Page 67 of Bound

Cian leans against the wall as though he’s completelyunconcerned with his guilt in the matter. “I might have been hiding a bit ofcoin from you. I bought Meggie a dress, and the village women liked her so muchthey sewed her a few pieces. You couldn’t expect her to wear the same thingevery day. Where are you getting this from? She meets with those same womenevery other day for sewing lessons. They adore her. Everyone loves her. She’sfitting in beautifully. Even the bloody goblins respect her. As for the stallshe set up in the market, those kids are taking a cut. Meg does the baking, andthe Shaw kids handle the selling. They take half the damn profits.”

“What the hell is she doing selling stuff at market?” I’mconfused by the entire situation.

“Making money,” Meg says quietly from the doorway.

I turn quickly, taking in her frown. She’s straightened herclothes and put on an apron. Her auburn hair is pulled back in a neat bun. Shelooks every bit the proper Fae wife about to cook her husbands’ dinner. I missthe naughty schoolgirl.

Perhaps she’s been trying to help. Perhaps I didn’t makemyself clear enough. It’s no wonder she’s not happy with me. She thinks I can’ttake care of us, and she’s scared.

“I took care of it,” I explain. “We should have enough cointo see us through the winter.”

Meg’s eyes dull. She shrugs as though it doesn’t meananything to her. “I’ll keep it for myself if you don’t want it.” She movestoward the kitchen. “And I’ll make sure to pay the women for their clothes.I’ll do it tomorrow.”

And I’ve somehow stepped into it again. “Meg…”

She holds up a hand to stop me. “Just leave me a list ofwhat I’m supposed to do and I’ll get it done, Beck. I’ll shut down the bakerystall, or I’ll work it myself from now on.”

“I didn’t say that.” Damn it. I don’t want to arguewith her. “You’re deliberately misunderstanding me.”

“No, I’m being realistic,” she says, her back stiffeningwith pride. “I’m not going to win with you. I could try to be this proper ladyyou want, but you’ll always remember that you bought me in a marketplace. I’llalways be a reminder that you didn’t get to be with the bondmate you werepromised.”

I turn to my brother, shocked at her words and looking tothe only possible explanation for them. “Does she think we’re pining for Maris?Where did she get that?”

“Not from me.” Cian shudders at the thought. “She knows howI felt about Maris. The best thing about having our kingdom ripped from us wasnot having to bed her. She damn near froze off my willy every time I stood nextto her. I can’t imagine having to put it in her.”

“She wasn’t your type, baby,” Meg says with an intimatesmile that doesn’t include me. “She was Beck’s. Look, I’ve thought a lot aboutthis while you were gone. I realize that you married me to save Ci. Thatdoesn’t mean you have to pay for it the rest of your life. I haven’t talkedabout this with Ci yet, so I hope I’m not being too forward, but I think we getalong well. I love him, I really do.”

“I love you, too, darlin’,” Cian replies sweetly with awink.

“So I think that Ci and I should find our own place tolive,” Meg continues, sounding very sensible. She sounds like she’s explainingher plans to redecorate, not ripping my heart out. “Cian built this house. Hecan build a new place for us, and I’ll help him. We wouldn’t ask anything ofyou. I’m making money now, and Cian knows how to farm. All we need is someland. I think it’s best if we make it a clean break. I’ll be close so I canstill do the bridge thing, but you can find someone more suitable.”

“Are you asking me for a divorce?” The question comes out asa low growl.

Meg puts her hands on her hips. Her eyes are suspiciouslybright. “It hasn’t been much of a marriage, has it? I embarrass you at everyturn. You don’t enjoy sleeping with me. It’s for the best. I promise, though,that I will try to fix whatever I did wrong in the village. I thought theyliked me. I thought I was fitting in. Do you mind telling me who said thosethings about me? Maybe if I talked to them, I could figure out how to make itbetter.”

My mind is still on the fact that my wife is trying toleave. I speak without thinking. “It was Liadan.”

“Oh, fuck,” Cian mutters under his breath.

Meg’s hazel eyes become dangerously narrow slits. “Liadan?”

“Yes.” I feel like I’m back in the mines. I never knew wherethe bats were hidden, where they would strike. I don’t know why, but mysurvival instincts are kicking in. I ignore them because I haven’t talked toher about Lia. She has no reason to be jealous. “She’s a well-respected womanin the village.”

“I got every bit of brains between us,” Cian says, shakinghis head. “She knows about Lia, brother. Liadan made sure our wife knows shewas your mistress.”

Definitely in trouble.

“Are you telling me you come home and the first person yougo to see is your girlfriend?” Meg asks as she stalks toward me.

“I haven’t touched her since we married.” I fell into atrap, and I need to quickly find a way out. “It was mere chance that I talkedto her.”

I can plainly see that Meg is having none of that. She picksup the pack I set down. A righteous female fury burns in her eyes. She opensthe door and tosses the bag out toward the lawn. “I changed my mind. I’mstaying here. You can go live with your precious, cold, perfect blonde. See ifI care.”

“I’m not going anywhere, wife,” I promise, and there’s steelin my voice. She’s pushing my every button, as my vampire cousins would say.Her defiance sparks something inside me. I haven’t done anything wrong when itcomes to Liadan. I broke it off with her. “I’m not getting thrown out of myhome, and we’re not getting a divorce.”

“Meg, darlin’,” Cian says, obviously trying to defuse thesituation. “Why don’t we all sit down and calmly discuss this. We’re a familynow.”

“I’m not married to him,” Meg swears between clenched teeth.