Bound by Shadow by Anna Windsor Read Free Book Online

bodysuit, she leaned down and tapped the blackened soda can with her still-glowing sword. “Diet, with lipstick on the rim.” She looked up at Riana. “It’s yours. Motherfucking Legion gave the Asmodai our trash to target us? Come on. That’s cheating.”
    Merilee, face mask dangling from one hand, came running up chanting, “My kill, my kill, my kill.”
    “Excuse me?” Riana turned on Merilee as Merilee retrieved her arrow. “I got it first.”
    Cynda said, “You’re both dreaming. That was my kill.”
    Something groaned.
    Riana and Merilee turned toward the alley wall.
    “Oh, yeah.” Cynda pointed her cooling blade toward a dark shape lying on the ground. “That freak charged in here and tried to fistfight the Asmodai, if you can believe that. Help me get him inside.”
    “No rest for the weary,” Merilee muttered.
    Riana’s heart gave a strange buck, not unlike the ground she had accidentally rattled too hard.
    She knew that black hair, that leather blazer. She’d been thinking about them all day long.
    Creed Lowell stirred and let out another groan, this one louder than the first.
    Cynda nudged her shoulder. “Come on, fearless leader. You can moon over the cute demon-man’s eyes after we tie him up.”
     
     
     
    4
     
     
    Creed dreamed that he was standing naked in a forest. Standing on some sort of smooth, polished wood. His knees gave, and he stumbled forward. A warm wind caught him, caressed him like dozens of fingers, gentle enough to make him groan, yet firm enough to hold him upright. A soft, teasing breeze lifted his cock oh-so-slowly—
    Knock it off, Merilee.
    But it’s got to be eight inches, Cynda. Eight inches and he’s not even aroused. Look at it.
    Don’t make me burn your hair again.
    Confused, Creed twisted away from the breeze as best he could. He didn’t like the touch. It wasn’t…right. Not the right scent, either.
    The breeze dropped Creed’s cock and grew stronger, lifting his arms high above his head and crossing them.
    Metal cuffs snapped shut around his wrists.
    Handcuffs.
    His handcuffs?
    His ring started to vibrate. The wind stopped.
    He fell forward and jerked against the cuffs, but his arms stayed in place. When he tried to open his eyes, his head throbbed. Were his lids glued shut? He moved his thick tongue against the grit in his mouth. He felt like he had eaten a brick whole, only bothering to chew the bigger bits.
    Roots and vines—no—colder—harder—chains? Chains snaked around his ankles and pulled his feet sideways, in opposite directions. This time when he lost his balance, Creed barely moved. He was standing in some weird parade-rest position, hands high, and he couldn’t open his eyes.
    What the hell?
    Unbearably warm sunlight licked across his back and his ass.
    Cynda. You’ll hurt him.
    So? I swear you’ve gone soft, Riana.
    Whatever he is —
    It. We don’t know that it’s human.
    Fine. Whatever it is, don’t cause him—it—pain for no reason. Get off the table. I’ll handle him myself.
    I bet you will.
    Creed’s ass quit burning. The pounding in his head doubled. God, he wanted some water. Better yet, a cold beer. Two or three of them.
    Hands prodded his neck, his chest, his arms, lingering on the thick scar that ran from his left shoulder to his left elbow.
    Creed’s skin started to burn again, but this time the fire came from inside.
    These were the right hands. Yes.
    Fingers brushed his scar again, and the smell of fresh rain and lavender washed through his senses. Spring storms. Flowers in a field, just after a summer downpour.
    A band stretched first around his head, then his neck. Something tickled as it drew along the length of his arms, then ringed his chest, then his ass, then his left thigh, and the right one, too.
    Measuring tape?
    “Are you measuring me?” he muttered.
    The band whipped away. All tickling stopped.
    “Not yet,” a woman said from behind him. “We’re not ready.”
    “Then get ready,” said a