Chapter 9 Bonded or Trapped?

(Hilda)

King Arlo spun me around, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and betrayal. “Did you really think you could escape me, Hilda?”

I bit back a sob, trying to summon the strength to defy him. “Let me go, Arlo. I don’t belong to you.”

His grip tightened, and he shook his head slowly. “You belong with me. We are bonded, Hilda. You can’t deny what’s between us.”

“Bonded?” I spat. “Or trapped?”

His eyes narrowed, and a dangerous edge crept into his voice. “Why are you running, Hilda? Who are you running to?”

“Nobody,” I insisted, my voice trembling. “I just want to be free.”

A flicker of doubt crossed his features, but it was quickly replaced by suspicion.

“You think I’m a fool? You think I don’t know about Soren?”

“Soren?” I echoed, genuinely confused. “What does he have to do with this?”

Arlo’s grip on me tightened, his jealousy evident. “You’re running back to him aren’t you? You think you can escape me and go back to your precious Soren?”

I shook my head vehemently.