Page 225 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

And I know when my father is bluffing. This is not it.

“You will obey me from now on, Daughter. Or you can say goodbye to four of your Bonds. You only need one to be free of the Games. And then he will be gone, too.”

“You will kill them either way,” I spit out, heart starting to pound out a near-painful tempo in my chest, and I tell the stupid organ to shut the fuck up and calm the hell down, because I cannot fucking hear properly through the blood rushing in my ears.

He tilts his head. “Will I? Killing them all may arouse suspicion. Maybe I will keep them around, after all. Far away from you, of course, dearest. But they would still be alive and well, and the public would get to keep their favourite Bonded group.”

I am sure he thinks that was a very convincing speech.

It was not, but I do not have a choice but to go along with his attempted manipulations either way. My Bonded will either be dead now or dead later. I may as well buy some more time by playing along for now.

“You will warm my bed at night. You will not speak to anyone with your naked voice, face anyone with those features.”

I notch my chin up, refusing to show him weakness. But something within me seems to cripple, the promise I’d made to myself not even a half hour ago crushed under his heel, I know, before he even continues.

“You will put your helmet back on.”

The bars of my cage are almost complete.

“You will put your helmet back on, and you will not take it off. Not for anyone but me. I am your everything now. Do you understand?” His hand finds my chin and holds on with a bruising grip.

I wonder if my teeth will crack from how hard I gnash them.

Black pepper and wood assault my senses as he dips down closer to my level, towering over me in that way I hate. His face lowers towards mine, his hot breath leaving me struggling not to wrinkle my nose. “I said . . . Do. You. Understand?”

A beat.

“Yes, Father. I understand.”

And the final bar slams into place with a finalising clang.

Because there is no other option here, to save the men I have claimed as mine.

And now I am back to square one, reduced to nothing but a machine once more.

Just my father’s creation.

Just The Bonding Games Champion.

Just the little girl who cannot escape the Game Master and his sick desires.

I am Ezla Zefron, and no one can hurt me.