Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2) (3 page)

She continues her tirade as if I’m not even present. “You would think that you’d at least be grateful. Especially considering what I’m offering you.”

Mad . . . She’s clearly mad. It’s the only explanation. I can’t fathom what in the hell is going on. She has to be off her damn rocker. I mean, she always has been, but this is a new level of crazy.

Leaning forward, she grasps my chin, crushing it in a bruising grip so hard my eyes swell with tears. “Well, things are about to change, my dear.”

“I-I don’t understand.” My voice is thick, strained with the force of my unshed tears.

“Of course you don’t,” she sneers, her agitation clear.

A brief surge of anger, resentment, and irritation courses through my veins, giving me the courage to fuel my words. “Then why don’t you enlighten me?”

Slamming her hand down on the table, she leans forward, closing the gap between us.

Her voice is deathly quiet as she says, “You would do well to remember who you are talking to, Ttal. I could end you in an instant.”

The sinking feeling in my stomach grows, spreading throughout my body. This is the Min Sun-ye Parker I remember. She’s the woman capable of torturing her ten-year-old daughter until she bled for hours on end. Selling her to the highest bidder and laughing as they had their way with her, saying she was “learning her place.” Shudders begin to wrack my body as I sit staring into the soulless eyes peering down at me. God, what am I going to do?

How am I going to get out of this? What does she even want with me? Feeling like there is nothing left to lose, I ask the one question I need an answer to.

“What do you want with me?”

The feral smile that spreads across her painted lips has goosebumps rising along my arms.

“I want you to renounce your American heritage and join me.”

Time slows for a moment as I process her words. All of the air is forced from my lungs as I peer into her black eyes, looking for any signs of untruth. My chest tightens, the burning in my lungs from oxygen deprivation signaling that I’ve still yet to take a breath. Blinking several times, I inhale once before asking, “Y-You w-want me to what?”

“You heard me, Ttal. I want you to leave your father. Stay here and join me.”

“I-I don’t understand.” My words stammer, as they tumble out of my mouth.

Huffing, my mother sits down on her cushion, pinning me with her glare.

“Listen closely, girl. You will forget about going back to America. You will stay here where I will formally train you to take over the family business. Once you’ve been trained, you will join me and rule at my side until I step down. I will find you the perfect suitor, and you will marry and produce children to continue our legacy. We are all bound by blood to continue in our traditions. It’s been this way for generations. Do I make myself clear?”

An uncontrollable trembling begins in my legs, working its way up my torso. Images begin dancing through my mind one by one just as my mother described. Being paraded around to different suitors, which really means auctioned off to the highest bidder. Forced to procreate with him and have his children. My stomach hardens, clenching as I gulp in large breaths, trying to shake the awful visions away. Alex’s words from the butterfly observatory float through my mind.

“You’re strong and fierce, Kylee. There’s a tiger inside of you, a fierce woman lying dormant, waiting to come out. You just have to let her.”

A tiny spark of hope ignites deep within my soul. It’s as if Mr. Violet Eyes himself has wrapped his arms around me, flooding me with strength and courage. His words are like a balm to my battered heart, even if only an echo in my mind. Fire ignites, fueling my body and mind, flooding my veins, steeling my spine. A sense of calm washes over me as I push my shoulders back, sitting taller on the cushion.

Leaning forward, a small smile plays at the edges of my lips as I say, “No.”

Her eyes grow large for just a moment as shock registers. It’s there but a moment before it’s replaced with a deadly smile. The cold, calculating grin that begins to spread across her beautiful face chills me to my very core. Before I can even blink an eye, she’s moved, snaking her hand into my hair, shoving my head down until it’s hovering barely an inch away from the grill. Using my hands, I catch the edge of the table, trying to push myself away from the intense heat radiating from the grill. Still gripping the table, my knuckles begin to turn white as I try holding myself against the steady pressure.

Pitching forward, her lips are but a breath away from my ear as she whispers, “You dare fight me?”

Her words are a warning, cold and deadly. This is the mother I remember. My heart begins to hammer in my chest, thudding, racing out of control, as if it will explode at any moment. On cue, my arms begin to shake from holding myself up against the pressure she’s applying to my head. The intense heat from the grill is searing my face, bringing tears to my eyes. Her fingers tighten in my hair, causing me to whimper.

“Did I not teach you that it is considered impolite not to answer when asked a question?” My mother’s voice is laced with steel as she grits each word out.

Struggling to hold myself up, I drag in a harsh breath as I reply, “Yes.”

“I see. Is that a yes you plan on fighting me? Or a yes you remember what I taught you?”

Beads of sweat roll off of my forehead and drip onto the grill, sizzling and steaming as my mother’s boisterous laugh echoes around us. Fisting her hands tighter into my hair, she gives it a tug before coming closer to my ear once more.

“You were asked a question. I expect an answer.”

