Page 180 of A Bond in Blood

Ulrich dropped me, forcing a yelp from my lips and my eyes sprang open.

We were in the library.

I stood, glaring at him but then my eyes went to the table in the corner. My workspace was now completely empty of my drawings and maps. All of my parchment gone. Every piece of koal nowhere to be seen. Even the easel was gone, no longer leaned against the table where I’d last left it.

“What!” I cried out, running to the table, searching around it. Pulling books off the bookshelves in the back.

My tears began to build.

Months of work.

Months of dedication.

Gone.

Where had it gone?

I turned on my heel, my finger pointing in his face, but I found that cruel smile across his lips.

“Why?” I cried. “What did I possibly do?”

A voice cleared and I turned my gaze to find Olen behind Ulrich. He shook his head, trying to demand I stop. I glared back.

Ulrich had unleashed the monster he’d molded me to become with his cruelty.

His unjustified torment on me.

“Why?” I demanded again. “Why?”

Ulrich’s hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping my hand from shaking.

“Because I can, Brenna. Because I am the monster you should fear. When will you learn?”

He dropped my wrist and turned on his heel, waving his hand with indifference.

“I’ve grown bored. Olen, have fun.”

I fell against the new couch by the window, covering my tears. All of that hard work taken from me in an instant. In one deranged tantrum. What had I done? What had I possibly said to justify this new outburst?

Olen settled beside me, and I sniffled, meeting his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Nine,” I whispered. “Nine.”

Olen’s hand pulled mine from my eyes and I yelped at his tight hold. “What?” he asked.

“Nine,” I continued to mutter.

“Fuck,” Olen groaned.

His hands landed on my shoulders, shaking me from my spell.

“Brenna, I need you to tell me what happened.”

“That fucking monster is the only one who knows,” I snapped.

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