The night air clawed at her skin, but the real chill came from within. Daisy sank down against the garden wall, phone clutching her hand, her whole body trembling.
The bond flared suddenly, searing through her veins, and white–hot pain ripped across her chest and belly, making her gasp. Her nails clawed at her skin as the truth hit her–Noah was with someone else… again.
The mark on her neck throbbed like fire, branding her inside and out. It wasn’t just jealousy; it wasn’t just rage… it was agony. His betrayal was her punishment, forced through the bond until she could barely breathe.
She pressed the phone to her ear, with shaking hands. In the long run, and then his voice slid in, smooth and cruel.
“Noah…” she whispered, tears spilling hot down her cheeks. “Please. Please let me come to you. I can’t-”
“Why are you calling me?” He asked, his voice clipped. “Haven’t I told you not to?”
“The pain…” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “It’s too much. I did what you asked of me… I stole the gem for your sister. I did your bidding… every single time. I have nowhere to go… no one to turn to. You are all I
have left.”
His laugh cut her off; it was cruel and unnerving, sending a chill down Daisy’s spine.
“You feel it, don’t you?” He murmured. “Every time I touch another woman. That’s what you are to me, Daisy. A reminder of what I own. I don’t owe you anything… It’s me you serve, and you’ll continue to do so until your dying breath.”
Her heart stuttered.
“I…I risked everything for you…” Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Enough,” his voice hardened, and with it, the bond constricted. She cried out, clutching at her throat as if invisible fingers squeezed her windpipe. “It seems you need a reminder of who is holding all the cards. Tell me who you belong to.”
“Please…” she croaked, her face red from the lack of air.
“Tell me,” he ordered, his voice loud in her head.
She clutched at her chest, trying to gain some relief, but found none.
TID BU
“I’m yours…” she finally said, her body sagging with defeat.
“Again.”
The command snapped through her blood like a whip. She had dropped the phone in her hand to the ground, but his voice was prominent in her head. He was using the bond he forced on her all those years ago to get into her head, making demands she knew she couldn’t refuse. He’s done this for years, keeping her at arm’s length and yet on a tight leash as well.
He pulled her in, gave her the scraps she needed to survive, and then pushed her away once again, making her feel as if she was nothing. She suffered every single day while he slept with various women… the pain was much worse when he chose to mark them as he did her.
Noah was different, and she knew it from the beginning; if he marked another, the bond he once had wouldn’t break. He’s able to mate with multiple women and control them as he controls Daisy. She’s still not sure how he manages such a thing, but the amount of power he has is clear.
She assumed it had something to do with his bloodline.
The Blackwells were all too powerful.
The hold on her neck tightened, and she struggled to draw in a single breath.
“Say it,” he demanded again, his tone darkening. Read complete version only at find•novel.net
“I’m yours,” she gasped, the words pilling out, humiliating and raw.
The bond loosened–not gone, never gone, but easing enough that she could take a shuddering breath. She fell to the ground, her trembling hands finding her phone as she brought it back to her ear. His breathing was heavy as if he had just run a marathon.
“Good girl,” Noah purred. “Now do as you’re told, keep quiet. Keep useful, and maybe, if you’re lucky, I’ll let you sleep in my bed again.”
The line clicked dead.
Daisy collapsed forward, shaking her shoulder, but even her tears felt hollow now. She wasn’t his mate; she was his prisoner. He didn’t love her, and he probably never did, nor would he ever. She was so stupid to fall for his charms when she was younger… so stupid to think for a moment that he could actually have some feelings for her.
She thought she could use Lila to break this painful bond between her and Noah, but she was wrong. The gem didn’t work for Lila, and now Daisy felt more alone than ever.
It made her wonder if Lila was truly Blackwell blood.
Wiping her tears with trembling hands, Diasy stared at her reflection in the black pond. She had nothing
left. No home. No freedom. No love.
But she had her instincts.
And if she couldn’t break the chains, she’d break Lila instead.