All Chapters of Bound By Blood: A Contract With The Sea Dragon: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

[Astasia’s POV]When I reach the forest’s line, I burst forward through the brush and thorns that are meant to slow down those who wish to attack, but they also slow down those who wish to escape.Ignoring the pain that rushes through me, I fight against the bushes that are meant to stop me until I crash onto the forest floor.Panting, I stand and attempt to run forward only to crash to the ground, and when I look behind me, I find that my leg is trapped between two branches of thorns.Immediately, I start to fight against it, trying with all my might to break free while ignoring the ripping of my skin.When I finally manage to escape, I scurry to my feet and begin to run, but I’m too late.The gray wolf bursts through the very bushes that made it so difficult for me to get through and as he does, he sends me crashing to the ground.“No!” I scream, my arms coming up to protect my face, but I soon find that there is no reason to do so because the eyes that stare back at me aren’t hosti

[Astasia’s POV]Chaos erupts as those around me start to panic from the constant thrashing of the ocean around us. Their cries and fear fill the small space we are in, and when they start trying to crawl across the floor and over each other like desperate animals, I try to press myself as much as I can into a corner to avoid being injured.Fools. I think, watching as they pull their bodies up the stairs toward the cabin’s door where they begin to bloody their fists in an attempt to get the attention of the keepers who locked them down here.They aren’t going to come. I say silently, knowing that the keepers didn’t give two shits about them. To them, they were just cargo. All these people wouldn’t be missed and they could easily be replaced. They knew that as well as I did, but even then, they fight, and they beg to deaf ears as the ship rocks again and then the walls of the cabin begin to buck and groan, and then splinter so that sea water can slowly start to trickle in.We’re going t

[Astasia’s POV]I stare at the hostile woman who lets a slow smile begin to spread across her face, and as she begins to move toward me, I jump up.“Valoria,” the old woman sighs. “What do you think you’re doing?”“Me?” The hostile woman, Valoria, asks. “I’m just checking on the patient. Isn’t it obvious?”As she moves, everything in me screams to get up in flee, but my body feels like it weighs a ton, and the slightest movement hurts like hell.“Where is this?” I demand, turning my gaze to the old woman. “Tell me!”“Sweetheart, calm down.” The woman tries, but there’s no way in hell that I’m calming down, not when I woke up in an odd place after almost dying, and that damned Valoria was making it clear that she wanted to do something.“Answer my question!” I snap, ignoring the pain I feel and jumping up from the bed I’m in. “Where is this and who exactly are you people?”As I speak, I begin to desperately look around, searching for a way of escape, and when I spot a window, I don’t h

[Iravan’s POV]“Iravan, do you think it is a good idea to keep that woman around?”Valoria’s voice rings out as she appears beside me and as her gaze travels to where my little mate sits on the ground, I don’t miss the disgust in it.“She’s nothing but a measly…”“Valoria,” I say slowly and she immediately flinches back. “Did I ever ask for your opinion?”“No.” She responds, and bows her head. “I was just worried.”“I don’t recall saying that I need you to be worried about me.” I tell her, wondering if I should just go down to my mate the same way she got down there. “Instead, you should focus more on helping find that damned island.”“Yes, sir.”She doesn’t say anymore as I throw one leg over the windowsill in front of me and after letting the cool night air whip at my face, I jump and begin to plummet toward the earth. When I land, my mate lets out a squeak of shock from the way the earth shakes from my impact.“Shit,” she mutters.“You know,” I say slowly, eyeing her in amusement.

[Astasia’s POV]A shiver races through me as I don’t miss the promise in Iravan’s words.He means it. I say silently. And if he would do that to a woman who he announced was meant to be his future queen and the princess of an ally kingdom, then he would most certainly do the same to me whether I’m his mate or not.I need to be careful. That much was certain. Right now, he was humoring me because he got a kick out of my actions, but one wrong step and…Another shiver races through me and as I wrap my arms around myself, Iravan pulls off his shirt and throws it at me.Gasping, I catch it and then stare at the fabric in confusion.“Put it on,” he tells me. “You’re cold, no?”No. I respond silently, lifting my gaze so that I can take in the man in front of me, and I immediately regret it as I see his bare chest.He’s ripped. I think, taking in the muscles there, and as he crosses his arms, they all flex, and despite myself, I feel flustered.It had been a very long time since I saw a man i