Clenching my jaw, I spit out through gritted teeth, “Yes, I plan on fighting you.”

“Ah, so little Ttal thinks she can take me on, does she? Well, we shall see about that, shan’t we?”

A feral smile stretches across her gorgeous face, transforming her into a combination of magnificent rage and beauty. Using both hands, she thrusts forward, shoving my head closer to the grill. A pained cry sounds as my forearm touches the scorching metal surface. The overpowering heat seeps into my skin, causing my throat to constrict as I begin frantically gasping for air. The blinding pain is so excruciating, I’m barely able to make out that someone is talking above me. In a flash, I’m there one moment and gone the next, no longer hovering over the searing pit.

“Do you think it’s wise to damage the merchandise?”

“You dare question me?” Her voice is deadly calm and full of venom.

“No, merely making an observation. We will get more out of her if she is intact and not damaged.”

“You would do well to remember who runs this organization. I will do as I please, with whomever I choose. Do you understand?” My mother sneers the last words.

“Yes, ma’am. Forgive me. It was merely a suggestion.”

Grasping my chin, she tilts my head until our eyes meet. “You would do well to remember that it is best not to fight me, Ttal. It is not a fight you will win.” Our gazes remain locked for several long moments.

“You stubborn child. You have to do this the hard way, don’t you? Well, you’re going to find I have ways of making you do what I want, and you will do what I want, Ttal.” Her eyes narrow.

Giving my head a slight shake, I respond, “No, I won’t, Mother.”

Crimson stains her cheeks as she crushes my chin in her grip; a cry bursts from my lips in response to her ministrations. “Very well, but you must know that I will not hold back.”

Swallowing back the acrid taste of bile threatening to work its way up my throat, I reply, “Do your worst, Mother.”

Her eyes widen slightly as she pulls back, snarling. She points to the man guarding the door and nods before she says, “Prepare the room. You know what to do.”

Nodding, he moves back down the stairs in the direction I came from. My mother looks at me one final time and says, “This is your last chance to join me before I torture you into submission.”

My eyes broaden as I absorb her words. Unsure that my voice will work around the sizable lump in my throat, I shake my head from side to side.

Glowering at me one final time, she says, “Very well, have it your way.” Turning on her heel, she marches out of the room.

While my eyes remain glued to my mother’s retreating form, one thought continues to drift through my mind: I hope and pray that Alex is right because I certainly don’t feel strong.

W
ARM LIPS PRESS OPEN-MOUTHED KISSES
across the inside of my thighs. A groan rumbles from deep within my chest as soft, delicate hands firmly grip my balls, rolling them between her fingers. Her hot breath skims across my cock, causing my hips to thrust forward. Her soft laugh echoes through the loft as she lowers her head. Burying my hands in her hair, I groan, “Goddess, you’re killin’ me.”

Playfully winking, her tongue darts out, wetting her lips before lowering her head, taking the tip into her mouth.

“Fuck. Oh. God. Kai, that feels so damn good.”

Swirling her tongue around, she moans, causing my dick to jump in her mouth. Peering down at her, I take in her flushed cheeks and watch as she slowly begins taking more of my cock. Each torturous inch causes me to twitch and breathe, focusing on not blowing my load in her hot, wet mouth. Taking as much of me as she can, Kylee picks up her pace, sucking me deeper with each pass. Tightening my hands in her hair, I begin thrusting into her mouth, hitting the back of her throat. Moaning, she begins sucking harder, pushing herself lower.

Unable to fit all of me into her tight, little mouth, she wraps the lower half of my dick into her velvety fist, gliding it up and down. Groaning, I tug her hair. Kylee lets my cock fall from her mouth with a plop. Still stroking, she takes a few deep breaths and raises her gaze to meet mine. Smiling, she inches her way up my body until her lips are fused with mine. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I haul her deeper into my chest.

Pulling back, she smiles as her lips softly caress my jaw. A shiver races up my spine as she grasps my cock, lining it up with her slick, wet heat. Kylee begins lowering herself inch by inch.

“Baby, you feel so damn good.”

Placing a finger over my lips, she just smiles and shakes her head. Her fingers dance their way down to my pecs, holding herself up as she raises and lowers herself. Tiny whimpers leave her body, her eyes drifting closed as she tosses her head back in ecstasy.

“Goddess, open your eyes for me.”

Shaking her head, she continues rocking back and forth slowly, bringing me closer to the edge. Unable to take another moment of torture, I grasp her hips, hammering into her over and over.

“Fuck! Goddess, I’m gonna come. I need you to come for me.”

Biting her lip, she grinds down on me as I continue thrusting into her with a primal need. With a scream, she reaches her climax, her core clenching, taking me deeper than before, and making me lose control. Thrusting one final time, I lunge, still buried deeply inside of my Goddess, lost to the bliss that only she can provide. Opening my eyes, I see Kylee’s head still thrown back in ecstasy, her eyes tightly shut.