Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

63. Angel
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body. The past five days have been a blur of sex, cuddling, and more sex. Alekos and Reyes refused to let me pet nut of bed, insisting they have to repair the bond-I am still not sure what to think of this as I think I am lacking information. While Stefan has agreed I am their hellstar, he is reluctant to touch me. His coldness hurt a lot because I genuinely liked him. He was the most level-headed of the group until I threw Emily’s ring the toilet. Since then, he has become bitter and distant. Rightfully so. I should not have touched his stuff, let alone thrown out the ring in anger. But as the hours pass, Stefan’s coldness bothers me less and less. His heart belongs to Emily, and if she were to be still alive…I would not be here right now
The pain in my chest is no more, a numbness settling instead, filling in the hallow in my soul. It feels strange, but I can finally think rationally. Something I have been unable to do since the day I saw Alekos for the first time in years.
I
use my palm to clear a part of the mirror and look at my reflection. The woman that stares back at me is someone I don’t recognize, Sad brown eyes, dark circles around them, and instead of a smile, there is a grimace of pain on her face-on my face.
When I decided to run away from Carlos and seek Alekos help, I had a plan. Instead of sticking to it, I let th
three a
as sholes step all over nie.
A strange smile appears across the
the face of the reflection.
No more. I need to regain control of my life and follow the plan. Stick to it.
An hour later, I step out of the bathroom wearing a shirt Stefan left hanging on the imel rack. I know what I wa

I want to do, what I need to do. But first, I have to show the three Lords who have wrecked my life that women are strong. I as Angelica Hernandez, a Duke’s daughter, and soon, the demons will leam what hell really looks like
Voices
come from the kitchen. I follow them, my bare feet paddling the floor. The cuts I suffered when I trashed Alekos’ room are slowly healing, and I finally stopped using bandages. Only around my thumbs do I still have score, as they will take a while to heal. Scars will probably form, a reminder of the night I spent in the room of terrors. My knees still hurt, and I wonder if I sprained my ligaments when Alokas pushed me. Even a light touch has me hissing in pain. Reyes has been kind enough to apply a cream on them every night and so far, it had helped.
Alekas didn’t spa nk me again, the linses on my as s slowly fading away
No sign of Reyes’ outburst remains in the kitchen. Everything has been cleaned, and replacements for everything Reyes broke were bought by Stefan.
Alekos and Reyes are making pancakes while Stefan is pouring coffee into the theme cups placed on the counter, their backs to me. A TV is placed above the freezer; the news channel is reporting a strange accident that happened early in the morning involving wasps. The guys are so absorbed in their conversation that they don’t notice me stopping in the doorframe and listening
They are wearing only shorts, their muscular forses and strong legs on display. The tattoos from their right upper arms look so real I half expected the king cobras to snake down onto the floor and attack me,
A table is in the middle of the kitchen, set for three people. I silently walk to it and sit in one of the chairs.
A plate with pancakes is to Reyes’ left, and he puts another on top of the small mountain. Next to it is a platter with bacon and eggs. How much food do they need? Or are they planning to feed everyone living in the complex?
Reyes comments about Carlos silence after Stefan sent him the video of them humiliating me. Alekos’ house is well guarded, and so far, no one has attempted to attack it. Same for the headquarters of the Alanes Tech Company. From yesterday’s conversation-when they thought I was sleeping-the Dukes are quiet. It unsettles them. Me even more so. What is Carlos up to?
Stefon keeps an eye on his laptop while he drinks, from a mug before placing it on the counter next to a Glock
A chat room is opened on the laptop, and a wall of text pops up. Stefan rubs his chin as he was. Did he receive bad news, or is he concerned about something else?
Stefan took another sip from the mug before asking, “What’s the plan for today?”
Reyes lips a pancake with a spatula. “As much as I want to spend the day in bed with Angel, inside that cheeky as s of hers, I need to get back to the house and see how Giselle is doing. She is still in the busement, waiting for her punishment.” He glances at Alekos as he says, “I will take her to the Blood Lodge when I am done with her. There are blood-brothers that could benefit from her attention during tonight’s gathering.”
Caselle’s lies are what got me in trouble in the first place, but I still feel sorry for her, especially since hearing that they held back on me. I wonder what Reyes will de to her and if I can do something to get her out of the situation she got herself in. At the same time, I don’t want anything to do with her anymore, not after
everything that has happened. At least for now. I am not one to hold grudges for a long time.
63. Angel
“have an important meeting at noon that I can’t miss.” Alekos puts maple syrup over the pancakes. “As for Giselle, as much as I want to honor my father a wish and keep her away from the Blood Lodge, she must learn that lying has consequences. Do what you have to do.”
“But it had been you who decided to punish me, not Giselle,” I want to remind him, but it is best I keep quiet,