Bound by Ravens (Bound by Ravens, #1)

by Jesikah Sundin

Remembering his warning, I dryly tossed out, “You can remove your shirt now and I’ll pretend to swoon, but only this once.” His lips twitched. “I said no pity.” “Pity swoons are not pity but also not not pity.” Finn burst into laughter. It was a pleasant sound, deep and bright. “With riddling like that, lass, you might become more fae than me by week’s end.” “Well, off with it, then, before I change my mind. I’m afraid of what will happen to you if a female doesn’t fall at your feet at least once a day.” Another laugh left him. Then, playing into the not pity swoon command, his stare grew heated within a single blink as he licked his lips, and in an animalistic way that struck my trotting pulse into a run. He moved closer to me, close enough that I could feel his body’s warmth. My eyes rose to his and . . . shite, I was in so much trouble. Light and shadows played across the planes of his cheeks, down his nose, his pale eyes appearing paler beneath the dark strands of his disheveled, shoulder-length hair. A canine softly bit down on his lower lip as he slowly, so, so slowly, lifted his shirt over his head. The air grew thick around us. I couldn’t breathe. Moon-touched droplets of water rolled down the hard lines of his chest and down the ridged muscles of his stomach. Inky water lipped the V of his hips and my mouth parted. His body was bruised in spots and clawed and I was still panting. What would I do if he were unmarred? He tossed the partly shredded shirt to the bank ...

Yeah, I would also swoon.

Then he kissed me. A sweet, chaste kiss so gentle, I could taste his heartbreak slow dance beside the moonlight spilling into my pulse. Why did this kiss feel so sad? I drew in a hiccuped breath. Tears gathered on my lashes. I didn’t know why for him. But no one had ever said anything so kind to me before. I knew it wasn’t just about him complimenting my looks or trying to make me swoon, but him telling me that I had held rare magic over his kind, the only reason we still lived. He pulled back and brushed a tear on my cheek away with his thumb. The heartbreak I felt in his kiss both softened and sharpened his gaze. Then he stepped backward, strands of my hair slipping through his fingers as he moved into deeper waters. Our eyes remained locked. Questions blurred back and forth between us. This wasn’t real. I was confusing heartbreak for the pain I already knew he was in. No pity. No fussing. Cheating death made two people want to feel more alive, closer. A survivor’s bond, that was all. Nothing more. Right? This boy kissed many girls. I had seen it with my own eyes and for years. I was just one more in his count.

PLZ SHES JUST LIKE ME

A side of Finn’s mouth hooked up in a familiar teasing smile. “You may have made a proper male of me, Rynnie, but seducing me at every turn is becoming a bit much. Give a lad a chance to catch his breath.” I scoffed, but grateful for the familiar back and forth. “Well, you’ve used up your one pity swoon, Finny. Don’t expect another.” “No, love.” That wicked grin of his grew wider. “The next one will be real.” “Name. Only.” “That wasn’t a part of our sealed bargain, mate.” I clenched my jaw. “Mate of convenience.” “Aye.” He shrugged. “But still my mate.”

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I rolled over to face Taryn and . . . my heart stuttered a beat. Last night, she was enchanted by the silver water and moonlight and I was completely under her spell. Even the will-ó-the-wisps were bewitched and gathered to dance in her presence. But right now, lying beside me? Long lashes dusted her cheeks, light olive skin softened in the dusky light, and her mouth. I blinked. Her mouth, only a few inches from mine, was slightly flushed from sleep. I had tasted those lips twice now. They were mine. Even after our mate bond was dissolved, I would tear down mountains if another male kissed her. Finny boy, calm your pantaloons. A bargain of convenience my mind agreed to but we were bound by ravens. A real mate bond before the fae. An ownership. And it was turning me into a territorial puppy dog for her. Aye, I could resist the magic, but I couldn’t help but think of the Crone’s comment. My mortal mate. What if Taryn was my True Mate? What if the Crone only meant my bonded mate, knowing what we would do? Stars, I could pull my hair out strand by strand right now. Mortals had the luxury of not having magic. The fae? We were ruled by a power so primal, so ancient, even the high fae, like me, behaved no better than animals when that wild magic took over. More so for the wild fae. Thirteen more days. She was a wound up, annoying, rival thief. Not my wife. Not my mate. It was all in my head. Anything I imagined on her part was only because mortals became elf struck. Even the sing...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Stealing kisses and becoming a mainlander’s fantasy dalliance was easy. Believing one was wanted, that one had family, only to be abandoned and kinless was not. Especially when they would walk away free and I . . . I . . . No, I wouldn’t put myself in a position to feel those tearing emotions again, so help me. “Taryn,” I whispered, gently stroking her cheek. Feck. I needed to stop that. “Taryn Hunt.” I tapped her face until her eyes fluttered open. Before she could snap at me, I lifted a finger to my lips and gestured with my head that we had company. Her doe eyes widened. Stars, those eyes. Someone punch me in the otter wound! “We need to move,” I said more harshly than I meant to. She nodded, not even fazed by my whispered, sweet nothings.

I'm actively melting

“Finnan, is it?” “Finn for typical murder eyes moods. Finny for those extra stabby feelings. And Finnan for when I’m ready to walk sixteen feet away and point a stick at your heart as you come flying back to me.” “That’s beautiful, love.

