Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
332. Tyson - Revelations X

Time slows down.

I've been drugged for years. What if it's the reason why I hated Olivia so much all this time? Even now, after knowing the truth, there's still resentment in my heart.

The hand in which I have the knife reaches Maddox's thigh.

How do I cope with that? How do I fill my heart only with love, knowing she did nothing wrong?

The sharp blade sinks into his muscles.

Rueben shakes uncontrollably. He feels the same wrath as me.

I fucking feel...violated. Do men ever feel like that? Am I allowed to feel like that? I don't think I should feel like this since no harm was done to me, but what if it influenced all my decisions, which added to Olivia's suffering? Maddox grunts in pain. I fucking want him to beg on his knees for forgiveness. I don't care if his entire family was in the hands of Azael, what he did is unforgivable.

"You drugged us?" Ansel snarls.

I judged Olivia for being high when I was doing the same shit. No wonder I couldn't quit smoking, no matter how hard I tried.

I twist the blade, wanting to cause as much harm as possible.

Maddox yells, "Stop!"

But I don't want to stop, not now, not ever.

"I'll be done with you when I know every little dirty secret you have," I slowly snarl each and every word.

Thoughts, questions, a thousand possibilities rush through my head like endless torrents. If Azael hated Olivia so much and Maddox knew that we had her on the farm... "Did you implant thought in my head? Use hypnosis on me or any of my blood-brothers?"

Fear flickers in his eyes. "You need to understand that "

I cut him short. "Did you?" I yell. The knife is still impaled in his leg. It would be so easy to stab him until I find his artery and let him bleed to death.

"Yes." What the fuck was I forced to do while under the influence of the drugs? I don't remember losing track of time, just endless rage when it came to Olivia. But the thought of someone hurting her made me even more enraged. That's why I punished Roy for hitting her. "You are her consort. There's no way you would have hated her if not for the drugs or all the subtle suggestions given to you each time we talked. I tried with the others as well, but only Rueben responded positively. Ansel," Maddox scoffs, "his demon is the impersonation of zen when it comes to Olivia. Jasper and Mose smoke occasionally, so they were never affected."

"What did you make me do?" I question him.

Maddox traces the contour of his bottom lip with his thumb. "I only said what I would do if my woman ever cheated on me, and you went ahead and did it."

The shed. I only took Olivia there because Maddox commented that she might know things since she had been one of Carlos' pornais. In my head, I truly believed she had information we could use.

"Rueben was the easiest to manipulate. He was already eager to hate Olivia. It all started at a party Olivia snuck out to attend while her parents weren't home. I'm pretty sure she wanted to see you, but you were working that night. It was easy to put some drugs in Olivia's juice and watch her stumble into Rueben's lap." Bile rises to my throat. I feel sick. Maddox even drugged Olivia. My demon demands vengeance. He wants Maddox's blood. "It didn't take long for them to kiss. I assume he already liked her, and it stung him that she didn't remember anything from the party. For what's worth, Rueben kept her safe." Maddox's gaze shifts to Rueben. "Or am I wrong?"

Rueben crosses his arms against his chest. "Told you I didn't drugged her," he says to me. To Maddox, he says, "If Azael started hating Olivia after Camila's death, why were you drugging her before that?" "Azael wanted me to test out drugs for him."

The cabin's door opens. Maddox's throat bobs. He probably realized he has to tell all his dirty secrets in front of his blood-brothers.

Henry lets out a cry before rushing to the couch and sitting on it. "Maddox, love, are you alright?" he frantically asks while checking Maddox's injuries.

Cole makes his way to Henry and Maddox, his face a mask of worry.

Alekos and Reyes go to sit at the table.

Henry wraps his arms around Maddox, and the latter affectionately says, "Don't do that. You'll get wet."

"Don't be silly,” Henry says before kissing Maddox. Very few know that Henry is in a relationship with Maddox and Cole. After breaking the kiss, Henry glares at me. "What did you do to him?"

My eyes narrow to slits. "You know what happens to traitors. He works for Azael."

Cole's silence tells me that he knows about Maddox's being a spy, but Henry looks in disbelief at Maddox. Then at me. "He would never do that. He...he...is not like that. Right, my love?" he asks Maddox. Maddox caresses Henry's cheek. "It was best that you never learned the truth. I never wanted you to think badly about me."

Henry blink. "But...you hate Azael. For what he did to Indy."

"You don't understand; he would have gone after you and everyone else I love. I had to do what he ordered. The idea of you locked in that facility gives me nightmares."

I laugh like a madman. "But you had no problem with getting my woman hurt."

"I never laid a finger on Olivia. You and Rueben are the ones who tortured her," Maddox contradicts me.

"Because I was fucking drugged!" I snarl, making Henry flinch. Maddox rubs his back. "What else did you suggest I should do? Fuck women?" The guilt on Maddox's face lets me know I'm right. Jesus fucking Christ! "Are the effects of the drugs permanent?"

"If you stop smoking, they will slowly disappear. There won't be any more anger outbursts, especially in Rueben's case, while in your case, it will stop blocking the bond, but I have a feeling you already felt it."