Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

321. Olivia - Building bridges I

The bond that ties Tyson and me together for eternity feels like pure agony. It spreads like wildfire through my veins, knocking me back to my senses.

Tyson's eyes shine with unshed tears. This is when I know that I went too far. I want to tell him that he is my first love, my mate, the father of my child, the one who will always have a special place in my life, but the words refuse to leave my mouth. All I can do is stare into his beautiful eyes while he breaks me even more with his words.

"You are the only thing in my mind from the moment I wake up. Thoughts of you consume every moment of the day. Even when I sleep, you keep tormenting me. Even if I'm just an afterthought, I prefer it. Because what's the alternative? You forgetting that I exist? I'll take whatever crumbs you throw at me if it means you will stay at the farm with us. Even if it means that you'll never," his voice drops to barely a whisper, his words only for me, "love me again." My chest hurts. My heart and soul as well.

I want to tell him that I lied, that I only wanted to hurt him, but it's like I'm speechless. And Rueben? I shouldn't have humiliated him like that in front of everyone. He might have said awful things about me, but he only did it in the privacy of our house. Except for that one time with Levi.... Even so, it still doesn't mean that what I did was right. I firmly believe that two wrongs never make a right, yet this is exactly what I did tonight. Just because Tyson and Rueben never bothered to ask me what really happened the night I was first abused, I shouldn't take this path of vengeance because if I do, I'll lose myself in the process. My darkness awaits the right moment to corrupt my soul and turn me evil. That is something that I vehemently refuse to do.

Camila would be disappointed with me. What would Spencer think if he saw me do this to his father? To Rueben?

Rueben is still on all fours, and I am about to reach out my hand to him and help him stand when he gets up. "I'm done here," he mutters as he jumps down from the dais. Lords mock him on his way out of the room.

If I want a life with my mates, I should really find it in my heart to forgive Rueben. Not because he deserves it but because it's not worth the anger and the resentment it's causing me.

I'm debating going after him when Tyson gets to his feet, removes his shirt, and puts it around my shoulders. I push my arms through the sleeves. "I need to talk to Rueben," I say more for me than for the others.

"He needs some space. He probably feels very emasculated right now." Tyson's voice lets me know that he also feels the same.

is helping me button up, one of the Elders gets up. "Now that the shit

amazing bonded I have." He winks at me before adding, "She is

"She is very disrespectful, that's what she is. We will talk to her about what she did later." Is he pretending that I'm not here? I guess he

here daily. What's the difference between

you, young

does acknowledge that I

to slits. "This conversation also includes me since I was the center of

looks like Death forgot about him-joins the conversation. "First of all, women are

don't let him finish. "This is where all your problems start." The men look at me like I'm crazy, while the women have this expression of 'you are right' on their faces. I lift my chin up, proud of who

most of her life on her knees

Lord who spoke. "If you are referring to pornais, you would be surprised how much they

we let them hear. Other

be clueless." I need only a few seconds to read some random Lord. He sits at a table together with three men. I point at him and say, "You are single, but from how your eyes keep drifting to the woman in your blood-brother's lap and how flustered you look, I don't think I'm wrong when I say you like her. More than like. You want her out

shock on his face lets

and make the Lords see things from another angle. "You all come here to talk about the Dukes or whatever shit you do here.

Elder says, "Women are weak. That's why they