Page 319 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

Oh, I like that one from the stalkerish beast.

Show Ez we love her.

I stiffen from head to toe, even more than I already had been.

I know that last one was Tiger, but I am not oblivious to that feeling growing within them all.

Yet it does not feel like how I have experienced it my entire life. I might not be able to hear my father’s thoughts like I can these men’s, or feel what he is feeling, but I can tell his love is not the same as theirs. It has left me in a place where I do not know which one is real. And for the first time, I have wondered if my father does not love me at all, and that is why his definition of it does not match the textbooks . . . why these Evots’ feelings do.

I rub at my temples, blowing out a harsh breath.

Then I shake my head, aggravation blowing through me.

No. No.

All love is bad. The textbooks have it wrong.

Springing to my feet before I can second-guess myself, I turn around—

And freeze.

Every single inch of me locks up.

I hate it. I hate how after all this time, all these years, and no matter how much I hate him, I can never escape this childish fear.

“Ezla, my dearest. You did not hear me come in. Are you distracted?”

His voice has a businessman-like quality to it naturally, which some might think makes him seem put-together. Sensible. Maybe even friendly to some.

But I can only hear the monster beneath.

In each letter, I can hear the calculation.

In each word, I can hear the greed for more: more blind followers, more power, more everything.

In how his tongue curls, I can only remember the ways it has violated my body.

And in the way his mouth moves, I can see his intention to do it all over again.

“You know I do not like it when your attention is elsewhere.”

Fists clenching, I watch him cautiously, making sure not to show an ounce of fear. No matter how often he can see right through me.

He created me, after all.

“My bed has been rather empty the past couple of days.” Stepping closer, his plain brown eyes study my simple but lavish room.

I stay where I am, standing on the opposite side of the bed from him, focus fixed to his every move.

“I have allowed you to stay in your own room while you learned to understand and control your bond.” Thankfully, he believed that flimsy excuse since he has no idea what a bond feels like. “But I am feeling very lonely, and surely you have figured out how to hide your thoughts and emotions from your Bonded by now?”

“I am close, Father. But it is harder than expected to keep things from slipping through,” I lie, keeping my gaze locked on his to will the appearance of honesty into my person.

“Hmmm . . . is that the truth?”

My black heart falters.

Moving around the end of the bed, he inches closer, and I force my feet to stay planted in place. “You would not be lying to me, my dear Ezla, would you?”