Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

233. Olivia - The Guardian III

Breathing becomes hard. I *hate* the way he's looking at me.

I jab my finger in his chest. "Don't you fucking dare, Ansel. I'm not broken. The abuse I endure doesn't define me. What I did was out of love and if you fucking dare to pity me for one fucking second, this is over. I'll break the bond right now and leave to a place so far away you'll never find me."

The pity quickly vanishes from his eyes and is replaced by love and respect. I feel like I can breathe easily again.

He pulls me into his chest. "You're fucking amazing." The tip of his finger traces a scar on top of my hand. "Badass. My woman is fucking badass! She might be a butterfly but she's a deadly one!" he yells, making Diva howl. I giggle. His mouth falls open. "Laugh again."

I shake my head. "We need to go. The night is almost here and we have to return to the farm before the others start looking for us."

"You don't trust them."

I sigh. "No. I don't know if I should trust you because of...."

"Because of?" Ansel tries to find out.

Stars start to appear in the sky. I finish the cigar. "Of the way you all treated me when you found me in the forest. And after that. If you want my trust, you need to earn it. So far, all you've accomplished is to prove that men are awful and I'm better on my own."

"Olly." Ansel is in pain but fuck, so am I. For years, I've lived with pain. And I'm not referring to the physical one, but the one that destroys hearts and shatters souls.

interest in me only when I was healed enough to be fucked. That's my only purpose on

"Your purpose is for me to love you. I'll earn your trust even if it takes me

foolish thing. That's why we fought. If I

console me but I know better. We get in the car. After Diva

hand on his thigh. I don't usually seek physical touch for comfort, but doing so helps me calm my nerves so I can put order into my racing thoughts. "The night Camila and I overheard him talking

or Azael would realize we were in there, but she went ahead and did whatever she wanted. She had a habit of doing that. Maybe because everyone spoiled her.

to the left

"What was inside?"

we hid them. The Catacombs were Camila's idea. Out of all of

window. "Are you

fact that I ignored my duty the first chance I got, leaving you to fend for yourself, shows how stupid I am. I can't

if she agrees

some while, it still feels as if I have brain fog. "I

window. "I thought you already accepted what you are but

he know I accepted the darkness inside me?

couldn't help questioning him because I need to learn what he

a lot of messed up stuff. We will talk once we get back to the farm and

nod. "Don't forget what you