The Binding (Chronicles of Azaria #1) Read Free

throat.
    My gaze wandered upwards, but before I made eye contact , I forced myself to look away. A tiny part of me reasoned that if I didn’t acknowledge him, the Binding wouldn’t work. A tiny, quite hysterical part of me. Yet deep down, I knew it was too late. The curse had nothing to do with stolen glances. It was all about the feelings of the heart. Even the smallest smidgen of social interaction would set it off. And a life debt was more than enough to seal my fate.
    I ’d become Bound.
    “Excuse me?” The young man gripped my arm. “You’re bleeding. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
    I hardly heard him, lost in a semi-daze. Despite the sting on my cheek and the throbbing of my ankle, neither felt real. It was like watching someone else on the forest floor. This had to be a dream. If I closed my eyes, I’d be back in my own bed, with nothing to worry about except what blouse to wear as I waited for...
    By the Goddess, who was I kidding? Fate had cast its tangled net, and I ’d fallen right under it. Worse, this particular net was unbreakable. Nobody escaped a Binding. Those that tried went mad, turning into Unbound, and the only guarantee of true freedom was much too final to think about. Some might have argued that being dead was better than being Bound, but I wasn’t keen on either option.
    Yet while I wouldn ’t die to escape the curse, with my feelings now locked to this stranger, I’d already lost my life. Once Bound, you had to stay by your partner’s side, and judging from this man’s clothing, he wasn’t a local. My home, my family, my best friend; I’d have to leave them all behind.
    I choked back a sob. What was I going to do? How would my parents react tomorrow when they found my bed empty? And Adam, what would he think? Knowing him, even after a hard ride from Bane, he’d probably come chasing after me. But I was beyond rescuing. There was nothing he, nor anyone else, could do. Not after I’d been…I’d been…
    “Hey, it ’s alright!” The young man’s voice broke through, and he draped his arm around me. “The bear’s not going to hurt you, and neither am I. It’s over. You’re safe now.”
    It was then I realised I was breathing as fast as when I ’d been running through the forest. I shut my eyes, stemming panicked thoughts. In their place, a sudden desire took hold. Without warning, my arms wrapped around the man, and I drew myself into his neck, my tears soaking his collar. The scent of leather and pine mixed with something I couldn’t recognise. Whatever it was, my body hungered for more, and I pressed closer.
    Oh no, the curse ’s effects had started already!
    I clung to him for a long while, waiting for the overwhelming need of closeness to pass. I couldn ’t believe it. I hadn’t hugged someone this tight since I was a little girl and wanted my mother’s comfort. It made me so ashamed. Come on, let go of him. I didn’t want to sit in his arms all night. A grateful hug to get over the bear attack was one thing, but if I couldn’t let go, he’d get suspicious.
    Clenching my jaw, I finally managed to push the stranger away. My hands rested on the rough ground, and the pinch of stones brought me back to the present.
    “Thank you.” I had to say something, to break through the emotions churning inside me. My heart pounded, but not because of fear. I forced myself not to think about what was really driving it.
    “It ’s okay,” the man said. “Here.” He handed me a handkerchief. Sighing, I took it and pressed it against the gash on my cheek. Blood soaked through and stained my fingers, though a lot had dried on my face. “Are you in pain anywhere else?” He looked me over, concerned. “Did you hit your head?”
    “No, I didn ’t,” I said, furrowing my brow. I had to concentrate to get the words out. My feelings were running rampant, leaving little room for my thoughts. I moved my leg, and pain shot through my ankle. My mind latched onto the sensation, and