Bound (A Faery Story 1)

beside her and attempt in some way to make up for the way he had

treated her. He wanted to kiss her and hold her. He wanted to tell her

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Sophie Oak

how much she was already coming to mean to him. He wanted to beg

her forgiveness and promise to never, ever treat her that way again.

She wouldn’t believe him. He was obviously a man of no honor.

He’d proven it in the arena today. If he had a shred of honor, he

would walk away from her now. He could provide her with nothing

but a dying brother and a ramshackle brugh on a meaningless plane of existence. He should allow Dante to take her to his plane. At least

there she would be fed, clothed, and taken care of.

“Clean up.” His words were harsh to his own ears. “We leave in

an hour.”

“Sire,” Cara blurted, looking startled. “Surely you cannot expect

your bondmate to travel this evening.”

He stared down at the little gnome. He had been raised to be a

king, and though he was no longer that man, he still expected to be

obeyed without question. It had been bred into his character. A king

never explained his actions, even when they were wrong. He was sure

Cian would have knelt and explained himself to the small woman, but

then, Cian would never have been in this mess in the first place. Cian

would never have screwed up so badly with a woman that she

couldn’t stand to look at him.

“If you have a problem with it, I’ll take her now,” he said softly.

The little gnome held her ground, but he could see it cost her.

“No, Sire. I will make sure she is ready for the long and arduous

journey.”

Beck strode to the door. He needed a bath, but he wouldn’t disturb

hers. If things had gone as planned, he would have cleaned her up

himself. He would have shown her how tender he could be. He would