Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

154. 154. Jasper

When my first blood-brothers died, the pain of the severed link reverberated through my entire being, crippling my soul for a

long time. Being accepted by other blood-brothers happens only on rare occasions, so | resigned to my bleak fate. Then

Rueben and the others forced their way into my life, and despitenot wanting a new link, somehow they tricked me. 0: so 1

told myself.

| closed my heart to them, refusing to really see them as my blood-brothers even if | thought of them like that. | even

convinced myself | wouldn't care if they suddenly leftalone on the farm with the animals.

When Ansel and Rueben entered the house, blood covering them, | realized how stu p i d | had been. Despite not wanting to

see them as family, Rueben and Ansel are that and more.

No matter how hard | tried to stop the bleeding and keep him alive, Rueben stopped breathing, the wound in his neck was fatal,

makingrealize how fragile human life is. Then a miracle happened-Olivia. Because how else can | refer to what she did?

Rueben’s heart stopped beating, and yet, when she grabbed his hand, he not only started breathing. but she also saved the

link that tiesto my blood-brothers.

Rueben is unconscious but at least he is alive.

Then Olivia faints. The thick rug absorbs most of the impact, but panic rises inside me, fearing how hard she had hit her head

when she fell.

Ansel rushes to pick her up, but | am faster. Besides, he has been shot as well. He should lie down and lettake care

of Olivia.

Where the fu c k is Maddox?

1 gently stroke Olivia's cheek. She is so pale and cold, but as long as she is breathing, | know she will be alright.

“Can you bringthe first aid box?” | ask Ansel as | try to keep an eye on Rueben.

“On it,” Ansel says and goes to the kitchen. He sounds like he is in shock.

| don’t blhim. If not witnessing with my own eyes more s h i t than | can remember, | would have thought | lost my

mind.

| know Rueben is not out of the woods, but my entire focus is on Olivia. Strands of her auburn hair cover her face and | gently

brush them away before | check to see how hard she hit her head. When | don’t feel any bumps, | feel relieved. The last thing

she needs is a concussion.

Once Maddox is here, he will take a look at her.

| felt she was special from the first t| met her, but her actually having healing powers? It is clear | know so little about the

women born to Dukes. Even to Lords. What if there is so much more to them than we were told? | never had sisters, only a

deadbeat brother, but Rueben should know.

T

Ansel stares at Olivia with an expression that can only mean one thing-obsession. | understand because right now, | feel the

same. It’s funny how just one decision on her part captured my entire heart in mere moments.

154 Jasper

When we brought her home, she was nothing to me. She was just a woman to have fun with, even if the idea was to find a wife.

| pushed that idea to the side when | learned she was the one who killed Camila, knowing Rueben wild never approve of her,

but slowly, she wiggled her way into my heart. Spending twith her had been wonderful Every touch and kiss | gave her

were genuine because | liked her

But now?

Now, | am obsessed.

After she saved Ruchen'’s life, there is no way in Hell | will ever let her go.

| want to know everything about her. From her darkest secret to her each and every thought. What she likes, what hates. What

makes her smile. | am yet to see her pretty face light up with happiness. No wonder she is sad all the Especially after

everything that had happened to her since we found her in the forest. | am partially responsible for what Rueben and Tyson did

to her. | could have stopped them before things escalated. Because of my poor decision, Olivia paid the price. | know she said

she ives me, but | could tell she didn’t mean it. Even if it takesa lifetime.

1 will earn her trust and love.

Before, | wanted to help her get better because | saw her as a project, but now-now it’s because she gavesomething |

never expected. Hope.

Hope to finally have the family | have been dreaming about for so long.

Hope to finally have a wife and find speace andfort in her warm embrace.

Hope that my demon won't consmy soul because | want to bond Olivia to me, our lives forever entwined.

My demon purrs his approval..

| press my lips to Olivia's brow. It tookonly thirty-three years to find the woman who will be my wife. | let Rueben lead

even if my demon is strong, but it will be my non the marriage license. | want her to take my nso that every Lord and

Duke in the city will know she belongs to me. To my blood-brothers as well.

Ansel returns with the first aid kit and puts it next to Rueben. | place Olivia on the bed before | take out bandages and wrap

them around Rueben’s wounds, wanting to stop the bleeding. At this rate, he will die of blood loss.

“What the f u c k just happened?” Ansel finally asks.

“Olivia just saved his life,” | reply. “I think she has... healing powers.”

Ansel pulls out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lights one. “Impossible,” he says after taking a long drag from his

cigarette. His gaze is fixed on Olivia. “Humans don’t have that kind of power. If Rueben is alive, it's because of your effort.”

Shackled (The Lord Series)