Page 95 of Bound

Take the advantage.

I kick Liadan again with all the force I can muster. I plantmy boot in Liadan’s chest as the hag tries to get up. Liadan hits the muddyforest floor. I press my advantage, jumping on the downed woman, planting myknees on Liadan’s torso. I’m taking no chances this time.

I place the barrel of the gun against the hag’s chest. Isteady myself to pull the trigger when a terrible pain lashes across my back.

Ain leaps on me, scratching and clawing through tenderflesh. Pain screams across my skin. I try to get a hold of the blasted thing,but it sinks its teeth into the back of my neck and won’t let go.

“Oh, no, kitty cat,” Dante growls.

I look up and see Dante in full claw and fang mode. He’scovered in blood and looks like he’s had enough of out-of-control familiars forthe day.

“We weren’t done,” Dante says.

Relief floods through me as Dante hefts the cat off. I pullthe trigger to finish off the hag, but Ain bought Liadan just enough time.Liadan grins up and thrusts her hand forward.

I fly back, and this time my head cracks against the logwhere I previously found safety. The world goes woozy, and I see stars. Myvision starts to fade at the edges.

You stay awake. The voice is ferocious now. Itslaps at my mind and forces my eyes open. It won’t let me go under.

Liadan falls on me. She sits on my waist, holding me downwith the bulk of her body, and wraps her good hand around my throat. I try tomove but I can’t get my legs to move under the heavy weight of the witch.

“I need more blood to get through that fucking wall the kingerected,” Liadan explains with a ghoulish grin.

I feel for the cool metal of the .357 Magnum. I dropped itwhen I hit my head. I claw through the mud, desperately trying to find it.Liadan’s hands threaten to choke the life out of me. I fight for breath, butthe hag tightens her hold.

“Do you know what I’m going to do to those boys when I getto them?” Liadan moves close enough I can smell the blood on her breath. Itturns my stomach. “I’m going to gut them. I’m going to pull their insides out.Why don’t I give you a demonstration?”

The witch cackles and pulls back, showing off the way herfingers change into thick, dirty-looking claws.

I drag in air the instant I can. Liadan pulls her clawedhand back just as my fingers meet metal. Pulling the gun up, I bring it betweenmy chest and the hag’s.

I pull the trigger right before those knives on the hag’sfingers meet my flesh. The report booms through the forest.

Liadan looks down at the hole in her chest dumbly beforefalling over dead.

I’m shaking and trying to drag air into my lungs as I forcemyself up.

Is it really over? Did I just do that?

Dante walks over, holding a limp body in one clawed hand.His handsome face is a map of scratches, but his clothes already mendedthemselves. The nanites are fast suckers. I kind of wish they worked onthroats. Mine is going to be sore for a while.

“You okay?” Dante growls down at the cat’s corpse beforehurling it through the forest.

“I’ll live.” But just barely. I stare down at Liadan’s body.The flesh of the hag’s face is wrinkled and desiccated, as though the bodybefore me has lay dead much longer than a few moments.

“If I never see another familiar, it will be too soon.”Dante offers a steadying hand. “It didn’t even taste good. It tasted evil.”

I manage a hoarse laugh. Adrenaline is still coursingthrough my system, making me feel jittery even as a fierce joy curls in myheart. I am alive. They are alive. My husbands are still breathing. “What doesevil taste like?”

“A little mangy,” Dante replies. “I’ve decided I’m a lover,not a fighter. I’m rich, damn it. I’m the only son of one of the most powerfulfamilies on my plane. From now on, I’m paying poor people to fight my battles.Better yet, next time tell Beck to handle his own shit.”

My hands shake, but it doesn’t matter now. All that mattersis them. “I’ll tell him.” I turn to the cabin overrun with vines. “Better yet,tell him yourself.”

I manage a smile as I look toward the sanctuary where myhusbands lie in safety. They’re still weak, but I feel them deep in my mind. Ifeel Beck’s love deep in my soul, and then Cian’s joy washes over me.

They know I’m coming for them.

Dante sighs. “I’ll go get the chainsaw, but I warn you,those damn trees are dangerous. It’s like they have a mind of their own.”