Free Bound by C.K. Bryant Page A

hypnotic eyes, he had strong,
masculine facial features—from his thick brow to his sultry lips,
he was gorgeous. Even the fine stubble along the chiseled contour
of his jaw and chin was alluring. His hair fell in light brown
waves, barely touching his shoulders. She tightened her grip to
avoid a sudden urge to run her fingers through it.
    Octavion raised one brow and grinned—exposing
his dimples. “Are you well, Kira?” he asked, as if he knew exactly
what she thought of his looks. She could see it in his eyes—that he
too saw more in hers than anyone else ever had.
    Kira’s face warmed with embarrassment as she
released his hands and lowered hers to her lap. “Yeah, much better,
thanks.”
    “I owe you my life for saving my sister.” He
returned the water bag to its branch. “I will forever be
indebted.”
    Kira looked past him at Lydia, lying so
still. “Is she okay?”
    He didn’t answer, but took Kira’s arm and
examined the bandages around her hand and wrist. His touch was
gentle, but his grip held her where she’d rolled against the rock
and it hurt. She pulled away and rubbed it.
    He looked at her curiously. “I am sorry if I
hurt your hand. I barely touched it.”
    Kira pushed up the sleeve of her jacket to
expose a nasty purple and black bruise, still swollen. “This one’s
yours,” she whispered.
    The color paled in his face. “You have every
right to fear me, Kira. I have treated you no better than your
attackers.”
    Kira wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want
him to feel bad, but he needed to know how much harm his temper
could cause. When she didn’t respond, he covered his handiwork and
unwound the bandage around her palm and wrist, this time being
careful not to touch her arm. She looked at the swollen cut and
tried to stretch her fingers. The skin pulled against the scab,
sending a twinge of pain through her hand.
    “Be careful not to reopen the wound,” he
said.
    Kira pulled her hand away. “Will you stop
worrying about me and answer my question? Is Lydia okay?”
    He sat back on his heels and sighed. “Yes.”
But his troubled expression said something entirely different.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    “It’s been three days and she still
sleeps.”
    “ Three days? ” Had she been asleep that
long? “My mom’s gonna freak.”
    “I think they are still away. I went down
this morning and saw no sign of your mother or her . . .
friend.”
    Kira sighed. “Paul’s a jerk. He won’t care if
I’m gone, but mom will worry. Are you sure they’re not back
yet?”
    “I am sure.”
    Kira turned her attention back to Lydia.
“What about her dad . . . umm . . . I mean your dad?”
    Octavion smiled. “Not a problem.”
    “Oh. Well then, I don’t understand why you’re
so worried about her. I barely woke, right? I’m sure she’ll be
fine.”
    “You have stirred. I have been able to give
you nourishment. She has not moved, and I am concerned.”
    He’d said she could die saving Lydia’s life,
yet here Kira was, still breathing, but Lydia showed little sign of
recovery. “What did I do wrong?”
    “Do not blame yourself. You saved her.”
    “Not if she isn’t waking up. What if I put
her in a coma or something? Maybe I should have let you make a
deeper cut or not fought you.” She threw back her blanket and tried
to get up. “Let me try again.”
    “Kira. No.”
    At first, Octavion merely kept her from
getting up, but she was so weak, his restraint quickly turned into
an embrace. Feeling his warm body against hers, she gave in and
relaxed. She lay in his arms, drawing what she could from his
strength. Kira wanted this nightmare to be over. “She can’t . . .
die.” Exhausted, she gave in to sleep.

 
     
     
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
    When Kira woke again, darkness had engulfed
the clearing. The flicker of the fire cast shadows that resembled
movement in the trees, playing tricks on her eyes. Toran lay near
Lydia, licking his paws, but there was no sign of