Page 81 of Bound

“At least three,” Beck adds.

Beck turns to me, but I know my duty. “Don’t worry about it.I’ll get dressed and go to Bri’s mother. Niall can take me. You and Ci go andfind out what’s going on.”

Beck sighs and leans down for a kiss. “Stay safe, wife.”

I hold Beck’s hand as I reach up to kiss Cian. It feels soright when the three of us are physically connected. “You two do the same. Comeand get me when you’re done.”

Beck whistles, and Sweeney appears from the fields where hetends to run free during the day. As my husbands follow Eiric, I race into thecottage after promising Niall I’ll be swift.

I quickly change into soft brown trousers and a linen shirt.I shove my feet into boots and lace up the black vest that completes theoutfit. I have a more formal dress, but I want to be prepared to work if I needto.

I grab my satchel and drape it across my shoulder so ithangs over my torso and rests against the opposite hip. I have the smallmedicinal kit Flanna has taught me to use. Just as I’m going back out the door,the vampire computer catches my eye. I pick it up and slip it into the satchel.It can’t hurt. If nothing else, it plays movies from the Vampire plane. Perhapsa movie will entertain the children and keep their minds off the tragedy.

“I’m ready,” I call out as I walk through the door. “Niall?”

He’s on the ground, his head at the oddest angle. I try toget to him, but before I can reach the young man, a hand grabs my arm. Coldflows up my skin, like I’ve been touched by ice.

“Not so fast, Your Highness,” a deep voice says.

My stomach turns as I look up into red eyes. They smolderfrom a cadaverous face. A face I remember. It haunts my dreams. ThePlaneswalker’s skin is taut across his sharp bones, like a corset that has beenpulled far past its wearer’s comfort.

“What do you want?” I ask, forcing myself to stand tall.

There’s no point in struggling. I can feel the strength inthe demon’s claws. The wicked talons the demon possesses are merely brushingagainst my skin right now. But I have no doubt they will sink into my flesh ifI give him the slightest provocation.

“What do I want? Oh, so many things, Your Highness,” thedemon says with a rueful sigh.

He towers over me at roughly seven feet. His body is longand thin to the point of emaciation. He stares down, his eyes pitiless poolsregarding me with curiosity. I am absolutely certain I don’t want a demoncurious about me. “You really are their queen, you know. Even the hag hasfigured that out. Tell me something. Have the twins come into their magic yet?I rather think so. I can smell the power in this place now.”

“Why don’t you ask my husbands?” I know it won’t work. Niallis dead not three feet away. The Planeswalker hasn’t come to request anaudience.

The demon chuckles. “I think not. I have a contract, yousee. Someone is paying me to take you off the plane. Odd, isn’t it? You’re justa little cash cow, sweetheart. I made money stealing you from your plane, andnow I make money taking you back. The village hag is paying me handsomely toget rid of you. She wanted me to kill you, but I told her she didn’t haveenough to pay for that. I’ll have to stay away from this plane for a while asit is. If I killed you, I suspect the warrior half might never stop hunting me.I gave the hag a spell to take care of him, but I don’t trust her to get itright. I can’t have the warrior pursuing me.”

“The intellectual half wouldn’t be too happy, either.” I’mtrying not to think about the hag the demon mentioned. It’s impossible. Someonein the village wants to hurt Beck and Ci. Panic snakes through my brain.They’re in the village right now. What if the incident with Bri is really atrap? “I don’t want to go back.”

A sly smile splits the demon’s face. He shows jagged, sharpteeth. “Of course you don’t, dear. You’re a pathetic little nothing on yourplane. Here, you’re a queen.” He shrugs. “It’s kind of a crappy kingdom,though. At least on the Earth plane you’ll have running water. Look at it thatway.”

“No,” I say, pulling my courage around me. “I won’t go.”

“You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?” the demon asksthough he doesn’t wait for an answer. “Oh, well. We can do it the hard way,then.”

As the demon brings his fist down on my head, I wish I’dbeen smart enough to lie.

ChapterThirty-Nine

Beck

I feel the moment the connection is cut. It’s likesomeone turning off part of my brain. No. My soul. Someone cut a piece of itaway, and I can’t reach for it anymore.

I can’t reach for her.

I was standing at the edge of the forest, talking to Cianand some of the villagers who found Bri’s body. The young woman was ripped toshreds. This is no accident. This is murder, and a particularly vicious one.Cian and I were discussing the possibility of an animal attack when our worldwas torn asunder.

I push Sweeney to run faster, and the horse seems tounderstand.

Behind me, Cian has his hands on my shoulders, holding onfor dear life, but my brother won’t tell me to slow down. He knows what’s atstake.

Somehow, I can still feel my brother, though it’s merely anecho of what we felt this morning. It’s like a door closed between us, and itmuffles the sound.