Page 136 of Bonds of Pain
The pain deepens, spreading through my body like wildfire. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt—not a physical wound, but something deeper, more primal. Something wrong with the bond.
Cillian.
“Something’s happening,” I gasp, struggling to remain upright as another wave of agony crashes through me. “Something’s wrong with?—“
I bite off the words before I can incriminate myself further, but it’s too late. My father’s expression shifts from confusion to cold understanding.
“Ah, I see.” He steps back, observing my suffering with clinical detachment. “The bond is reacting so quickly to the treatment. How fascinating.”
I barely hear him through the roaring in my ears. The pain is transforming, evolving from a sharp stab to a hollowing sensation, as if something essential is being torn from my very core.
He’s in danger.
“What have you done?” I demand, fighting through the pain to lunge toward my father. “What the fuck have you done to him?”
The king doesn’t flinch as I approach, his confidence in his power absolute. “Nothing, personally. But you must see that your mistakes have to be corrected.”
I grab his jacket lapels, pulling him close enough that I can see the flecks of amber in his cold eyes. “Tell me what is happening!”
“Dr. Thane has a particular interest in Omegas, you see. An interest that aligns quite well with our kingdom’s needs,” my father says calmly, as if we’re discussing the weather. “He has been invaluable in pioneering technology for increasing the Omega population. Even more impressive, he claims to have found a way to sever mating bonds.”
Thane. The doctor. The man who’s been lurking at the edges of our lives since Ander’s death.
“Luckily, I’ve discovered a way to ensure we all get what we need,” my father continues, unperturbed by my grip on his jacket. “It’s quite elegant, really. Abomination he may be, but a male Omega has unique genetic markers that Dr. Thane believes could revolutionize our understanding of designation biology. He’s quite excited. Giving him Cillian solves the problem of rewarding Thane for his efforts, as well as hiding your indiscretions.”
The pain in my chest intensifies, making it hard to focus on his words.
“I’m going to kill him,” I snarl, releasing my father and turning toward the door. “I’m going to tear him apart with my bare hands.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” My father’s voice cracks like a whip. “Thane is operating with my full authorization. His research is vital to the future of Melilla.”
The pain in my chest flares again, so intense that my vision blurs at the edges. I clutch the doorframe for support, fighting to stay conscious.
“I can feel him,” I gasp. “Whatever Thane is doing, it’s killing him. And if Cillian dies?—“
“It’s possible you’ll follow,” my father finishes matter-of-factly. “But unlikely. Thane has assured me his bond severing procedure is revolutionary. Cillian will live long enough to bestudied and you will have no more distractions from your duties as my heir.”
“And if I do die?”
“That would be regrettable.” My father shrugs. “But I have so many sons for a reason.”
A murderous rage washes over me, more intense than anything I’ve ever felt before. Blood pounds in my ears as I stare at my father’s casual dismissal of my life, of Cillian’s life, of everything I’ve fought to protect. For a moment, all I see is red—a vision of my hands around his throat, squeezing until that smug expression vanishes forever.
My father must sense the violence radiating from me because he holds up a single hand, palm out. Despite his advanced age, his posture remains commanding, regal.
“I can offer you a dozen Omegas to replace these two and I will,” he insists. “Do not destroy everything you’ve built for them.”
Them.
A feeling like nothing I’ve ever felt before simmers in my blood. Something alive and dangerous. “Thane also has Maya?”
“His research apparently requires them both. Assuming she survived, I’d hoped to have her myself, if just to see what all the fuss is about. I assumed you wouldn’t mind given how you’ve treated her. And if Thane is successful, you’ll have more Omega cunt to choose from than you could ever imagine?—”
I lunge at my father before I can even think, my body moving on pure instinct, fueled by rage so intense it obliterates all reason. My fist connects with his jaw with a satisfying crack, the impact sending a jolt up my arm. The king staggers back, eyes wide with genuine shock. He didn’t expect this, didn’t think his obedient son would ever dare lay hands on him.
For all his grand speeches about power and strength, my father hasn’t fought his own battles in years. The realization hitsme as I grab his expensive silk shirt, tearing buttons as I slam him against the wall. His bodyguards aren’t here. He dismissed them himself, confident in his ability to control me through manipulation rather than force.
A fatal miscalculation.
