BOUND: Mates at War | 18+

25 More to Tell

"I should do a quick sweep," he sits up slowly, "every scout in the area heard us, I'm sure."

My cheeks heat at the thought of who else could have heard us.

I pull myself up on my sore, wobbly legs, an aching soreness burns between my thighs, deep into my stomach. Quickly grabbing the bucket of berries I sit against a tree before my legs give out.

I can still feel his fingers on my skin, the unbelievable tightness in my abdomen as he filled me completely, his breath in my lungs.

My mind is reeling, the connection between us is unavoidable, we can't fight our fate. Even the anger I feel toward all of the bad he's done isn't enough to keep us apart, we're going to have to figure a way through.

As he returns a little white bird dives down from the tree and pecks at his head and ears.

He swats at it angrily before getting a good look at it. His eyes widen, "little dove?"

I can't help but laugh, "you know this bird?"

"Yeah... she's my mothers, I accidentally let her out..." he sighs and rubs his hand over his face, "There are more...details I didn't tell you."

As he moves to sit the little bird dives down again, pecking at his head.

"I'm about to shift and eat this thing," he growls while swatting at it again. The bird stops her assault and lands in the tree above us.

"Looks like she likes you."

He grunts and sits down beside me taking a deep breath before starting.
"I found something in my mothers room while I was looking for... your necklace," he looks down at his hands.

"You have my necklace?"

I swear his cheeks flush pink, "umm, yeah, I kept it."

I bite into my lip to keep from smiling.

"It was left in my mothers chambers and I snuck in to get it. That's when I found an orb. It was glowing and..," he clears his throat, "..it's like it was calling to me. When I touched it I saw Edyrm Ilitris bringing my mother the dagger."

My breath catches and I take his hand in mine.

"He didn't look right, Solana, he looked... sick or drunk. Then..." his voice dips down to a whisper, I see the pain in his face, "I was there, the King... he looked so broken, he asked her if I was his and she killed him. She stabbed him through the heart."

His hand shakes as he grips my fingers tighter, "I can feel it, I'm not his son. The look on her face when he asked her... I don't even know who I am..."

I pull him into my chest, holding him to me. I can feel his heart beating. I run my fingers through his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp.

"Maybe I should go back," he whispers after a while, "she doesn't know that I know. I should go try to talk to a few of the guys..."

The thought of him going back fills me with dread. He may be her son but I don't believe she would hesitate to kill him if she had to.

He pulls himself away from me and brings his hands over his face. I place my hand on his tight, hunched shoulders and the muscles shake.

When he turns to me his eyes are dark and angry.

"I tried to kill you, I have killed so many others. I'm a monster. All I wanted was to protect her, to make sure that she didn't die like my father. She fucking killed him!" His voice cracks and I pull him into me again, placing my head on his shoulder, kissing his neck. Eventually, I feel him relax. I pull him to lean back against the tree with me again.

"You said Edyrm seemed sick, I wonder if she tricked him or forced him somehow..magic maybe?"

"I wouldn't be surprised..."

As we talk the little bird flutters down from her perch in the tree. I watch as she inches closer and closer to Roman. I peak up at him, watching his face morph into a scowl as she inches closer.

She hops up onto his foot and he quickly shakes her off.

"What is with you? Go away!" He snaps as she hops onto his foot again. I can't hold back the giggles that erupt from my throat.

He opens his mouth to say something but jumps up instead, quickly standing in front of me.
"Climb up into the tree, now."

I pull myself up onto a branch and wait.

Two wolves step out from the brush, our little camp suddenly feels much less safe and secluded than just a moment ago.

"Shift," he growls and they bow before their bones begin to crack loudly. I look away, not wanting to watch their bones snapping back into place, it's... unsettling.

"What the fuck is this, Roman?" One of the huge men growls.

"Watch the way you speak to me, Miles," his voice is eerily calm but I don't miss the tension in his shoulders.

"The Queen needs everyone back, there was an intruder in the castle, she's calling back the best, she's been asking for you," the other man says.

Miles stares at me, he's practically salivating. I cower back, pushing further back into the tree. I know Roman won't let them kill me but he's outnumbered here.

"Alright, let's go," Roman steps forward, Miles' lips twitch upward and the other man looks down at the ground.

"Aren't you going to exterminate your little play thing before we go?"

An intense growl hums through his chest. Miles takes a step forward and Roman shifts on the spot, his clothes shredding to pieces as he leaps forward.

Miles shifts but he's not fast enough, Roman has him by the throat, shaking his head violently, ripping into his neck.

I jump down on the other side of the tree, creeping behind it toward my bow. The cool wood fits perfectly to my hand as I pull an arrow against the string.

Just before I release, both men shift again, Roman is still pinning him to the ground.

"I said, submit," he snaps.

"Fuck," Miles chokes, "I submit."

Roman releases his neck and looks to the other man who raises his hands in surrender. He's obviously the wiser of the two.

He moves to his backpack, pulling out different clothing options and a small medical kit. He tosses the other men a few items before getting dressed.

"When you're ready, come sit, I have to tell you both something..." he rubs his hand over the back of his neck.

He turns to me, "keep your bow handy, I might need you to shoot them," he winks.

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