Page 73 of Bound

ChapterThirty-Four

Liadan

I stand at the back of the crowd, watching the partygoing on in the middle of the village square. It isn’t lost on me that almostno one greets me, but then they rarely do. I haven’t exactly made friends in mytime here, but then that wasn’t the point.

I don’t make friends, don’t believe in the concept. Otherbeings are either allies or they’re prey.

I’m looking for prey tonight, and that’s precisely why I’mmingling with this crowd. Prowling. Hunting. I stop behind a duo of youngladies I know have been spending time with the human queen. One of them mightdo.

“They look so perfect together.” The miller’s daughter sighsto her friend. She can’t be more than sixteen, with soft skin and shiny hair.Her eyes are wide and clear, and her mouth is a perfect bow on her heart-shapedface.

I hate her.

I hate her and all the little twits like her. They taketheir youth and beauty for granted. They waste those perfect years. They don’tdeserve their fine porcelain skin or firm bodies. If they understood an ounceof what I have to go through for a fraction of their youthful glow, they wouldbe staggered by my strength.

“Bri, you’re such a romantic. My mum feels sorry for thequeen,” the girl’s equally young friend says.

The golden-haired girl named Bri looks offended. She’sobviously a fan of the twins. They sit at the edge of a crowd gathered near ahuge bonfire. There’s much entertainment at this celebration, but Bri keepswatching the kings and their queen. Beckett Finn has returned, and thevillagers are effusive in welcoming their warrior king back.

It looks like he’s finally taking his true place as theirleader, as one of them. It’s everything I feared would happen if he managed tofind a bondmate. Beck is cool and holds himself back. Cian is too soft. Peoplelove him, but they don’t see him as a person who can truly lead. I’ve alwaysknown if they could bridge their minds Torin will be in trouble.

If Torin is in trouble, my sisters are in trouble as well.I’m in trouble.

“How can anyone feel sorry for Queen Meg? She has twogorgeous, strong husbands,” Bri argues.

The brown-haired friend shakes her head. “My mum says thatthe queen must be sore all the time. I don’t know why. Do you think they makeher work the fields with them?”

I stifle a laugh. I’m pretty sure the girl’s mum is right.Now that Beckett Finn has given in to his bride’s charms, I’m certain littleMeg has her fill of men jumping on top of her. Beck was polite and careful withme physically, but he’s a big man, and he can last forever. I felt hispossession for days after that first time with him. I can’t imagine having tosexually satisfy both of them.

Queen Meg sits on one of the brother’s laps. I think it’sBeck from the arrogant way he holds himself. His arm is firmly, possessivelyaround the woman’s waist. He adjusts her, and I can see he’s pulling her firmlyagainst his groin to hide his erection. Cian leans over with a knowing smileand whispers something to their wife. The queen laughs with far too muchenthusiasm for a royal lady and kisses Cian full on the lips. The easyaffection disgusts me. The human comports herself with all the subtlety of atavern whore.

“The queen doesn’t work the fields,” Bri says smugly. “Thatis King Cian’s duty. He’s the Green Man.”

I feel my face lose its mask of cool indifference for amoment. They can’t possibly take the old myths seriously. I close my eyes andcall on my inner calm. I need to be practically invisible tonight. I move backinto the shadows.

It’s worse than I thought. If these idiots begin to believethe twins have gained true triad powers, Torin’s rule will come into questionfrom more than mere Finn Loyalists. Even our alliances will be shaken if thatrumor gets out. The Fae have not seen a true triad for a thousand years. Thelast set of symbiotic twins to bond with a strong enough mate took over Tír nanÒg, and their line ruled for hundreds of years.

I don’t believe for an instant that Cian is a Green Man orthat Beck has incredible reserves of strength. They’re mere sidhe, butthe idea that they could be something greater will cause as much trouble as itactually being true.

The political ramifications alone are awful. If the vampiresbecome involved, Torin will have a fight on his hands. He’s already forced todeal with a rebellion every few months. If word gets back to the home planethat the twins are alive and have ascended to virtual godhood, there will be nostopping the citizens.

They will come for Torin, and his army of mercenaries won’tbe able to stop them. To keep Torin on the throne, the twins must die. Thefirst thing I need to do is get rid of the bitch in Beck’s arms. It’s thesimplest way. Cian will fade quickly if his beloved abandons him. Megan Finnneeds to leave her husbands. I have only found one way to make that happen.

I need to place a call to a very specific deliveryman.Unfortunately, I can’t send a note and ask him to call upon me. I needsomething to tempt him. Little Bri will work perfectly well. There’s no waythat idiot isn’t a virgin. Demons highly prized virginity for some insanereason.

This is a favor that will cost me my soul, but then Ihaven’t had much use for it anyway.

There’s a purring sound at my feet, and I sigh in delight.Ain always knows when she is needed. I reach down and pick up the black cat. Ihold the familiar to my breast, enjoying the purring sensation along my skin.Ain has been with me since I was a child. The familiar has always been a strongpresence, reminding me of her unique talents in a world of mundane idiots.

The cat’s huge eyes glow in the dim light.

“You know who I want?”

The cat licks her lips and purrs contentedly. She knows whatto do. I wink at my familiar and place her back on the ground.

“Bring her to me.” I don’t need to add the admonition to becareful. Ain is always careful. She will work her magic and lead the miller’sdaughter to the proper place at the proper time. No one will suspect that Ihave anything to do with what happens next.

If asked later, a few of the villagers will remember that Iwas at the festivities all night long. I will be sweet and friendly, but alittle sad. They’ll shake their heads and feel sorry for the woman who lost herhusband to an accident and her lover to the queen.