Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

The catch of a breath invaded the daze in my head. A choked whimper drew my attention. Slow, steady breaths filled me. I focused on that and forced my gaze to the Daughter two rows in front of me.

Fight.

I clung to that need as the fading room around me sharpened. The Daughter in front of me sank to the floor in front ofhim…the man I knew somehow.Kane.His name resounded and as it filled me, he glanced my way. I held onto that stare, finding a flicker of desperation before it was gone and he turned his attention back to the Daughter at his feet. She turned over, closed her eyes and pressed her cheek to the floor, her ass and pussy on display.

“Spread yourself.”The Teacher demanded.“Show him what could be his.”

What could be his? A flare of agony tore through my chest. With the pain came a blazing moment of clarity.Hold on…hold on, trouble.

But it wasn’t Kane’s voice that rippled through me. My gaze moved to the edge of the room wherehestood. The man whose dark, unflinching stare was magnetic.

Don’t fight it.

His voice resounded.

You don’t want to tear this beautiful cunt apart now, do you?

My breaths deepened, my pulse sped. It was him…him who transfixed me with his presence…until goosebumps raced along my arms and stood the hair at the nape of my neck. Until another man drew my focus.

I slowly turned my head, tearing my gaze from the man known as The Principal to another just as dangerous.

A man who didn’t fill me with the excitement The Principal did…no, it was the opposite. The warmth drained out of me, leaving me to shiver.

“You couldn’t afford it.”Kane muttered, heading across the room toward the man who watched me intently.“But you can.”

The deadly male just held his stare before his lips curled into a chilling smile. He didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to. My shoulders curled as he directed that focus my way.

He didn’t say a thing, just pushed past Kane and headed toward me.

My breath caught.

My stomach clenched.

The entire room came alive as he stepped between the rows of Daughters.

Riven was a dark blur, hot on his heels as they both headed my way.

Move!

MOVE!

Fear gripped me. The overwhelming urge to stumble backwards before I turned and ran made my knees shake. But I couldn’t move. I was fixed to the spot, riveted as the dangerous man Riven hated stopped in front of me.

Coulter.

That was his name.

“No.” He murmured, searching my eyes. “But I’ll take her.”

A fragile, wounded sound ripped free as he reached up and cupped my breast, before he pinched my nipple until agony bloomed.

“No.” Riven lunged, grabbing Coulter’s wrist as he lowered his hand between my legs.

Coulter never looked at him. Just pinned me to the spot as he muttered. “Don’t tell me…the programming.”

Riven said nothing. Still, I saw the flex of his arm as he clenched Coulter’s wrist, before the savage male yanked his hand away, breaking the hold.

Tension crackled as Coulter turned and strode away. Riven followed, but not before he glanced my way, his stare desperate. The air turned heavy, so heavy each breath was an effort.Master,the word hummed inside me as I held his stare before he looked away.