All Chapters of Bound Essence series: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

  A few days later... SITARAThe moon shone bright through a circle of trees.  Within that circle, stood a crescent-shaped altar.  Upon which, a goblet of mead, incense, sea salt, a bowl of water, an athame and a binding cord were all lovingly laid out.  In front of the altar, stood a high priestess.  To her right and left, two lines gathered.  A young man walked down the middle, wearing a sword that looked as long as he was tall but he walked straight and proud, looking every inch a laird’s son as he took his place to the right of the altar.  His father has made a treaty with the neighboring tribe and this marriage solidifies it.  Though he's not particularly happy about getting a wife, he's not unhappy about it either.   

SITARA“There is a difference?”  “Yes…. I agreed to marry you because…”   I paused briefly.  “War is coming and only by uniting our tribes will our people survive the coming darkness.  If our people do not stand together, we will be wiped out of existence.  Besides…  I've been dreaming  about you since I was a little girl.  You and I are meant to be.”  He walked towards me.  Standing in front of me, he touched my cheek gently.  “Your eyes… Your eyes are like a shimmering silver color.  Why am I not frightened by this?  And why do I feel like I already know you when we’ve never met.  Have we known each other before?”  He asked, cocking his head to the side. &

EMRICK   Red is the only color I see as I cut a swatch through the enemy.  They had the audacity to sneak onto my shores, like thieves in the night.  Killing women, children, the old and the feeble alike.  Needless to say, these cowards owed me a debt.  A debt I planned on collecting in blood in the process of getting my hands on their warrior princess.  Yet somehow, deep down this battle felt wrong to me.  I had a nagging feeling that I was somehow being played. ​Out of nowhere, a shiny little ball flew at my head. I gasped and lost my balance for a bit.  Then from  the corner of my eyes I saw another one fly into an enemy warrior’s head.  He stood shorter than all the other men on the field and for some inexplicable reason, I felt

KERRIENNEHe dropped the shirt on the floor, and took a step closer to the tub.  His chest was huge, easily twice the width of mine, if not more.  He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, trailing a finger down my cheek.  He stepped back, and dropped his kilt on the floor, his eyes never leaving mine as he approached the tub.  My heart was beating so fast and so loud, I was sure that everyone in the entire keep could hear it.  My gaze swept his body from head to toe and back again.  Every inch of him was covered in muscles.  His chest was smooth and tanned.  I couldn’t help but look down, his stomach was hard and cut up into squares.  My gaze continued down, taking in his belly button.  It was covered with a fine dusting of hair that got thicker

KERRIENNEHe reached out to touch my cheek and I could feel the whole room hold its breath.  He leaned in, sniffed my hair and rubbed his cheek against mine.  That's the second time he's done that.  Like he's scenting me or something.  We stood there, in the middle of the room, cheek to cheek bloody swords hanging from our hands.   I leaned into his touch and felt peace. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lars and several of Emrick’s clansmen slowly approach us.  They were trying to outflank him…   “Laird…?” Lars asked cautiously.Emrick made a growling sound that had no business coming from a human throat and before anyone could react, he turned on Lars and had him lifted by the throat, leaving his feet dangling inches off the floor.  I handed the sword