Page 98 of A Bond in Blood

I met his eyes, finding his mouth moving but I couldn’t hear a word. I could only hear the blood in my veins, pulsing frantically inside of me. About to explode from the pressure in my chest.

My tears fell faster, and I turned my head out of Ulrich’s touch, wanting the demon’s hands to remove his hold on my skin. But I didn’t have the strength, and my vision blurred while my hands continued to hit the earth in a panic.

I was going to die. Yes, I was sure I was going to die from the inability to find the air my lungs were searching for. I stared at Ulrich, tears running down my cheeks while my panic grew.

Then he slapped me—right across the face.

I gasped from the shock as air barreled down my throat. My vision cleared, and the ringing ceased in my ears.

“Breathe!” Ulrich was shouting, shaking my shoulders.

I shoved him away then leaned my head against the door. “Keep your hands off me.”

He stood, brushing the snow from his pants. “I will not have tantrums,” he said coldly.

I glared at him. “You are mocking me.”

“Get off the ground, Brenna.”

“No.”

His body crouched and he met my eyes. “Do as I say.”

“No,” I repeated.

“Fine. Starve for all I care.”

His cloak whipped me in the face when he turned on his heel and sauntered to the table.

My back pressed further into the door behind me while I begged it to give way and allow me back to the palace.

Ulrich pulled out his chair, flipping his coat in a show of triumph behind him while he sat, picking up a cup steaming in the cold air.

“This fire feels fantastic,” he yelled over the wind, sipping from his silver mug.

I scowled and picked up my cover, placing my hands into it for warmth.

Ulrich set his drink down and opened the tray before him. I could not see the meal but the steam blocked his masked face and the smell—it instantly hit my nose.

“Gods dammit,” I muttered, knocking my head back against the door.

To my surprise, it sprang open, and Olen’s head popped out. “Just go eat, princess,” he laughed.

I scrambled to my feet, trying to get my body through the threshold but Olen slammed it back in my face. Almost hitting my nose in the process.

I screamed, throwing the cover back onto the ground. I turned on my heel, heading right for my target.

My finger was raised, shaking in his direction while I readied my words of war. When I arrived right before him he smiled at me, unphased and emotionless.

“Hungry?” he asked, pointing to the covered plate on the other end of the table.

“I hate you,” I whispered.

“You really enjoy repeating that,” he sighed and picked up his cup. “It’s as though you believe I don’t know this fact.”

“I wouldn’t want you to ever forget it in your old age, your grace,” I replied.

He snorted and his dark drink splattered over his plate.

---