All Chapters of Bound To The Cursed Lycan : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

THEODOSA.Binny worked the lock picks with the kind of focused intensity I'd seen him use maybe three times in his entire life—usually right before he did something spectacularly stupid that somehow worked out anyway.The lock clicked.The cell door swung open.I didn't move. Just stood there staring at the open doorway like it might be a trap, like the bars would slam shut again the second I tried to walk through."Theo." Binny's voice was sharp. "Come on."I looked down at the guard's body. At what was left of his head, still smoking slightly in the dim light."You killed him.""Yeah, I did." Binny grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door. "And I'll kill anyone else who gets in our way. Now move."I stumbled after him, my legs shaky from sitting for so long, my mind still trying to process what had just happened. Binny had killed a guard. Burned his head off like it was nothing. Like taking a life was just another obstacle to overcome.We reached the stairs, and Binny paused at

THEODOSA. What? The words hit with jarring force, but my eyes immediately darted to Binny. He froze for a second, jaw tightening. His hands curled into fists at his sides. I wanted to reach for him, to tell him to calm down, but I wasn’t even sure if I could stop him if he decided to act.I just prayed he had the common sense not to. But this was fucking Binny we were talking about. Xahen’s voice cut through the tension lowly, “You’re over exerting yourself young prince. You can’t win.“Binny’s lips pressed together, a sharp flash of anger crossing his face. “I’m not afraid of you.” He spat. I swallowed hard, whispering, “Binny… don’t—”“Don’t?” he snapped at me, barely looking at me, eyes locked on Xahen. “I’ve held back long enough!”Xahen’s shadow shifted slightly, tracing the edges of the lake, a subtle reminder that the lake itself obeyed him. His voice didn’t rise, didn’t hurry, but each word landed on Binny like a hammer. “Your caution is irrelevant here. You are small, w

THEODOSA.My mouth hung open.I stared at the empty spot where Xahen had been standing.He'd just... disappeared. Vanished into nothing.Nala's laugh pulled my attention. She was watching me with clear amusement, her dark eyes dancing."I take it you've never seen a realm hop in action before," she said.I shook my head slowly, still processing. My feet carried me closer to the spot, like proximity would help it make sense somehow. I half expected to find a trace of him, some residue of magic or shadow. But there was nothing. Just empty air and wooden floorboards."It's like teleportation," Nala offered. "Just with a few rules."I turned to look at her. "Rules like what?"She leaned against the wall. "Depends on the species. For wolves or lycans, you need three things. A silver compass, the blood of whoever's hopping, and a witch to perform the spell."I absorbed that information, filing it away. Silver compass. Blood. Witch. Not that I would ever want to do it.Then something clicked

THEODOSA.The building was bigger than the others around it, with wide windows showing the packed crowd inside.Music poured out every time the door opened, bass-heavy and loud enough to feel in my chest.Nala led me straight to the entrance. The bouncer took one look at her and stepped aside.We walked in.The noise hit me.People were everywhere. Dancing, drinking, shouting conversations over the music. The bar stretched along one wall, staffed by three bartenders moving with practiced ease to cater to the whole space.Bodies pressed together on the dance floor. Tables were packed with groups raising glasses and laughing.It wasn’t even overwhelming.For the first time in days, I felt something other than fear or exhaustion.I felt alive.Nala grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd. She scanned faces, looking for someone.Then she stopped and waved.I followed her gaze, then I saw a familiar face at a large table near the back.Afnie.The woman I'd met at her cottage when N

XAHEN."Where have you been?" I asked."Around.""That's not an answer.""It's the only one you're getting." Kane's voice shifted again. Behind me now. "How's Theodosa? Still locked up? Still trying to convince you she's innocent?"My jaw clenched. "How do you know about that?""I pay attention.""You've been watching.""Obviously." He said it like I'd asked if the sky was blue. "Did you really think I'd disappear completely? That's not my style."I turned in a slow circle, trying to track his voice. "You've been in Obsidian.""For months now. Since the before night I found you out in that forest with your mate." A pause. "I never left."Something cold settled in my chest."Months." I let the word hang there. "You've been invisible in my kingdom for months.""Watching. Waiting. Observing." Kane's voice carried that playful tone I'd always hated. "It's been quite entertaining, actually. You've put on quite a show.""And you didn't think to make yourself known?""Where's the fun in that