Bound (Bound Trilogy) by Kate Sparkes Page B

step closer to Aren. It startled me, and had Severn not been nose to nose with his brother, he’d certainly have seen me twitch. “Don’t disappoint me.”
    “Never again.”
    Severn held his position for a moment, then stepped back and left without another word.
    Aren stood frozen in the center of the room, fists clenched. He breathed in, sighed, and collapsed into the chair, resting his face in his hands. I propped myself up on one elbow and winced at the pain that twisted through my arms and my torso as I moved.
    I wanted to speak, but couldn’t find words. Though I waited, Aren said nothing.
    “I think there’s been a mistake,” I whispered at last, and pushed the curtain aside so I could see him better. “I’m not whoever you think I am. I understand you not wanting to keep me here…” I trailed off and tried to wet my parched lips with my tongue. “I’d be happy to go.”
    Aren raised his head just enough to look up at me, and a look of slight amusement touched his eyes. “No, there’s been no mistake. I wish there had.”
    “I’m not—I mean, I don’t use magic. Please, just let me go home.”
    Aren leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him. “Let me think.” He closed his eyes, and I waited. I thought he’d fallen asleep when he said, “Gods damn the whole business.” He opened his eyes to glare at me. “If I turn you loose, he’ll find you again.”
    “But—”
    “Not to mention the fact that my life will be worth less than nothing when he realizes what I did. I can’t let you go.” He stood and tied the bed curtains back.
    “Please,” I whispered again when his gaze met mine. I fought back the tears that filled my eyes, not wishing to appear weak. I doubted crying would buy me any sympathy from a person like him. “I’m not what you think I am.”
    His jaw muscles tightened and his eyebrows pulled together in a deep frown. He turned away and took a heavy-looking brown coat from a hook by the door. “I have to leave for a while. Sara will be in soon to change your bandages. I’d suggest not talking at all, especially about what you think you know about me, even to someone who seems trustworthy. Everything gets back to Severn. I’ll answer your questions when I return, if I’m able to.”
    Before I could ask whether it was his return or my answers that were in question, he had left. The lock clicked into place. I was alone, a prisoner.
    It felt like I was watching all of this happen to someone else. This is a dream, this is a story book. This is not my life.
    But I couldn’t wallow in my disbelief and panic. I’d have to figure out how to escape, to get home or to a place where I could send a message to Callum. I suddenly found myself longing for that safe feeling I had when he was around, and wondered why I’d ever desired anything more. All I wanted now was to see him again.
    Hot tears slipped down my cheeks. They had to come out some time. I allowed myself a few minutes of sobbing quietly into the pillow, and when I’d finished, my mind felt clearer.
    Take stock . What do you know?
    I knew that my body hurt. I tried to sit up, but the muscles in my stomach wouldn’t support me, and when I moved my legs my ankle burst into pain. I knew that I was afraid, and that I was in trouble.
    What else?
    Aren was a Sorcerer. I saved his life, and now for some reason he wanted to take me to Tyrea. I’d seen him kill a man.
    I didn’t much care what had happened to the one they called Morten, but I wondered about the others. Darryl was certainly dead. If Aren was leading that group that attacked us, he was responsible for that.
    A chill washed over me. What if Matthew had come along like he’d wanted to?
    There was no time to think about it more. The door creaked open and a pretty young woman with long, honey-colored hair slipped into the room. She moved slowly and purposefully as she pulled a variety of items out of her basket, but she kept looking over her shoulder,