Page 68 of Barbi and the Villain

“Or else?” I push my chin up defiantly.

“I will take you with me,” he says casually, though that dangerous glint in his eyes tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing—he’s threatening me.

The cad!

“So I have no choice in this?”

“No,” he answers glibly.

“For how long?”

“Until we find a way to void our bond.”

“If. We don’t even know if that’s possible.”

He shrugs again.

“So you just expect me to follow you around for the rest of my life?”

He tilts his head to the side.

“Technically, the rest of your life is an eternity seeing that you have now borrowed my life-force and my power to regenerate. You are welcome.”

I blink slowly. I have been stunned into silence. Not just because he just told me I may have turned into an immortal, but because immortality comes with a binding clause—him.

“Y-You don’t actually mean that I’m stuck with you for an eternity.” I gasp.

“If we do not find a way to void our bond, that is exactly what I mean.” He gives me a pointed look.

“But… That’s kidnapping. I do not consent! I didn’t consent when you gave me your blood and I do not consent to this sham mating or blood bond or whatever you call it,” I burst out. “I. Do. Not. Consent.”

His features darken.

Grabbing a piece of material hanging from my dress, he pulls me brusquely toward him. His breath brushes against my face as he stares me down with those icy eyes of his.

“Do you think I wanted this?” he asks in a low, ominous voice. “Do you think I wanted a goddamn mate when I vowed to never look upon a female again?”

My lashes flutter in confusion at his vicious tone.

“I was doing fine rotting away in that cell until you showed up and caused nothing but trouble.”

“Wait a moment. What are you?—”

“Do you know the price I paid for using my powers to kill that man?”

I slowly shake my head.

“I let down my guard long enough for Damien to pry into my mind and get the clue to the location of a precious item. All because I decided to help you instead of fortifying my mental barriers.”

A tremor goes down my body.

“I-I’m sorry,” I whimper.

“Sorry does not cut it. Not when Damien might get to that location first. So save your silly complaints for another day, Barbi. You are coming with me and this is final,” he states harshly. “We may not have had a choice in this farce that the fates orchestrated for us, but we will damn well make the best out of an awful situation.”

I bite my lower lip.

“Do you understand what I am saying, Barbi?”

---