Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

making its way to the table. Time suspends as the shadow edges closer. My eyes register the shape that is coming into focus before my very eyes, yet I have no desire to even acknowledge its presence. Retreating into my mind, I fall into my memories once more. Lavender and sandalwood envelop me, promising safety and love. He licks his lips and smiles before lowering his head and brushing his lips gently across mine.
    Running his tongue across my lower lip, he encourages me to open for him. My lips part on a sigh as his taste explodes across my tongue. Threading his fingers through my hair, he gives a slight tug, deepening our kiss. Dueling for dominance, our tongues glide against one another’s as my hands slowly begin wandering down his chest.
    A sharp, stinging pain rips across my face, bringing me back to the present. Blinking several times, the shadow slowly begins to come into focus. Slender fingers clasp my jaw in an iron grip as I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from whimpering. The smell of her jasmine perfume fills my nostrils, choking me mere moments before her lips brush against my ear.
    “Ttal, be a good girl. Make this easy on yourself. Submit to me.” Shifting, she pulls back, peering into my eyes for a moment. Tsking, her voice is tight as she says, “Very well, if that is how you wish it to be then that is how it shall be.”
    Motioning to the man in the corner, he grabs the rag and the water once more, heading toward me. The desire to escape rises within me yet again. My situation seems quite helpless, strapped to a table, being held down and tortured by the one person who gave me life. However, I find that I’m not ready to give up just yet. With my renewed energy, I begin thrashing, fighting against my restraints. My ankles and wrists start to burn where the rope is digging into my skin, cutting off my circulation.
    “Ttal! Stop this at once!”
    “Leave me alone!” Even though I try to shout, it comes out as a hoarse whisper, my voice cracking.
    Smiling, my mother croons, “You can make this stop at any time, Ttal. You know what you have to do.” Running her finger down the side of my face, she whispers into my ear, “What are you fighting me for, anyway? Your father? That man you were with?”
    My breath hitches in my throat. No. God, please no. Alex. How does she know about Alex? Involuntarily, my head tries to move from side to side. However, her staggering grip keeps me held in place. A whirlwind of questions blows through my mind as I stare blankly at the ceiling. What am I going to do?
    I have to protect Alex from her. She can’t know what he means to me . . . can she? Inhaling deeply, I take in a calming breath, trying to clear my frantic thoughts. She has to be baiting me. There is no possible way she could know about Alex.
    As if reading my thoughts, she tilts her head to the side, studying me for a moment, a smug grin spreading across her face. “You think I didn’t know about your little escapade?”
    Ignoring her question, I turn my head as far as my limited range will allow, letting my gaze fall to the cinderblock wall. Flexing her fingers, she thrusts her sharp nails into the flesh of my cheek, turning my head back to her furious gaze. Warmth trickles down my face, pooling in the crevice of my neck. The coppery tang of my blood saturates the air, causing my stomach to clench. Her voice is hard, devoid of any emotion as she begins to speak once again.
    “You think you’re so different from me, but you’re not. We are much alike, you and I. You think that man really wants you, Ttal? Hmmm? He wants one thing and one thing only.” Her eyes tighten around the corners as she stares at me.
    “He wants what you have already given him, and you were stupid enough not to get anything in return. Now he is done with you.”
    Heat flushes through my body, anger igniting with each of her words. My pulse races out of control with each wild beat of my heart.
    Gnashing my teeth, I peer