Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

333. Tyson - Revelations XI

For years, the bond was just a flicker of light in my soul. It was more like an annoyance because it tied me to Olivia. Now I understand why I touched other women, even if I was repulsed by the thought of being with anyone else except Olivia. "I'm never going to smoke again," Rueben vows. Ansel and I agree with him.

While I don't need to understand all his ulterior motives, I still ask Maddox, "Why drug us?"

"Ansel and Rueben because Azael wanted to see how the drugs affected them in time. Rueben's hate only grew while Ansel remained as calm as ever. With you, it was because Azael was curious to see how the bond affected Olivia if you slept with other women. She was in pain each time. It hurt her more than when she was used by men."

No wonder she hates me.

"Why didn't I feel anything?"

"The bond was...muted. You only started to feel it because you've been in Olivia's proximity long enough to feel it more strongly."

I have to hold back from stabbing Maddox again because I feel like he isn't telling me anything. "Explain what a consort is."

"There are two types of bonds. The first one, which is weaker, is when a Lord or a Duke claims a woman. The second one happens when a hellstar claims the man or men she wants to spend her eternity with. The man is called a consort because this bond is called The Queen's Bond after the first hellstar, who happened to be a queen, claimed the knight who was protecting her as her bonded. He later became her consort."

That explains how I bonded with Olivia.

Cole intervenes and says, "A Queen's Bond is much stronger than a normal one, and it only breaks when the hellstar no longer wants to be with her consort. The moment the man is claimed, the bond happens immediately." Rueben puts the next question. "How did you know that Olivia was actually Pandora's heir?"

Maddox looks at my knife, still stuck in his leg. Maybe I should yank it out. "When I took blood for her analyses, I also checked to see if she was a hellstar. I knew right away that she was...different. Then, I used the cameras from the farm to observe. That's how I learned that Ansel was her Guardian before he even told you."

When I get home, I'll fucking break every camera we have inside the house. Better yet, we'll move. I no longer feel safe on the farm.

Suddenly, something pops into my head. "You told Senator Deymar where the find the farm."

was me," Cole says. "But

Jasper and have him and Mose take Olivia to a

same shit!" Rueben yells. "People died

I learned today, there's no way Maddox or his blood-brothers will be

to tell us before we start

turns

you'll like," Rin replies. "But we

"No!" Cole shakes his head. "It's the only way to get out of this mess. We are working with Wasp and her hellstars to

wearing a mask, but

I want to finish this so I can return home to Olivia

out his phone

to answer. Her voice is hoarse. Like she's been screaming for a long time. "I hope you have

no longer has her voice modifier, but even without

be killed unless

before saying, "Where are

what Maddox revealed to us, what he's done, and what will happen. I don't tell

the Blood Lodge is? He might have given away Lords, but

"Who?" I ask.

Wasp sighs. "Alma."

for her all over the place, but

where she is, you have to tell

no sense. "Only Dukes

is not

"But his demon is a chameleon. He can