Chapter 228

Chapter 228:

His jaw tightened for just a second before his smirk returned. “You’ve got a few minutes left to talk tough, Jasmine. Use them wisely. Because soon, you’re going to belong to me p>

I snorted, rolling my eyes, even as my wrists screamed against the restraints. “In your dreams, Jason. You rejected me, remember? And I accepted it. The bond is done. Finished. You can wave your little victory flag all you want, but it’s over p>

Jason’s eyes gleamed with something sinister. “That’s where you’re wrong. I did reject you. But you didn’t accept it.” He took a step closer, his breath ghosting over my cheek. “You never said the words. So, the bond isn’t broken. Not completely p>

My blood ran cold. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. He was right. I hadn’t accepted his rejection — not fully. I could end this now. All I had to do was say the words.

I took a shaky breath, my resolve hardening like steel. “Fine,” I said, my voice steady despite the fire of rage boiling under my skin. “I, Jasmine Kael, reject p>

Before I could finish, Jason’s hand shot out, clamping over my mouth with bruising force. My eyes widened as his fingers dug into my jaw, cutting off my words and my air.

“Not so fast,” he hissed, his face inches from mine. “You think I’m going to let you ruin my plans that easily? Cute. But no p>

My lungs burned, and black spots danced at the edges of my vision. I struggled to pull in a breath, to wrench his hand away, but his grip was like iron. He finally let go, and I gasped, sucking in air as though I’d just surfaced from drowning. My lungs felt like they were on fire, but I refused to let him see me broken. Not today.

He chuckled darkly, clearly amused by my desperate gasp for air. “You’re not getting away that easily, Jas. We’re just getting started.” He snapped his fingers, and the sound echoed through the room, bouncing off the cold walls.

Two men stepped forward from the shadows, their faces blank and indifferent. One of them held a gleaming silver dagger, its sharp edge catching the dim light. The other carried a bowl — a dark, polished thing that seemed to hum with something ominous. My stomach twisted. A blood tie.

Panic flared in my chest. My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms. This couldn’t be happening. If Jason bonded me to him through a blood tie, I’d be bound to his twisted will. I’d lose everything — my freedom, my chance at escaping, my future with Ryder. I refused to let that happen.

I tugged at my restraints, feeling the bite of rope against my skin. Pain lanced up my arms, but I didn’t care. I had to fight.

gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈n – 𝘾𝒉𝓮𝒸𝓀 𝒶𝓾𝓉𝒽 𝓬𝓸𝓹𝓎

Jason knelt down in front of me, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. “You’re going to be mine, whether you like it or not. You should’ve chosen me when you had the chance p>

I let out a dry laugh, my lip curling into a sneer. “You think this is going to make me yours? You think some half-baked ritual is going to erase the fact that you’re a pathetic, desperate loser?” I shook my head. “You really are delusional p>

His eyes darkened, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. Good. I wanted him angry. If I was going down, I’d make sure to drag him through hell with me.

The man with the dagger stepped closer, his face impassive. The blade gleamed, wicked and cold. My breath came in shallow bursts. I thrashed against the restraints, every muscle straining to break free.

“Don’t fight it, Jasmine,” Jason murmured, his voice soft and poisonous. “You’re only making it worse for yourself p>

“Bite me,” I snapped, my voice dripping with venom.

“Oh, I will,” he said with a smirk. “But first, let’s seal this bond p>

The man raised the dagger, the blade slicing through the air. My heart slammed against my ribcage as I wriggled violently. “No. No, I won’t let this happen p>

I screamed, pouring all my rage and fear into that one sound, hoping somehow, somewhere, Ryder would hear me.