Page 69 of Tainted Wings

“I’m not sure if you understand how mating bonds work, but you can’t really pick and choose those, the universe does,” I tell her, growing angry with the fact that she thinks she can tell me what to do. She might be the person who gave birth to me, but she’s not my parent.

“Well, I know that those bonds can be suppressed as long as you don’t solidify them.” She nods. “There’s some nice respectful young men who would be perfect suitors for you. I can make some calls, and we can set you up with some.”

I gape at her. “Are you for real right now?” I almost shout, the top of my head tingling, my horns threatening to pop out. “I’ve seen you maybe a handful of times in the last three months, and most of those were in passing. Not to mention before that, I had never met you a day in my life, and you wanna stand here and tell me who I can and can not be mates with? Sorry,Mother,”I spit out the word.

“But that’s not how this is gonna go. I am my own person, and I couldn't give two fucks about status and being a Pure Blood because news flash, lady, I’m part DEMON!” I take a deep breath in and keep going, because why the fuck not? “I’m not you. I’m not going to give up my fated mates so I can have money and a high status. It means nothing when you don’t love the person you’re with.”

I pull down the neck of the hoodie. “Oh, and both bonds are already in place. So no, you won't be setting me up with anyone.”

My chest is heaving by the time I’m done. My mother's face contorts in anger, the three men behind her have mixed expressions of rage and unease.

As if I can feel their eyes watching me, I look up at the top of the stairs to see Isaac, Noah, and Luke watching me too.

I won’t be like them, I won't be with someone I don’t love. I don’t need money. I don’t care about any of this. It’s not worth it if I can’t wake up every day and smile, feeling my heart full of love because of my mates.

Needing to get out of here, I push past the men and head towards the back of the house, past the backyard, and into the maze to get lost for a few hours.

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