Bound by Spells (Bound Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

words, but I had no idea if Rynna was still someone I could trust.
    “It’s very important you keep it hidden from the Queen,” Rynna continued, not acknowledging my reaction. “She can never know you have it—ever. Do you understand?”
    My brain was slowly coming back to life and questions finally rose to the surface. “Why? I mean, I already know it brought my power back even though I’m in this enchanted room, but what else can it do? What if I don’t want the power anymore? I can’t control it, Ryn. It controls me.”
    Rynna’s lips pursed, her frustration becoming visible. “That cuff is your lifeline, Amelia. Your mother had it specially commissioned and it is the one thing allowing you to maintain control over your Keeper power until you find your mate. It will permit you to use what you have for good. It will give you the opportunity to work with the Keeper, to break down the walls, and work as one for short periods of time. It will be draining, but if you keep working at it slowly, you’ll continue to gain control. If you don’t wear it, there is a chance you could lose yourself.”
    Those words had me on my feet. “Lose myself? Lose myself how?”
    “Calm down, Amelia,” she said, looking back over her shoulder at the door. “Please. Calm down. I know this is scary and it wasn’t supposed to be like this, but I’m trying to help you. Can I see it, please?” she asked.
    Still leery, I coaxed the cuff from my pocket and held it out on my flattened palm. Her word choice made sense. I had been calling it a bracelet, but the ends didn’t connect and the flat metal was wider than most bracelets. Rynna reached for it, her hand extended, but looked up at me for confirmation before she took it. I nodded stiffly as she simply flipped it over and pointed to one of the many symbols etched in the silver.
    “These are your mother’s initials. LRB. Liana Rose Bradbury. This was her addition to the cuff. A piece of your mother lives inside this cuff. It will give you what you need, and should give you comfort.” Rynna spoke quietly as she placed the cuff back in my palm. “She knew something was going to happen the day you were born. She took me aside and told me a day would come when I would be the only one who could reach you and I would need to make sure you had, and understood, the power in the cuff. She wanted to make certain you knew you weren’t alone—that she hadn’t left you.”
    I stared down at the beautiful calligraphy making up the only remaining piece of my mother. Loops and swirling lines drawn by her. Power given by her to me.
    Rynna continued as I stared. “The Queen will take you away tomorrow, to her home in Washington State. She refuses to go back to the castle in Syria unless she absolutely has to. I don't know what she expects from you, or what she’ll do to you, but she will ensure you are guarded day and night by Hunters. Use the cuff. Use it to control your emotions and reign in the Keeper. And do everything you can to learn the truth of what's happened and how we can stop it. There must be more to this than simply her need for power. I know my sister, and no matter what people want to think, she’s more controlled than this. We just haven’t been able to find the true source. While you do, we will be trying to find a way to organize those who are left. We can’t allow her to have you, Amelia. It’s too dangerous. For you and our future. But, if you’re going to be there, we need you to use the time wisely and bring us more information.”
    I took a step back and continued until I hit the wall, allowing it to hold me up as I worked through her last statements. “So, you knew? You knew I would have to do this—end up in the middle of all this?” My heart raced as my mind flew through the events of the past few months and my conversations with Rynna. “You told me I didn’t have to ‘be part of the Immortal soap opera.’ You told me I could choose my own path. Why