Third\u2013person\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
The\u00a0night\u00a0air\u00a0clawed\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0skin,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0real\u00a0chill\u00a0came\u00a0from\u00a0within.\u00a0Daisy\u00a0sank\u00a0down\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0garden\u00a0wall,\u00a0phone\u00a0clutching\u00a0her\u00a0hand,\u00a0her\u00a0whole\u00a0body\u00a0trembling.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0bond\u00a0flared suddenly,\u00a0searing\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0veins,\u00a0and\u00a0white\u2013hot\u00a0pain ripped across\u00a0her\u00a0chest\u00a0and\u00a0belly,\u00a0making\u00a0her\u00a0gasp.\u00a0Her\u00a0nails\u00a0clawed\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0skin\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0truth\u00a0hit\u00a0her\u2013Noah\u00a0was\u00a0with\u00a0someone\u00a0else\u2026\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0mark\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0neck\u00a0throbbed\u00a0like\u00a0fire,\u00a0branding\u00a0her\u00a0inside\u00a0and\u00a0out.\u00a0It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0just\u00a0jealousy;\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t just\u00a0rage\u2026\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0agony.\u00a0His\u00a0betrayal\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0punishment,\u00a0forced through\u00a0the\u00a0bond\u00a0until she\u00a0could\u00a0barely\u00a0breathe.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0pressed\u00a0the\u00a0phone\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0ear,\u00a0with\u00a0shaking\u00a0hands.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0long\u00a0run,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0slid\u00a0in,\u00a0smooth\u00a0and\u00a0cruel.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered,\u00a0tears spilling\u00a0hot\u00a0down\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks.\u00a0\u201cPlease.\u00a0Please\u00a0let\u00a0me\u00a0come\u00a0to\u00a0you.\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0calling\u00a0me?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0clipped.\u00a0\u201cHaven\u2019t\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0you\u00a0not\u00a0to?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0pain\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered,\u00a0her\u00a0voice hoarse.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0too\u00a0much.\u00a0I\u00a0did what\u00a0you\u00a0asked\u00a0of\u00a0me\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0stole\u00a0the\u00a0gem\u00a0for\u00a0your\u00a0sister.\u00a0I\u00a0did\u00a0your\u00a0bidding\u2026\u00a0every\u00a0single\u00a0time.\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0nowhere\u00a0to\u00a0go\u2026\u00a0no\u00a0one to\u00a0turn\u00a0to.\u00a0You\u00a0are\u00a0all\u00a0I<\/p>\n
have\u00a0left.\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0laugh\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0cruel\u00a0and\u00a0unnerving,\u00a0sending\u00a0a\u00a0chill\u00a0down\u00a0Daisy\u2019s\u00a0spine.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0feel\u00a0it,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0murmured.\u00a0\u201cEvery\u00a0time\u00a0I touch\u00a0another\u00a0woman.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0Daisy.\u00a0A\u00a0reminder\u00a0of\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0own.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0owe\u00a0you\u00a0anything\u2026\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0me\u00a0you\u00a0serve,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0so\u00a0until\u00a0your\u00a0dying\u00a0breath.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0heart\u00a0stuttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026I\u00a0risked\u00a0everything\u00a0for\u00a0you\u2026\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0barely\u00a0above\u00a0a\u00a0whisper.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough,\u201d\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0hardened,\u00a0and\u00a0with\u00a0it,\u00a0the\u00a0bond\u00a0constricted.\u00a0She\u00a0cried\u00a0out,\u00a0clutching\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0throat\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0invisible fingers\u00a0squeezed\u00a0her windpipe.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0seems\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0a\u00a0reminder\u00a0of\u00a0who\u00a0is\u00a0holding\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0cards.\u00a0Tell\u00a0me\u00a0who\u00a0you\u00a0belong\u00a0to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0croaked,\u00a0her face\u00a0red\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0lack of\u00a0air.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0ordered,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0loud\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0clutched\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0chest,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0gain\u00a0some\u00a0relief,\u00a0but\u00a0found\u00a0none.<\/p>\n
1\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0754<\/p>\n
TID BU<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0yours\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0finally\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0sagging\u00a0with\u00a0defeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0command\u00a0snapped\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0blood\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0whip.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0dropped\u00a0the\u00a0phone\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0ground,\u00a0but\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0prominent\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0head.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0using\u00a0the\u00a0bond\u00a0he\u00a0forced\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0all\u00a0those\u00a0years\u00a0ago\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0head,\u00a0making\u00a0demands\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0refuse.