Page 76 of Bound

Beck points to his father’s crown. It lays on the palacefloor, covered in his father’s blood. “There it is, uncle. Take it if you can.”

Torin looks between his nephew and the bloody crown he slewhis kin for.

Then I feel it. I feel Cian cry out in Beck’s brain. Hispanic and anguish wash over me. Cian reaches out for the only person he hasleft, and Beck feels the call in his soul.

It goes against everything in Beck Finn’s nature. Hisinstincts cry out to kill the pretender. His prey stands before him, quaking inhis boots. There’s no question about the outcome of this fight, even as Torin’sbackup storms through the doors. He can kill them all.

And then he will lose Cian.

Deep in his heart, Beck knows that he won’t care once Cianis dead. Cian’s death will free him in some ways. He can be the predator healways knew himself to be. He can kill and kill and kill until someone isstrong enough to take him out.

But Cian isn’t dead. He’s alive, and he waits for hisbrother to save him.

Beck can avenge his father. He can save his kingdom and allof its people, or he can save the only person in the world to ever trust him,the person who carries all the good parts of his soul.

“I will return one day, Torin,” Beck promises. “I willreturn, and I will kill you. Never doubt it.”

The years speed by, each more desperate. Beck is alone. He’salone even as he takes lovers. He’s alone even as he and his brother try tobuild a life. He is alone until he walks into a marketplace and finds his heartwaiting for him.

I sob as I come out of the bond. I throw my arms aroundBeck’s neck and clutch him. “I love you. I love you so much.” I look into hisdeep gray eyes. They’re still filled with uncertainty. “I would have no other.”

ChapterThirty-Six

Beck

I squeeze her tight, emotion threatening to choke me.“I hope you mean that because you won’t have another. You’re mine, and I won’tever let you go.”

I pull her hair back and take her mouth savagely, the needto imprint myself on her completely overwhelming. She’s so open. I hadn’timagined how good it would feel to truly bond with her. She’s seen all of mybad parts, everything I loathe about my own nature, and she accepted me with awhole heart. I know she’s seen the very things I was afraid of her seeing, butinstead of rejecting me, she told me she loves me.

“I love you, Megan,” I rasp in her ear. I pull her tightagainst my chest. I love the warmth of her skin. I love the trust she places inme. It eases my soul. I glance over her shoulder and see my brother. Cian hasgone pale. He sits back against the headboard. Meg might have accepted mewholeheartedly, but Cian seems to be having trouble. Perhaps I’m not free andclear. “Ci? Whatever you want to say to me, just say it. It isn’t anything Ihaven’t thought about myself.”

Meg looks back toward Cian and reaches her hand out to bringhim into the circle. I worry he’ll refuse, but after a moment’s hesitation hethreads his fingers through Meg’s.

“You didn’t kill Torin because you had to save me,” Ciansays quietly. “He was right there. It wouldn’t have taken long.”

“If I’d taken even a moment, the secondary front would havebeen on me,” I try to explain. I knew Cian would be upset I let our parents’and sister’s killer live when I could have slain him. “I would have been toolate to save you. It was selfish.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Meg disagrees.

“By saving Cian, I saved myself,” I explain simply.

“No, brother,” Cian says, emotion thick in his voice. “Idon’t believe it. I was there, just as Meg was. You didn’t want to lose my partof our soul. You value the person I am. Goddess, Beck, I never knew how bloodyhard it is to be you.”

“You valued Ci over your father, revenge, and your ownnature,” Meg explains. “And don’t think you missed out on saving the kingdombecause you chose Cian. If you had lost him, the kingdom would have been indanger from you. I felt that, too. Don’t expect us to turn away from you formaking that choice.”

“I always trusted you, Beck,” Cian vows. He pushes his chestagainst our wife’s back. “Nothing I felt tonight changes that. It just makes meproud to be your brother.” He stares at me for a moment, his expressionserious. “You don’t want to go back, do you?”

I swallow once, and then again. Of all the things it’s hardto admit, this is the hardest. “I don’t want to be king. I never wanted to beking. I want to be your brother and Meg’s husband and father to our children,but I’m not sure that’s possible. There’s a whole plane out there that willpressure us to go back and fulfill our destiny.”

“Then we’ll have to make our own destiny, won’t we,brother?” Cian returns. “Whatever comes, the three of us are in it together.”

“We’ll be beside you, no matter what.” Meg’s eyes are solemnand filled with promise as she makes the vow.

“Yes, whatever happens, Meg will make cookies for theoccasion,” Cian swears with a long laugh.

It breaks the tension, and I breathe easy for the first timein what feels like forever. I take a deep breath and find myself happy to beBeckett Finn for once in my life.

“I’ll have to try one tomorrow, wife.” I know there’s anincredibly foolish smile on my face, but I enjoy playing her fool.