Page 41 of Forbidden Daddy Mate

“How’s my little captive been?” he purred.

“Go fuck yourself,” I spat.

He tutted. “That’s no way to address me. But you’ll figure that out soon enough. For the time being, we’ve got other things to do.” He reached out, and with lightning-fast reflexes, his hand wrapped around my wrist.

“Come on. We’ve got an appointment. You’re not going to want to miss it.”

He was talking about Malcolm. The room I’d been locked in had no windows, so I hadn’t realized that much time had passed. I remembered their conversation, what I’d heard them say. Panicked, I blanked on any logical plan and jerked my arm, trying to wrench it out of Tyr’s grip. He glowered, then jerked me toward him.

“Stop fighting,” he ordered, and the caramel smell wafted toward me. But I’d had three days and nothing to do but practice. I brought up my walls, blocking him from my mind, except instead of resisting, I let my grip slacken as if his compulsion had worked. He grinned down at me.

“There we go,” he said. “Was that so hard? Now, come with me.”

I followed, still acting listless as we maneuvered through the halls. The house or manor—it seemed too lavishly decorated to call it a complex—was larger than I’d expected. I bided my time, still pretending to be under his command. I had planned on waiting until we were outside to make my escape, except at one point, he made me stop. I watched as he grabbed a length of familiar-looking rope and turned to face me.

“Hands behind your back,” he said.

Panic gripped me as memories of the last time this had happened flooded through me. If he used that rope, I wasn’t going to be able to get out.

Instead, I stuffed my hand in my pocket, grabbed the necklace, and shoved it against his face.

He howled, staggering backward in shock as he clutched his cheek, where a burn mark in the shape of a necklace had emerged. He looked back at me, eyes burning, but I was already running as far away as I could, the necklace clutched in my hand.

Tyr’s hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and jerked me backward. His hand clamped around my throat, digging the metal deeper into my flesh, choking me as he slammed me into the wall.

“You really are a feisty one, aren’t you?” he said, smirking as he looked me up and down. The burn on his face still smoldered. “I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

I swiped at his face. They may not have been claws, but my nails were still long and sharp. He hissed as my hand dragged down his forehead and across his burning cheek. He stumbled, letting me go again.

I thought I might have gotten away this time until a hand dug into my shoulder and pulled me back. I slammed into his chest.

“Bitch,” he snarled. He jerked my neck to the side, exposing my collarbone. “I was supposed to wait, but fuck that. If you’re going to be this stubborn, it’s time someone put you in your place.”

His teeth scraped against my collarbone, not breaking the skin, but making it very obvious what he was about to do.

I writhed, clawing at his face as I tried to tug away from his grip, but his hand had knotted into my hair while his other hand snaked around my waist.

Panic threatened to cloud my mind. My vision narrowed as despair washed over me. This was it. I’d failed.

Except I couldn’t give in. I had more strength than I gave myself credit for. I’d gotten this far. Malcolm had seen it in me, so I should, too. I could get out of this.

I had a split second to act. Before he could take a bite, I shoved the necklace into his mouth.

Tyr staggered backwards, releasing me as his eyes widened. Smoke crept from the edges of his mouth as he tried to spit it out. But it was too late. He stumbled, sputtering, then collapsed. Sightless eyes stared up at me.

I collapsed as well, panting as blood dripped down my arm. My neck tingled so violently that I put my hand to it, praying he hadn’t actually broken the skin. But there was nothing.

I stared at the body, barely registering what I was seeing, expecting Tyr to reanimate and lunge toward me at any moment. But he stayed motionless. I’d done it. I took huge gulps of air, letting the shock wash over me, even as I knew that staying here would only result in my being caught. I stood, legs shaking, knowing that I only had precious moments to spare.

I moved to run, then paused, turning back around. Slowly, I reached out and grabbed the silver necklace dangling out of his mouth. Then I ran.

I raced through the complex, fully aware of the fact that I had as much chance of going in the wrong direction as I did getting out of here. But I couldn’t let that stop me.

But the corridors kept going, and I was beginning to think I had gone in the wrong direction. Just as I was about to turn back, however, a set of large doors appeared before me.

I ran toward the doors, unable to believe it. I’d managed to get to the door. I could be free soon. I’d still have the collar on, and would need to find my way back to Brixton as a human, but that didn’t matter. I could worry about that later. Right now, I could practically taste freedom.

I flung open the doors, relishing the feel of the fresh air against my face and the smell of—

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