Page 10 of Bound

“Excellent.” Sarcasm pours out of the vampire. “I just spentthe better part of the day running around a freaking forest searching for you,and here you are, looking fresh as a daisy. Cian said you had gone hunting. Iwent to your brugh when I heard about the tournament.”

“I told Cian I was hunting because I didn’t want to get hishopes up.” Beck speaks to the vampire, but his eyes don’t leave mine.

He’s gazing at me like a predator preparing to pounce. Hisgray eyes blaze through me, and I know exactly what he wants. He wants to takeme away from here. He wants to go somewhere private where he can lay me downand spread my thighs.

And I might let him. Might. Probably.

“Are you going to make big puppy eyes at the woman for therest of the day, or are you going to go kick some ass?” Dante asks.

Beck shakes his head and walks straight up to me. “You’llhave to forgive my cousin. He’s a bit of a pain. You’ll get used to him. Hecan’t help it. He’s a vampire.” He leans over and brushes his lips againstmine. He sets his forehead on mine and seems to breathe me in for a longmoment. I can’t help but feel drugged simply by being this close to him. Iwonder what magic he works because I don’t push him away. My hands move to hiswaist, and I’m not sure why, but it feels right to be with him. “I know you’rescared but remember my promise. We’re in this together now. I won’t let youdown. And, love, please remember anything I do, I do to protect you.”

This is when I should pull away from him, demand he nevertouch me again. I simply stand there, letting the moment lengthen between usuntil he sighs, kisses my forehead like I’m something precious, and steps back.

And I watch him.

As he walks toward the gates of the arena, he shouts back toReeve. “What did he promise you to try to get you to put off the tournament?”

“Half a million in gold, Your Highness.”

Beck stops in his tracks and turns to look at his cousin, anexpression of shocked awe on his face. “You broke bastard. You didn’t have halfa million even before your sister cut you off.”

Dante Dellacourt shrugs elegantly. “If I’m going to lie, I’mgoing big. There’s no use in doing something halfway.”

Beck shakes his head and turns back. “Take care of her,cos.”

The vampire smiles down at me and gallantly offers his arm.“Well, we have our orders, my lady. Come along. Let’s find a good seat and prayBeck doesn’t get himself killed.”

I allow the vampire—the flipping, freaking vampire—to escortme into the arena. My heart pounds, but I put one foot in front of the other.Whatever happens in here will change my life forever.

Chapter Four

Meg

As we enter the arena I feel like every eye is on me.Of course I’m staring right back because…it’s a lot. During my “viewing” I’donly seen Fae like Beck and vampires like Dante and the gnomes, but now allmanner of creatures watch me as I force myself to climb the stone steps to thechaise Reeve and Cara are motioning me toward. I try my hardest not to stare,but I’m pretty sure the dude to the left of me is an enormous troll. It’s atleast six feet tall, and that’s its sitting height. I don’t want to think aboutit standing up. It’s also extremely hairy. Behind the troll looks to be a groupof what I can only term goblins. They’re small and muscular, with leathery skinand wild tufts of hair sticking out in odd places.

Somewhere in the back of my head, I can hear the cantinamusic from Star Wars playing.

“Never been off the Earth plane, huh?” Dante has a dumbasssmile on his face.

“Do those fangs ever go away?”

The vampire seems to take it all in stride. “Certainly notwhen I am in the company of a half-naked female with a heart-shaped ass. Sorry,they pop out when I’m hungry or horny. Can’t help it. And as I recently dinedon a first-grade meal pill, courtesy of Dellacorp, I think we have to assumeit’s your fault. What do you say we ditch His Highness, go somewhere private,and make some baby fangs?”

“Pay him no heed, miss.” Cara looks at the vampire, shakingher head as we enter what looks to be a private booth. It’s like a living roomfrom medieval times. The chaise I’m offered is plush and covered with a tent ofornate fabric that keeps the fierce late-afternoon sun off our skin. “Vampiresare not known for their manners.”

“Is that blood?” I hope it isn’t. There are pockets of reddotting the arena floor. Groups of gnomes work hurriedly to shovel out theoffending sand.

“Damn.” Dante sinks down beside me. “They already got rid ofthe chopped-off limbs. That’s my favorite part.”

“They’re really going to fight?” It’s ridiculous, but I feelsuch a strong connection to Beck. I can’t stand the thought of him gettinghurt, much less dying. Stockholm syndrome. Or maybe it is because he gave methe first honest-to-goodness, real live, no-double-A-batteries-involved orgasmI’ve ever had.

“Yes, miss,” Reeve answers, taking a seat next to his wife.“Your tournament is the last of the day. It is also the largest. The rest ofthese females are simple mates. You are very rare.”

And I’m super confused again. I rein in a sigh offrustration. At least now I have someone to ask who I don’t think will glossthings over. The vampire seems to be an upfront guy. He wouldn’t have a problemtelling me the painful truth. “Why? Why do all these men want me?”

His sunglasses recede, sliding away now that he’s out of thedirect sunlight. His green eyes sparkle in the shade. “The vamps or the Fae?”

“Both.”