Page 49 of Blood Bonds

I had a flashback to what my bond was doing in the camp, not a big deal. Can you guys stop freaking out about me, especially while I’m safe in the mansion?

I’m careful about my tone, trying to tamp down my inner bitch so I don’t start a fight, but I need to establish some boundaries with them, and fast, or they’ll be walking all over me in no time.

My uncle was murdered in his bed. I’m not going to trust any households with your safety. Come downstairs so I can see you’re okay.

Ridiculous.

Okay, he has a point about William’s death, but I’m busy studying. So instead, I concentrate so hard I almost burst my brain wide open, but I manage to send him the image of Brutus lying over my legs and August sitting where I’m leaning against him, watching over me while I pretend I’m studying.

I’m safe with these two. Also, Sage has been known to set entire billion-year-old buildings on fire when provoked, so I’d put money on her in a fight.

Gryphon, who can also hear all of this because what is privacy, adds in,We both know she wouldn’t get the chance because your bond would deal with the danger. North is just trying to get out of his meeting. Go back to studying, Bonded.

“Are you flirting with your Bonded right now? The carpet should not have you grinning like that, it’s not interesting or funny,” Sage grumbles, and I shoot her a rueful look.

“They’re mother-henning me. Honestly, remember when we thought Bonds were bad? Bonded men are infinitely worse.”

Felix shoots me a look. “You mean we want our Bonded safe, secure, and happy at all times? Terrible. The worst. Monsters.”

Sage throws a pencil at him. “Don’t say the ‘m’ word. Brutus will eat you.”

“Now who’s flirting? Gross, keep that out of my room,” I say in an exaggerated tone, and Sage rolls her eyes at me with a grin.

Felix flicks the pencil at me and says, “We’re all going to have to sit through dinner with you and your Bonds, so don’t try for the higher ground here, Fallows. I’m expecting someone to attempt to fuck you over the potatoes the moment they get a chance.”

I hold a hand up to my chest, feigning horror, and Sage cackles at me. It’s stupid and ridiculous and everything I needed after all of the weird in my life right now.

Sage gives me a sly sort of look and murmurs, “We should take bets on which one. My bet is North, I’ve never seen him like this before. It’s sort of… weird.”

Felix opens his mouth, probably to place his own bet and embarrass the life out of me with some quip, but I’m saved by his phone buzzing. There’s a lot of that going on today.

He barely looks at it, shooting Sage a look, before he says to me, “My parents are video calling in five, so we need to go. They’ve been extra freaked out since I refused to come home and North won’t let them over here. Not that I blame him.”

I don’t even have to ask why, because it’s very clear to me that it’ll be about Gracie. After her perfume stunt provoked my bond to come out and Bond with Gryphon, they were both swift in their actions to get rid of the girl. I feel slightly bad about it, only because that’s Felix’s sister, but she also made me lose my v-card in a pretty animalistic and brutal way.

So fuck her and her silly little games.

I give him a look and he shrugs, packing away the last of his supplies. “I’m not mad about it. She’s an adult and made choices; she can live with them. My parents, too. As long as Sage is safe and we’re together, I’m happy with wherever that puts me.”

Chapter Sixteen

Oli

The moment Sageand Felix leave, I decide to put my big girl panties on and go see Atlas finally. I can’t deal with the ache in my chest for Nox, but I can definitely do something about the mess in my head over my confined Bond.

I take the coward’s way out and speak to North directly through our minds so that I don’t have to argue with him face-to-face.Is Atlas in his room? I want to see him. Without a guard or whatever, I want to see my Bond.

I’m met with a very charged form of silence, one where I know he’s hating this idea but wants to have a good argument on why I can’t go see my own Bond. I stay quiet for a minute, but when I feel him hesitate, I push it a little further.I don’t… feel good and I need him.

It’s the truth, but it still feels like I’m being manipulative saying it because North immediately relents, agreeing for my own good to get over his concerns and fears of Atlas’ motives if it means I’ll feel better.

Take the creatures with you. I’ll tell Nox to stay out of his, so long as you’re not asking for help. Know that I’m only okay with this because Gryphon is sure about him, even if we’re not. If he showed any deception so far, I wouldn’t be doing this, Bonded.

The words sound controlling, but I’m seeing him clearer now. He’s attempting to reassure me and tell me how much I mean to him, he’s just not the best at wording it.

If anything feels wrong to me, I’ll tell you. Is Gryphon close too? My bond isn’t entirely opposed to killing Bonds if I’m in danger, so don’t worry about that either,I send back, aiming for my own personal brand of reassurance, but he’s not a huge fan of it either.

I change into pants and pull on one of Nox’s sweaters to help push back the longing there for a little longer. I usually avoid Nox’s things around Atlas if I can, but my skin is extra tight on my bones today.