Page 56 of Resurrection (Daemons & Lumens #2)

His voice was barely above a whisper. “You’re going to bind yourself to me, or I will kill her.”

Morax roared, and I turned my eyes to the sky where they fought. Belial somehow got the upper hand and shot bolts of electric power Phenex. He fell from the sky, unconscious, and crashed to the earth with a thundering sound. A strangled cry left my throat, and Laszlo smirked.

Belial gripped Morax by the throat and dove from the sky. He slammed Morax into the earth next to his brother. Our daemons were down, and I was running out of allies.

Belial stalked over to us. “We must go. They won’t be out for long.”

Laszlo pulled out a dagger and used the blade to tip my chin up. “You will bind yourself to me now. Do this, and no more will die.”

I stared back at the fucking monster before me, unable to think of a way out of this. I felt for my Princes, but the bonds remained quiet. My sister whimpered, and I turned to her.

“Don’t do this,” she whispered.

But I had to. I would do anything to save her, to save them. I squared my shoulders. “Fine. I’ll do your stupid blood oath. But if you hurt anyone I love, if any of my mates or my sister are harmed, the deal is fucking off.”

Laszlo’s arm snapped out, and he held my throat tightly. “Fine,” he growled. “But if one of our mates harms me, I get to kill them. And you will obey my every command. And you will enjoy it.”

I gritted my teeth. This was going to fucking suck. “You’re a fucking creep.”

Laszlo grinned triumphantly. He let go of my throat and used the dagger to cut his hand and then mine.

He clasped our hands together and chanted.

The power of the blood oath reminded me of the moment I unknowingly performed one with Tibby.

But this one felt icky. It crept under my skin like morphine, coating my veins in a nasty film.

I could feel my free will being stripped away and a desire to please pulsing through my blood.

He finished chanting, and I stood, my mind and body a warzone of conflicting emotions.

Laszlo brushed his fingers against my jawline. “Open your mouth.”

My mouth opened before I could even think to say no. Laszlo spat on my tongue, and some twisted piece of me preened inside.

“Now swallow,” he commanded, and I did, leaning into his touch. He grinned. “You’re mine now.”

Belial chuckled. “Very entertaining. Bring the other one and let’s go.”

My eyes snapped to the daemon. “No. My sister is not to be harmed.”

Laszlo grabbed my face, forcing my attention back to him. “She won’t be harmed, by me. You said nothing of Belial.”

I started to scream, and Laszlo slapped me hard across the face. “Be quiet, slave. You will speak only when I tell you, do you understand?”

I nodded, needing to please him first even as part of me raged against it inside. My will was a wild animal locked behind an impenetrable cage.

“You will respond with yes, master. ” Laszlo wrapped his fingers around my throat and brought his face down close to mind, our lips barely brushing against each other’s. “Say it.”

“Yes, master.” The stupid words flew from my lips, and bile rose in my throat.

Laszlo nibbled my bottom lip, and I sighed, wanting more and hating myself all at once. He turned to Michaela. “You will do as you are told, or your mate will be killed. And I will make you watch as I fuck your sister.”

Angry tears streamed down my sister’s face. She was furious and afraid, her fear radiating out of her. But she was strong too, so fucking strong. “Fuck you.”

Laszlo smirked and nodded to Samuel. “Keep her calm.”

Samuel nodded, closing in on my sister. His voice was soothing, like a lullaby, as he spoke to her, praising her bravery and commanding her to stand down. I could see her trying to fight him off, but her emotions were too chaotic and the slimy fucker slipped into her mind.

I watched the light dim behind her sky-blue and golden-brown eyes.

The creature holding her forced her toward Belial.

Laszlo commanded me to follow, and as one, we joined the daemon inside a circle of ash.

He began chanting instantly. Power built around us, and it felt like the oxygen was being squeezed out of me.

The wind picked up around us, circling us like a tornado.

The mate bonds suddenly pulled at my soul, and I gasped.

I closed my eyes, sending them a thousand messages.

Laszlo gripped the back of my neck. “You will not speak to them. I cannot break the bonds just yet, but I forbid you to reach out to them. If you do, Michaela will pay the price.”

My mind went silent even as I felt them shouting for me.

But it was too late. I imagined a wall of steel around myself, cutting them off and keeping my mates out of my mind, my heart, my soul.

Because I would choose her. They could survive without me, but I would never forgive myself for causing the death of another sister.

Laszlo smiled. “Good girl.”

I whimpered, loving the praise he offered and desperate for more. My heart burned with fiery rage, but it was no use. The blood oath sealed my fate, my future. I was his.

I belonged to Laszlo Blackbyrn.