The Unexpected Bonding Vow - Michelle Howard Page 0,16

of satisfaction flaring from his gut. Others would know this mark for a sign she was under the protection of a Gerelin.

“Did it work?” she asked on a ragged breath.

Garik met her gaze and though her voice wobbled, she was still in his arms and hadn’t run away the moment he released her. He reached for the connection inside his core and sensed the tiny light that represented he was a part of a bonded couple. There was also the slight pull of an energy draw between them as his body began to reach for hers in an instinctive need to heal. Triumph surged.

“It worked.”

Chapter 5

Saedra swiped at the useless tears drying on her face. Now that he’d stopped biting her, an actual bite, the pain faded. She held her arm up, turning her wrist about and couldn’t miss the two lines about five inches long on the underside. There was no blood marring her skin as evidence of the serious hurt he’d put on her. He’d licked it clean. The act disturbed and aroused her in equal measure.

“What did you do?”

“Bonded us. Gerelins have a hormone in our blood that is released when we share our lifeblood with another. The scar that will form while an unfortunate side effect also acts as a visible sign to all that you are part of a bonded pair and that there is a male who will seek vengeance on any who would harm you. Actually, other Gerelin will also defend any female after seeing such a mark on her.”

Saedra jolted. She hadn’t expected that. She turned toward him, shifting sideways on his lap. “What?”

Garik slid her to the ground beside him on a wince. “It’s a Gerelin thing.”

So he hadn’t hurt her on purpose. It was a relief that she hadn’t misjudged him. Saedra wanted to follow up on more details about this thing that she hadn’t counted on. That thing which was also warming and softening the tense muscles in her belly.

Instead she watched as Garik rose unsteadily to his feet. Saedra stood as well and reached out to his elbow as if to help steady him.

Garik eyed her warily but didn’t lean away. “You mentioned you have a plan to get us out?”

Right. Saedra wanted to smack herself on the head. She switched her grip to his hand, entwining their fingers and tugged toward the door. “Yes. We should hurry. I’ve probably been down here too long and I don’t know if the guards check on you routinely.”

“They do,” he said as he followed along with a hunched gait.

Their pace was slow partly due to Garik’s injuries and partly due to Saedra’s fear of being caught. They crept down the hall back in the direction he’d come and toward the stairs she’d used to get into the dungeon. Worry fluttered through her mind at Garik’s stamina but he seemed to have gathered strength since they’d left the cell.

At the stairs, he placed a hand on her waist and squeezed. Saedra stopped and twisted about to speak but he used his other hand to press his fingers against her mouth in a gesture for silence.

Voices trickled down the steps. Saedra froze and her heart revved like a space shuttle about to take off. Should they rush up and fight? Go back to his cell where they could wait to leave again? As her thoughts flew, Garik gave a fierce shake of his head and pinned her to the spot with a sharp glare.

He didn’t want them to make any move. Fine. She understood that. Meeting his gaze, she tried to convey her understanding. Each breath panted against his palm and she couldn’t help but pick up the strong scent of sweat and dried blood.

He lowered his hand slowly as if waiting to see if she would remain quiet. Saedra sent her own sharp look in return. She wouldn’t make a mistake. She knew what was on the line.

The voices above moved away and Garik tapped her waist. They took the steps at a faster pace, Saedra in the lead.

“Hey!”

A guard appeared in front of them as if he’d been about to go down to check on the cells. Saedra gasped and drew back. Garik spun her further to the side and launched at the guard. He gripped him about the shoulders, turned him around, then slammed his face into the wall.

Saedra winced. The guard continued to struggle, his hand flailing as he tried to reach the weapon holstered at his hip.

“He