is he using it on ourwife? “You were a very naughty girl in class today.”

Cian sits at the kitchen table, and Meg stands looking downat him. I can’t see my brother’s face, but I have an excellent view of Meg. Sheleans over, and her voice is slightly breathy as she speaks. “Please,Professor. I need to pass this class. I can’t fail. My parents would be soangry with me. Is there anything I can do for extra credit?”

I let my pack fall to the ground. This is interesting, and Iwant to see exactly what they’re doing. Cian often likes to play out sceneslike the one he’s performing with Meg.

Cian has a great imagination when it comes to dirty fun. Ifeel my interest rising along with my cock. Meg seems to be playing alongwillingly. The entire trip home, I thought about what Colin said. Meg doesn’thave the same expectations other bondmates have. What if she’s telling me thetruth? What if she honestly wants that submissive relationship-thing she talkedabout? Can I trust myself to give her what she wants and not hurt her?

There’s a deep chuckle. Cian sits back in his chair. “Idon’t know about that. I’d have to see what you have to offer me. Let’s see,your Gaelic is horrible.”

“I’m working on that,” Meg promises with wide eyes. “Tágrá agam duit.”