Bond Betrayed Read Online Free Page B

he cursed when he saw the name on the view screen, answered it. “Hello, Mother.” He was happy his voice didn’t betray any of his nervous energy.
    “Isaac.” Her tone was cool and professional.
    “Now’s not the best time.”
    “Doesn’t matter. We just got the demands from Rathe.”
    A heavy ball of dread began to form in the pit of his stomach. “So why are you calling me?”
    “Isaac, don’t play dumb. It’s unbecoming. There’d only be one reason I’d call you with Rathe’s demands, now, isn’t there?”
    “And you thought I’d go along with it?” Anger filled him and was echoed in his harsh laughter as he walked down the hall. “Now who’s playing dumb?”
    “Isaac…”
    No, she wasn’t Isaacing him out of this one.“We’ve already had this discussion.”
    “It’s the only way to get Molly back.”
    His anger only grew as he thought about his sister. She wouldn’t want him to do this. She wanted Rathe brought down at any cost. “She’d never agree to it and you know it.” No, he wouldn’t have Rathe’s ink in his blood. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to use his magic against the man. And Isaac’s magic was the only thing that could stop Rathe. “But, fortunately for all of us, I’ve come up with another way.”
    “Really?” She paused for a second. “I’m listening.”
    “What if we were to get Nikki to help us?” His heart beat faster as he said Nikki’s name. Everything depended on her. The woman who wanted to tear his heart out and, most likely, feed it to him.
    “We’ve tried that before. She won’t.”
    His mother’s blanket dismissal bothered him. She wouldn’t even consider it as a possibility. “How long has it been since you asked? Maybe she’s changed her mind.”
    “Why are you bringing this up now? Have you approached her?” Her voice was sharp as she asked the question.
    “Yes.” There was no point in lying. The woman had ways of finding out information that were downright scary.
    She sighed into the phone. “Even if she has changed her mind, we can’t trust her. She is, after all, her father’s daughter. I think it’s best if we just meet the demands and then find another way to deal with Rathe.”
    That was unacceptable. “We’ve been looking for another way to deal with him for the last fifteen years. If there was one, don’t you think we would’ve found it by now?” He paused for a minute to give her the opportunity to state her argument, knowing full well she didn’t have one. “Nikki is the way. The only way.”
    “And what does she say about this?”
    He shifted from one foot to the other. “I haven’t had the chance to discuss it with her yet.”
    “Is she there now?”
    “She’s asleep in a guest room.”
    “Are you insane? Do you have any idea what she could do to you?”
    Oh yeah, he knew what the seductress could do to him. He mentally kicked himself as the unbidden images filled his head. He had to get a grip on himself.
    “She can’t do anything if she’s blood bound to me,” he said with more confidence than he felt.
    The silence was palpable. He could hear her swallow on the other end of the call. “Please, tell me that’s not true.”
    “Sorry, but it is.”
    “What were you thinking? Placing an involuntary bond is a serious offense. The Council will strip you of your enforcer status. And that’s the best-case scenario.” Her voice was a soft whisper of disbelief.
    “What makes you think it was involuntary? She had to offer me her blood freely for the bond to be placed,” he argued.
    “She’s a Rathe. Being held captive in any form will be unbearable for her. The Council isn’t comprised of idiots.” She paused to take a deep breath but then continued, “This will cost you everything you’ve worked for.”
    “The only thing I’ve ever worked for is to see that bastard rotting behind bars. If I can get Molly back at the same time, that’d be everything I want. The Council could do whatever they