Page 674 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

I ignore the deceiving falter of my black heart when I think those facts and focus back on my father. “And you believe you have the leverage you wished for now?”

“I do.” He grins like a madman. “And now you will give me what I want.”

“Or w—”

“Or I will kill your Bonded with just a flick of my thumb.”

Everything sharpens.

“What?” I demand, forgetting to keep any damning emotions hidden and shrugging myself out of his hold in a flash, bolting to my feet.

His smile grows, and my heart sinks.

He did not even try to stop me.

As though he believes I am trapped either way.

I, too, feel bars closing in already, my mind scrolling at top speed— Before crashing to a halt on the only explanation I can rationalise, just as he reveals—

“Citizen tablets, Daughter.” My hearing becomes fuzzy as my eyes track his movements. He opens his black suit jacket and reaches into the inside pocket, extracting one of the handheld devices. “This one right here is the big guy’s—Player 4, I bel—”

I do not think, I simply lunge.

And drop to my knees, mouth opening on a silent scream as a wave of pain so torrential beats through me that my vision momentarily whites out. And still, I use every ounce of focus and strength I have within me to keep it on my side of the bond. This is only my agony to bear.

Father tuts. “Naughty, naughty.” He pauses for a short period of time while I shake my head, orienting myself, before continuing when I lift my chin to fire all my loathing at him. He is still smirking, unbothered by my behaviour, so consumed by his victory. A victory I helped bring about. “It was not hard to have our experts in The Council ensure every Player has an . . . off button, when I recently asked for an update.” His lips stretch wider while my heart drops lower and lower, a numbness trying to conquer me. But I do not let it as I soak in his words and the meaning behind them:

“You are now able to kill Players without issue. You have added new commands to the Avri controlling the identification chips,” I say lowly.

“Smart girl.”

“But you have not.”

“I have not killed a Player, no. But it is not just Players whose Avri I have linked to that command; it is everyone with a citizen tablet. It is how I got rid of the woman who carried you for nine months. Eighteen years ago, she was the first and only I tested the new execution method on—I have had no need for it again until now. Her death was simply recorded as a heart attack when the Avri cut off all brain function.”

I do not feel anything at this revelation.

Other than the infection of fear.

For my Bonded.

It is weak. Shameful. Yet it is there. And I cannot remove the virus.

“Heartless, heartless, Ezla. No one can get to you, can they?” He pauses before he seethes, spittle flying from his mouth, “No one but them.”

Lovely. I really needed that on top of everything else.

“You will make sure they know you do not care for them. You are mine, Daughter. I will not have you whoring around.”

“Did you not just admit you are the one who put all this in motion? Maybe you should—”

“I will not tell you again.” His thumb hovers over the screen of the citizen tablet, over a button I can see reads ‘DELETE’, as if Players really are just that: players. Nothing else. Able to be removed with a simple click like in a video game.

My spine snaps straight.

I am on my knees before him, yet I do not care to get up until his finger moves away from what I have no doubt is the key to Tate’s instant death.

I do not want that.