Page 154 of A Bond in Blood

I was entranced by his gaze and unable to pull away from his poison. My body trembled, begging for more of the man it had become addicted to.

“Claimed souls are merely payments of my deals,” he whispered.

I snapped from my daze, shoving him away. “I am not a payment.”

His eyes glistened with amusement. “You are, Brenna. You are mine. Do not forget that.”

I stared at him, challenging his words with my gaze.

“Each time I think you could possibly receive redemption, you do something awful,” I muttered. “You force me to remember the pain you’ve caused me.”

His gaze went blank, the fire in his eyes extinguishing.

“Why?” I pleaded. “Why?”

His mouth opened and hope sparked in my chest. Was he going to be vulnerable? Like the few times he had spoken of that ink on his skin? Would he allow me to see past the monster?

His hands clapped instead, and the music stopped around us. He turned away from me, leaving me in my misery while he approached the dais.

“I know you’ve all been impatiently awaiting the princess’s decision,” his voice boomed out.

Yet again, our battle had resumed.

I glared at him and the wicked smile on his lips.

“Brenna, come here.”

He pointed to the seat beside him, publicly claiming me as the object they all believed me to be.

I held my chin high, ignoring the sneering smiles while I crossed the room.

Ulrich’s other hand was trembling against the arm of the throne when I approached and he snapped his other fingers, pointing to the settee again.

I laid my hand on the trembling palm, stopping it instantly. I leaned into him, raising my legs and straddling him before them all.

“You will not win,” I whispered into his ear.

His hand wrapped around me, pressing my body against his. The gasps and shocked laughs behind us drowned out with the blood rushing through my veins. It pumped my heart with a speed I was sure would burst it from my chest.

“What are you doing?” he whispered against my cheek.

I ground my hips into him, letting his court watch me control their master.

“You will not win,” I repeated.

His hand pulled my hair back, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“What a goodbeast,” he muttered.

“Happy birthday, yourgrace,” I replied.

His smile was somehow even more wicked while he stared up at me. His hand pressed further into my back, and he pressed me closer to him.

“No, Brenna. Happy birthday toyou,” he whispered. “It’s belated, but this is all for you.”

My face twisted with unexpected emotions and my mouth opened but no words left my lips. I was unable to respond through my shock. His lips claimed mine and every muscle in my body became rigid from shock.

We hadn’t kissed. Not once in all the nights we allowed ourselves to enjoy each other’s touches. It was always that thingwe both refused to allow. A touch of intimacy neither of us wanted.

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