AAAAAAAAAA (Lizzie & Darcy core)

Taryn closed her eyes and swayed, her teeth clacking. That territorial puppy dog inside of me took over. I marched to the bed and stripped the blanket, pulled her in front of the stove, then held up the covers to grant her privacy. “Strip before you catch your death.” I expected her to argue, but she didn’t. She didn’t say a single word. The sodden, thin shirt hit the floor with a wet thwump, followed by her belt. A few seconds later, various herbs were tossed to the ground, followed by two carrots, cut in half, a couple radishes, and two kitchen linens. “Seducing me with your thieving ways are you, Rynnie?” She peered over her bare shoulder. “I only care about rule three right now.” I winked. “Sure you do, love.” Turning around, she removed her boots, stockings, and breeches, tossing them beside her shirt. I wrapped the blanket around her first, then wrapped my arms around her next. She leaned back on me, too tired to protest. This mortal needed more warmth and a low, protective growl rumbled from my chest. Lifting her up, I carried her to the bed, ignoring my screaming muscles, and set her down gently. “I want to eat,” she said, eyes closing. “Just moving the table closer to the stove, is all.” She nodded as I walked away. It took no time to rearrange the room, moving the table and chairs before the fire and dragging the heavy oak chest in front of the door. Then I picked her back up and placed her closest to the warmth. “The soup should have cooled down enough now.”

I don't, I've tossed rule three by now.

There was something seriously wrong with me.

Me when I like anyone.

“Three years left,” I whispered in confession, biting back the angry tears. “Catching the witch’s ring would have reduced it to one. This curse, our temporary mate bond, your ownership has cost me my dream to open an apothecary shop.” Finn lowered a hand to caress my cheek, his pale eyes darkening. “Promise me, love,” he whispered back. “Promise me you’ll open that apothecary shop the moment you’re free.” “Is this a bargain?” I asked, my lips trembling. Shite, I would not break down. “Aye, make this bargain with me.” “Why do you even care?” His hand cupped my face as he stepped in closer. “The witch’s ring would have freed me from Corbie. Lass, I have been owned since I was four years old.” My breath caught. “Owned and traded away as an Outsider slave by my Traveler blood foster parents.” His thumb caressed the corner of my lip. “I don’t want to own you, Taryn. I only want to own myself.” I blinked back the heaviness settling on me. “I . . . I didn’t kno—” “No pity, love. No fussing. I’m twenty-three, been thieving my whole life, and accepted this fate long ago.” Why he evaded my questions about his history with the mainland now made sense. My soul was cracking. “I’ll promise you, Finnan Ó Brannon, but only if you promise to claim something you want the moment you’re free too. It’s only fair.” The heartbreak I noticed at the pond returned to his eyes and softened the curve of his lips. “I promise you, Taryn Hunt.” “Then I promise, too. Now,” I said, placing my hands on his...

OH GOD GODS

I think she's jealous guys.

Niall flicked his ashes and sneered down at us. “If yer arse isn’t in my chair at the crack of dawn on the thirteenth day, ye’ll be marked. No mercy. Understand, Corbie?” I didn’t answer him. Instead, I gently helped Taryn to her feet, guided her around Davis and Gan, and led her into the junkyard. Once outside, I closed my eyes and lifted my face to the sky to gather my wits. The afternoon sun warmed my flushing skin while a breeze cooled the rage. I was shaking. My breath, my body. My muscles were begging for a fight. “Finn . . .” Taryn whispered and I slowly looked her way. “Corbie doesn’t deserve our mainland catch. Let’s trade for new clothes and proper baths.” A smile softened my lips. “You just want another glimpse of my energetic flesh.” I joked, but the smile was forced. “Maybe I do.” Our eyes locked. Feck. Me. I was officially shoved from my mood and into an entirely different heated one. “How else can I change the dressing on your wound, Finny?” she added with a wink and sauntered off. And stars above, I followed her like a dog on a leash.

WALK HIM LIKE A DOG.

I only want you, Taryn Hunt. Confusion crept back into focus. Was this all to ensure I didn’t make a scene and ruin our plan? Watching Finn, I was suddenly aware of just how sensually he moved. He oozed every fantasy females desired and could steal a heart with a well-planned smile and silver-tongued confession. Like in the pond. Like at the inn. Like just now before approaching our target. “Your dance partner appears heartbroken,” a cultured mainlander voice said in an intentionally loud voice. Finn arched a brow at me and I blinked out of the trance I was apparently in to find Lady Winslow chuckling at me. “She likes to seduce me,” Finn replied, a humored twist to his lips, though his eyes were soft and strangely protective when meeting my gaze. I almost rolled mine in reply. He turned back to Lady Winslow and, in a low, husky voice, said, “But she doesn’t have what I want.” “And what do you want?” Her fingers played with a button on his shirt. I partially turned away, pretending not to notice Tommy’s hot stare while also pretending to be interested in finding a new dance partner. But I continued to watch from the corner of my eye. “I know your tastes, Lady Winslow,” Finn said with a devilish smile. That smile. That stars damned smile. “Let’s not play games, aye?” Her finger traced down his chest. “What if I like games?” “Dangerous . . .” His gaze traveled to her mouth. “To tempt an elf with games.” She laughed, a low seductive sound that clawed down my spine. Finn’s smi...

I'm actually sitting here, crying in my prom dress (I'm not but I would be if I were in her place, cuz I wouldn't believe a single word that would leave his lips after that).

On our floor, we barely made it into the room we had staked for ourselves when Finn grabbed me by the waist and swung me around to face him. Our eyes locked. Our breaths came fast. His gaze lingered on my lips a few wild heartbeats before he pushed me against the brick wall and kissed my laughter.

Okay, I might believe him after this.