Bound by Light by Anna Windsor Page A

agreed to follow my lead."
    Freeman leaned on the metal table in front of him and finally looked at Jake—with something like pity.
    Unease stirred in Jake’s gut as he got to his feet beside Merilee and Andy. He was missing something here, probably something he wasn’t going to like.
    Freeman gestured to Jake. "Merilee, you’re with the new Lowell."
    Merilee’s shocked expression mirrored Jake’s own.
    A vibration traveled through his entire body as she tensed, chin forward, and glared at Freeman.
    Damn, she’s beautiful.
    Shit, I can’t work with her.
    He hadn’t told Freeman about his powerful attraction to Merilee. Kept it to himself. Mistake.
    Stupid!
    "Excuse me?" Merilee shouted over the room’s noise. "No. I fight with Sibyls."
    "Sorry, we don’t have any Sibyls to spare," came Freeman’s terse reply. "In case you haven’t noticed."
    Riana and Cynda started to argue Merilee’s case, but Freeman silenced them both by banging his palm against the metal table and demanding order. Even Andy flinched at the sound.
    Jake, however, was having trouble hearing and processing anything. His insides pulled apart, then reconstituted.
    Merilee.
    He was paired with her.
    Merilee.
    Okay, fine. So he couldn’t avoid her now. No problem. He’d watch after her while her triad was down, like he promised Mother Anemone. That was what he’d do. Watch after her. Take care of her.
    Yeah, buddy. And how.
    He scrubbed his fingers against his chin to keep himself visible.
    Merilee was shouting again, and the wind in the room picked up to minor gale levels. "Don’t I get a say in this?"
    "No," came Freeman’s answer. "I’m not crossing the Sibyl Mothers, and this little request came from them a few minutes ago. I’m to keep Jake with you until your triad can fight again—so if you don’t like it, take it up with—what’s her name? Aminome? Anomaly?"
    Jake lowered his hand.
    His eyes narrowed.
    "Anemone," he said through his teeth.
    "That’s the one," Freeman said, both of his big fists still pressed against the metal table.
    Rage surged in Jake’s chest. He should have known. Of all the stubborn, willful, deceitful, manipulating—fuck! He was being played by a woman thousands of miles across the ocean, and he couldn’t do a damned thing about it. Mother Anemone might as well have hold of his talisman again, jerking him around against his will.
    No way. Not happening.
    Mother Anemone should know better than to push him on this point. Besides, Merilee needed to work with other Sibyls, where she’d be comfortable and happy.
    "Mother Anemone," Merilee echoed, still obviously stunned, but sounding resigned, too. " She wants this?" Jake turned to tell Merilee never mind, that he’d take care of this stupidity, but when she looked at him, his anger dissolved so fast he felt dizzy.
    Those eyes . . .
    That face . . .
    Everyone else in the room faded out of Jake’s awareness, and he was standing just with Merilee now, her and only her. Warm air rose off her like sultry curtains, and he wanted to part that heat, step inside it, pull her against him, and press his lips against her hair. He wanted to breathe that white tea and honey up close, and taste her skin, and tell her . . . what?
    I’ll look after you.
    Or, I’ll take care of you .
    Or maybe, I think I’ll fall in love with you . . . after I fly to Greece and stuff your favorite Mother upside down in the wine cellar.

    Merilee’s eyes gleamed, sun on bright blue water, as the full impact of the situation seemed to roll across her.
    Her thunderous frustration faded, dissolved, and morphed into a sexy little smile.
    "Okay," she said quietly, keeping up that smile until Jake’s fevered mind imagined sliding his tongue between those full, perfect lips.
    "Okay," Merilee repeated.
    I’m dying here.
    "I can do this," she said, still smiling. "I can more than do this."
    Snickers and giggles reminded Jake that other people—like Andy and Freeman and Merilee’s