Page 182 of A Bond in Blood

“Get off me!” I shouted again, slamming my head against his chest.

He held me tighter.

“How is that mind doing?”

His mockery of my own torment only fueled my rage. I kicked him, trying to get his arms to release me.

“I hate both of you!” I cried. “I hate you!”

“Stop making love proclamations, princess,” Olen grunted.

I snapped my head in the direction of the king’s right hand, glaring while he stood from his crouched position.

Ulrich held me closer, running his hand along the neck of my gown.

“Brenna, nothing is done personally.”

My knees weakened with my fit and I sobbed while I went limp in his arms.

“Please let me go,” I cried. “Please stop this all. Please.”

Ulrich lowered to the ground while my body continued to fall, and my words spilled from my heart.

“Each moment I believe you could stop, you commit another awful act. End me, Ulrich. Please. If killing me is how this ends, do it now.”

His arms went taut around me.

“Please,” I cried. “Please.”

“I cannot, princess.” he whispered into my ear. “I cannot. There is no other way.”

I hated myself for welcoming his lips softly laying against my neck. I hated the maddening comfort it brought even when my heart felt as though it would explode.

I went lax against him. The darkness of sleep wrapped around me. My mind’s inability to fight the exhaustion caused from that dark room hidden beneath the palace.

Ulrich held me closer, and my tears fell from my cheeks. He was my living nightmare. My worst tormentor. Yet, I could not understand why my heart was so determined to prove my logic wrong. To find the light hidden within his darkness.

“There is no other way,” he muttered again while sleep fully claimed me.

I fell into it, betraying my mind as I welcomed the comfort of his grip wrapped around me.

Chapter 35

Idid not allow Ulrich to touch me after my newest torment and he did not ask.

In just a few months we’d gone from regular lust filled nights to returning to our silent sleeping habits. A wall of pillows between us once more and my hands laid across my chest in protection.

The parties had also started again. A maddening thumping each and every night. Weeks of being forced to sit silently on his whore-seat, watching his court fuck their lives away.

My supplies were still gone as well. Nowhere to be seen. No more walks through the palace. No more secluded swims.

I was a prisoner once more.

“It’s been eleven months,” Ulrich whispered beside me.

I startled, pulling my eyes from the dark ceiling.

“Yes, your grace.”

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