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0done\u00a0this\u00a0for\u00a0years,\u00a0keeping\u00a0her\u00a0at\u00a0arm\u2019s\u00a0length\u00a0and\u00a0yet\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0tight\u00a0leash\u00a0as\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0pulled\u00a0her\u00a0in,\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0the\u00a0scraps\u00a0she\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0survive,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0pushed\u00a0her\u00a0away\u00a0once\u00a0again,\u00a0making\u00a0her\u00a0feel\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0nothing.\u00a0She\u00a0suffered\u00a0every\u00a0single\u00a0day while\u00a0he\u00a0slept\u00a0with\u00a0various\u00a0women\u2026\u00a0the\u00a0pain\u00a0was much\u00a0worse\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0chose\u00a0to\u00a0mark\u00a0them\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0did\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Noah\u00a0was\u00a0different,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0beginning;\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0marked\u00a0another,\u00a0the\u00a0bond\u00a0he\u00a0once\u00a0had\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0break.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0mate\u00a0with\u00a0multiple\u00a0women\u00a0and\u00a0control\u00a0them\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0controls\u00a0Daisy.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0still\u00a0not\u00a0sure\u00a0how\u00a0he\u00a0manages\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0thing,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0amount\u00a0of\u00a0power\u00a0he\u00a0has\u00a0is\u00a0clear.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0assumed\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with his\u00a0bloodline.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Blackwells\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0too\u00a0powerful.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0hold on her\u00a0neck\u00a0tightened,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0struggled\u00a0to\u00a0draw\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cSay\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0demanded\u00a0again,\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0darkening.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0yours,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0gasped,\u00a0the\u00a0words\u00a0pilling\u00a0out,\u00a0humiliating\u00a0and\u00a0raw.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0bond\u00a0loosened\u2013not\u00a0gone,\u00a0never\u00a0gone,\u00a0but\u00a0easing\u00a0enough\u00a0that\u00a0she could\u00a0take a\u00a0shuddering\u00a0breath.\u00a0She\u00a0fell\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0ground,\u00a0her\u00a0trembling\u00a0hands\u00a0finding\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0brought\u00a0it\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0her ear.\u00a0His\u00a0breathing\u00a0was\u00a0heavy\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0just\u00a0run\u00a0a\u00a0marathon.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood\u00a0girl,\u201d\u00a0Noah\u00a0purred.\u00a0\u201cNow\u00a0do as\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0told,\u00a0keep\u00a0quiet.\u00a0Keep\u00a0useful,\u00a0and maybe,\u00a0if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0lucky,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0let\u00a0you\u00a0sleep\u00a0in my\u00a0bed again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0line\u00a0clicked\u00a0dead.<\/p>\n
Daisy\u00a0collapsed\u00a0forward,\u00a0shaking\u00a0her\u00a0shoulder,\u00a0but\u00a0even\u00a0her\u00a0tears felt\u00a0hollow\u00a0now.\u00a0She\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0his\u00a0mate;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0his\u00a0prisoner.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0love\u00a0her,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0probably\u00a0never\u00a0did,\u00a0nor\u00a0would he\u00a0ever.\u00a0She\u00a0was so\u00a0stupid\u00a0to\u00a0fall\u00a0for\u00a0his\u00a0charms\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0younger\u2026\u00a0so\u00a0stupid to\u00a0think\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0actually\u00a0have\u00a0some\u00a0feelings\u00a0for\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0thought\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0use\u00a0Lila\u00a0to\u00a0break this\u00a0painful\u00a0bond\u00a0between\u00a0her\u00a0and Noah,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0wrong.\u00a0The\u00a0gem\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0work\u00a0for Lila,\u00a0and\u00a0now\u00a0Daisy\u00a0felt\u00a0more\u00a0alone\u00a0than\u00a0ever.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0made\u00a0her\u00a0wonder\u00a0if\u00a0Lila\u00a0was\u00a0truly Blackwell\u00a0blood.<\/p>\n
Wiping\u00a0her\u00a0tears\u00a0with\u00a0trembling\u00a0hands,\u00a0Diasy stared\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0reflection in\u00a0the\u00a0black pond.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0nothing<\/p>\n
2\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0754<\/p>\n
left.\u00a0No\u00a0home.\u00a0No\u00a0freedom.\u00a0No\u00a0love.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0her\u00a0instincts.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0break\u00a0the\u00a0chains,\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0break\u00a0Lila\u00a0instead.<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 754 Third\u2013person\u00a0POV The\u00a0night\u00a0air\u00a0clawed\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0skin,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0real\u00a0chill\u00a0came\u00a0from\u00a0within.\u00a0Daisy\u00a0sank\u00a0down\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0garden\u00a0wall,\u00a0phone\u00a0clutching\u00a0her\u00a0hand,\u00a0her\u00a0whole\u00a0body\u00a0trembling. The\u00a0bond\u00a0flared suddenly,\u00a0searing\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0veins,\u00a0and\u00a0white\u2013hot\u00a0pain ripped across\u00a0her\u00a0chest\u00a0and\u00a0belly,\u00a0making\u00a0her\u00a0gasp.\u00a0Her\u00a0nails\u00a0clawed\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0skin\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0truth\u00a0hit\u00a0her\u2013Noah\u00a0was\u00a0with\u00a0someone\u00a0else\u2026\u00a0again. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21823\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}