Bound at the Ball (Siren Publishing Allure) by Lea Barrymire Read Free Book Online Page A

seem like something anyone would want. Then her mind rolled through her last two days. How had her sisters allowed this? Her father had allowed strange males to enter their home and violate her. How was that possible?
    She was snapped from her musings when the girl in front of her was called and shuffled through the door. Rella finally had a glimpse at what was to come and she felt the blood drain from her face. She stood at the entrance to a dark tunnel, lined with flickering candles. She blanched and wanted to backpedal when her gaze rested on the males stationed every few feet down the path. They wore full armor, making them look even larger than they normally would. They all had turned to look at her with piercing eyes. Blank stares met her scared one. At that moment she felt completely naked. Not just in her skin, but in her spirit.
    “Rella Cinder of the Massora Clan.” The voice of doom quietly sealed her fate as it came through the speaker. She stood still, too scared to move, but a shove from her side stumbled her forward.
    “Go, dear.” The old woman had come up next to her and hissed in her ear.
    Rella took a deep breath and then lowered head before stepping forward. She could do this. Eight other girls had just gone through this in front of her. She hadn’t heard any bloodcurdling screams or anything that would mean she was walking to her death. After counting fifteen steps, she could see a bend in the hallway. She turned and found herself only a few steps from the glowing stone they were told to stand on. She sighed and almost grinned. She’d made it that far. Now, all she had to do was stand on that spot until someone came to collect her.
    She took the last couple of steps until she stood within the gentle light shining up from the floor. She kept her head down just as she’d been instructed even though she could hear male voices very near her. Fear had kept her blood pounding so loudly in her ears that she hadn’t heard other people in the room. Now that she was concentrating a little, the sounds filtered through her own heartbeat. Deep male voices were so close she thought she could stick a hand out and touch one of them. Fear and curiosity warred inside. What if she tilted her head just a little, could she see the males standing closest to her? If she did would she get in trouble and be punished? Don’t look up. You don’t know what will happen if you’re caught .
    Moments passed. She wanted to fidget, squirm under the gazes she could feel crawling over her skin. Wasn’t someone supposed to collect her and move her to another location? What was taking so long? Just when she thought she’d have to give in and do something to release some of the nervous energy, she saw black boots enter her peripheral vision. She gasped quietly as a warm hand wrapped around her arm.
    Warm breath moved over her ear before she comprehended the words whispered. “I told you we’d see each other tonight, little girl. Come with me now. We’re wasting precious time standing here.”

Chapter 5
     
    Chills coursed down Rella’s spine. It’s him . He held her upper arm in a firm grip. She’d dreamed of his voice, the feel of his warm breath skating over her skin. The words he’d whispered to her as she came apart with her release still echoed through her mind. He’d driven her repeatedly to a fevered state during the night as he visited her dreams and thoughts.
    She stood frozen on the floor as her mind worked through the fact that one of the males who’d seen her come, listened to her moans, felt her body shudder in release stood next to her. All she had to do was look up and she’d see his face, be able to put an identity to the voice.
    “Rella, move now.” She jumped at the gravelly growl from the male.
    “Sorry,” she mumbled, shuffling forward. He led her by the arm toward the darkness. She wanted to raise her head and look around, but she didn’t want him growling at her again. She could tell by the