Bound By Hatred Novels & Stories

He will be judged for all the crimes he did," said Tiny Kin firmly. "Please!" pleaded Amethyst again. "He is innocent! I am telling the truth!" Tiny Kin took a moment of silence before he asked, "Why are you defending your foe?" "He is no foe of mine and I have the right to defend his innocence." "But, every child of Ancea hates them. They kill the innocent and you know what we are in their eyes. Food!" "Believe me, Luveas is different!" cried Amethyst. Tiny Kin gasped. "You even know his name! Are you even a dweller of Ancea?!" he hissed.

"You do not look at corporate arrangements like they are the sun and the moon. You are terrified." I didn't respond. I couldn't. Because he was right. I was terrified. Every time I had ever allowed myself to love something, the universe had found a way to rip it out of my hands. My parents. The life I thought I knew. Love was a liability I could not afford in a war like this. "It is just a contract, Caleb," I said, my voice cold. "Keep telling yourself that," he whispered. "But stop looking at her like she is the only thing keeping you grounded. It is giving you away."

--- The space between them disappeared in a way neither of them controlled anymore. Ammie’s heartbeat quickened slightly. Not fear. Not anger. Something dangerously in-between. --- “You’re crossing a line,” she said softly. Adrian didn’t stop moving. “I think we crossed it already,” he replied. --- That was it. The moment neither of them could undo. --- Ammie looked up at him. And for the first time— Didn’t step back immediately. --- That hesitation alone changed everything. --- Adrian noticed. Of course he did. ---

Bound By Fate Copyright © 2020 Armeia Aguilar & Dei Orduna No part of this story may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted copyright law.

I wondered what a woman like her was looking for in the alley last night, but that wasn't the issue now. If Antonio found her before I did, he would use her against me, he would make a huge case out of last night and watch me take a shameful fall. Antonio Cappello is the leader of the second largest and second most powerful mafia in Verona and he hates that title. He wants to be first and has been at war with me for ages to get that title. I had hated his gang since birth. Antonio's father had brutally murdered my father right before my eyes and did unspeakable things to my mom. I had fought my way to the top and ensured that I reduced the Cappellos' influence in Verona to second place.

“That’s exactly how I see you.” “Maybe, but that’s not all, is it? Seems like you’re using your hate to hide something else,” Brendan taunted. “Am I wrong?” He ignored the question. “Answer me,” Brendan raised his voice. “No,” he snapped through gritted teeth. Taking in a deep breath to settle his annoyance, he continued as he exhaled. “So what if I don’t fully hate you? If I did, do you think I would let you anywhere near Suki? Even with the bond, I would’ve kept her away from you.”

Their eyes followed me — not with curiosity, It was more so hatred. I kept walking, chin up even though my heart still hurt from the goodbye. Then I heard her. “Oh, look who actually came back.” I stopped. Ava. She strolled up slowly, her arms crossed, her mouth curled into that fake little smile she wore like armor. “I would’ve bet blood you’d stay with your little family and leave this place behind.” I didn’t respond. I didn’t trust myself to. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You don’t belong here. You’re weak. If it were up to me? You’d be dead already.”

Slow. His warmth seeped into places she hadn’t realized were numb. His breath brushed the back of her neck, steady, unhurried. One hand rested over her heart, the other at her waist, anchoring her to the rhythm of now. “I’m afraid,” she said after a long while, voice raw. “That if I let myself hate them, it’ll consume everything else.” Brandon’s fingers flexed once, grounding. “Hatred isn’t grief. It’s armor.”

Thick with legal jargon, clauses about public appearances, social obligations, maintaining the facade of a real marriage. Nina sank onto her destroyed couch, the contract heavy in her hands. Forty-eight hours to decide if she'd marry a stranger. Forty-eight hours to decide if she'd trade her freedom for survival. Forty-eight hours before David Hale made his move and everyone she loved became a target.

“The room was thick with his scent now. A scent that was supposed to be impossible. Moonlight. And bloodroot. My body howled for him. But my soul… knelt. ‘If you don’t want me,’ I whispered, voice hoarse, ‘I’ll die with the wanting. But I won’t take what you don’t offer.’ I said solemnly. Wanting him to understand that he doesn't have to share his first heat cycle with me. The fact that we marked each other does not necessarily mean we can make love.