Page 197 of A Bond in Blood

“Tell me,” he demanded.

“You fooled me,” I cried.

“When I gaze out in the night, I can’t help but marvel at the land. In the dark, its beauty is of another world—an old, distant world, but in the day is when it shines. The brilliant blue skies captivate the mind, forcing you to forget any hardships in your heart. I imagine your blue eyes will do the same for me.”

My pulse skipped as he recited one of the letters. Not the ones I’d thrown at his feet, but one I had left at home.

“I was not wrong,” he whispered. “They captivate the mind. Blue so bright I wonder if they could cleanse my dark soul.”

“I hate you,” I sobbed.

His hand brushed my cheek. “I hate you as well. Fuck, I hate what you do to me.”

I leaned into his touch, unable to accept the insanity of his skin against mine.

He breathed out. “I did not intend for this to go this way.”

“You’re insane,” I muttered. “You have played me a fool.”

I fell to the ground, sinking into the mud. He fell with me, gripping my face in his palms.

“What did you do?” I whispered, shaking my head. “What did you do?”

“Leif wrote at first. Gathering the information I needed. Doing what I demanded of him. But then he started to fall for you, disobeying my instructions.”

His grip on my face tightened while he breathed out slowly.

“I took over, writing to understand whatbeastI was claiming. To know what triggers I could use to make you hate me and ensure you would never want to show me kindness.” He let go, releasing a rageful yell.

“Fuck!”

The sound cracked with the lightning in the sky.

“Fuck, Breanna!” he shouted. “You made it so fucking hard to not be intrigued—to not want more. It was all a game, a jest to play you as the foolish woman I believed you to be.” His gaze held mine and I was sure he would melt me into the earth.

“Then you walked into that fucking ballroom, wearing that fuckingreddress, with hair to match the fire of your hate and Fate fuck it all, it made me hate you instantly.”

I sniffled. “Hate?”

He gripped my face again, pulling me to him. “Because I suddenly realized there wasnothingI could do to stop myself from actually falling in love with you. Which only made my hate for all that you make me feel turn deeper, all-consuming.”

I shoved him away.

“I hate you,” I said again.

“I know, Bren. I know,” he whispered.

My name being uttered like that on his lips was my undoing. Cracking open the madness I did not want.

“I hate you,” I repeated.

“I know,” he replied.

“I may never forgive you,” I muttered.

“I know,” he repeated.

I looked into his eyes, barely able to see through the rain. His lips claimed mine in an instant. Our kiss was a fire, burning through my body while he lifted me from the ground. My legs went around his hips, and he held me in place, moving his lips against mine.

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