Page 28

“You will.” He stalked toward her again. “I’ll make you bow?—”

I halted in front of her right when he raised his arm again, and he froze in his tracks.

“Zan, step aside.” His voice dripped with threat.

“No,” I snapped, my chest heaving. “You’re not going to hurt her.”

“You think you can give me orders?” he exploded. “You forget your place.”

“My place is right here. Between you and her. It always will be.”

The words were out of my mouth before I could think. The truth I’d been hiding was out in the open now. I couldn’t fucking do it anymore. It wasn’t possible to stand aside and watch when his impatience would only put her in more danger.

My brothers were near the cage door, watching with grim expressions, but Amaros claimed my attention when he grabbed my jaw for the second time tonight. Panic carved its way through my chest, and I tried looking away, but it was too late. His eyes bored into mine as he exerted his power over me.

“Have you slept with her?” he asked, doubt filtering in his voice. “That shouldn’t be possible when I forbade it.”

“No,” I answered thickly.

“Tell me what you think about being bonded with her.”

I clenched my hands into fists as my answer spilled out against my will. “I don’t know if I am.”

“Tell meeverythingyou think about being bonded.”

“It doesn’t matter if we are,” I forced out through clenched teeth. “She’smine.”

“Who are you loyal to?”

“Dad, come on,” Viggo spoke up nervously. “You know we’re all?—”

“Be quiet,” Amaros snapped, not looking away from me. “Who is your loyalty to, Zan?”

I bit my tongue so hard I could taste blood as I refused to answer. His grip on my jaw turned painful, and he came closer until all I could focus on was his eyes. The fight I was clinging to faded.

“Answer me,” he growled.

“Her.” My words came out in a strangled whisper. “Always her.”

With a snarl, he let go only to snatch my arm and throw me into the bars of the cage. Pain spasmed through my body as I fell to the cement. I was on my feet in a second, but he was already in front of me, and I swallowed my grunt when his fist connected with my cheek. He shoved me against the bars, his fingers digging into my shoulders.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to be,” he said, disappointment in his voice. “You’re supposed to stand at my side with your brothers while we take it all.”

“He still can,” Viggo promised. “Kali will listen, and so will Zan.”

“I know she will.” Amaros lowered his head. “But you won’t be a part of it.”

“No—”

My denial was cut off when he entranced me. Anger bled into my veins, but there was no fighting it, no matter how much I tried.

“You will leave the property with Pax,” he said firmly. “And you won’t come back until I say so.”

“What?” Kali shrieked, her voice sounding far away. “No.”

My father ignored her. “You will not interfere when I talk to Kali or when I touch her. You will only stand and watch. She is not yours to protect.”

He stepped back, breaking eye contact. My breathing was ragged as I glared at him. Kali’s eyes were wide, filled with worry until Amaros spun around and faced her. A small flash of fear crossed her face until she masked it.