Page 33 of Bonding Beasts (Bonding: The Ultimate Guide #3)

I wake with a gasp, sitting up abruptly. I know I had a nightmare, but it’s just out of reach, exactly where I want it to stay. I catch my breath and take stock of my body to see how much damage I have left to heal.

The bruising is now fading into the disgusting yellow and green phase. My bones feel fine now that they’ve rearranged themselves, and the muscles straining to hold them in place are now relaxed.

My spark isn’t fluttering anymore, but it is still resting. It rouses with gentle prodding and smacks me away like a grumpy teen who doesn’t want to go to school.

Sans the bruises, I’m feeling pretty good right now. I'm a little tired, but that’s to be expected after that much damage and my nightmares.

I stretch my arms above my head and feel each vertebra give a pleasant hum at the feeling. My left arm is still painful, but it’s manageable now.

My hands flop to the blanket I’m currently tangled in, and I glance around.

I’m in Ben’s room, snuggled into his nest. I feel a little bad about the amount of sweat coating my body and making his clothes cling to me.

I grimace as I pull the shirt away. It’s practically soaked through. Laundry day it is.

Ben moves in my peripherals, and I look towards him, barely able to see above the mound of pillows I’m surrounded by. He’s wearing the same clothes as last night and has dark circles under his eyes .

Did he not sleep at all? From his position, it looks like he was watching the door and the room simultaneously. Guarding me while I was weak.

His eyes flick past me, and I turn to see what he’s glaring at.

Mitri has pulled a chair into the room since everything here is floor-level and cushy.

I’m not surprised he brought something to sit on.

I can’t picture him sitting on the ground and ruining his suit with wrinkles.

He watches me without glancing at Ben. Ben, on the other hand, seems tense and ready to spring.

I take a deep breath of vetiver and clove, then almost choke at my own stench. How can Ben stand to be around me right now?

“Shower then laundry. Sound good?” I ask Ben as I crawl out of the seemingly millions of cushions and blankets. Once I’ve gained my feet I head into the bathroom. Just before I close the door I hear Ben’s ‘hmm’ of acceptance to my decree. He never takes his eyes off Mitri.

I can’t think of a thing to say to comfort him about the immortal’s presence. It’s not like he would leave even if I asked. Mitri do what Mitri do.

I shed the dirty clothes and step into the shower, getting that first blast of shiver-inducing cold out of the way for the water to warm up. Then I just stand there and think.

A lot of info got dropped last night, and I’m not sure if I absorbed everything that was going on around me.

Halfway through the arguing, the pain started to become too much to hold back, and I lost focus despite Peacemaker trying to keep me abreast of things.

I’ll have to ask him to give me the abridged version later.

The TGT agents aren’t really working for the Delegates. They’re spying, but why ?

Obviously because they suck but is there something they’re already trying to stop?

Humans and Delegates teaming up together. Scientists experimenting on how to kill Others efficiently. Going back to the ‘old days’ to make Humans food. More territories are being affected than ours.

Seems like I should be surprised, but I’m not.

People, at their cores, want to dominate others.

It’s just a fact of life. You’re weak. You get stepped on.

Try to rise up, get stepped on. It’s a whole exhausting process that happens daily without us even noticing.

There’s always a struggle, an argument, the chance of violence.

I guess the Human side is just as bad as the Other side when you think about it. The Humans just brush more shit under the rug while Others are unashamed of their viciousness.

Much like Mitri, I have questions.

Just because things are headed toward Crapsville doesn’t mean war yet. Unless it’s a civil war.

It also doesn’t mean that Humans will become food. What makes Mitri think that’s what’s going to happen?

I don’t discount his views. He has who knows how much experience in warfare, but what led him to that conclusion? I guess it’s time to finish my shower and get out there to ask. I have a lot to do today.

I rush through cleaning myself, even though I take a second to smell Ben’s shampoo and sigh.

I’m turning into a sap, and I might like it.

How horrifying is that? When the smell of a guy’s vetiver shampoo or clove cigarettes gives you warm fuzzies, does that equal relationship or stalking? It’s all in the context, I guess.

Focus, brain!

I step out and dry quickly, then remember to shut off the water as I wrap myself into a towel. Why didn’t I think to bring any clothes with me ?

I open the door, releasing the steam from my too-hot shower, only to pause on the threshold. I forgot that it wasn’t just Ben out here. And when did I get comfortable enough with Ben that I strut around in a towel without a care? It must have been while we were in the Bowels.

Neither male has moved and they’re both looking at me. I’m not sure if the look in their eyes is appreciation or violence, so I point hesitantly towards the closet with a muttered, “Forgot my clothes.”

“I have brought your things inside,” Mitri gestures elegantly towards a crushed cardboard box and my go bag. When did he grab that?

Oh shit, my truck!

I release some form of pained whine and close my eyes tight.

“What’s wrong?” Ben quickly stands and hovers over me.

“My truck,” I moan forlornly. “It was at the house when it blew up.Just… fuck my life, man.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought this up in front of Ben.

He goes from concerned to raging as his head snaps towards Mitri with a snarl on his lips.

The dark ichor around his eyes intensifies enough to cover his face.

At the same time, a keening, echoing sound emits from his throat.

Bringing up vehicle destruction is never a good idea around a car enthusiast.

“It is safe,” Mitri ignores the obvious threat beside me with his monotone voice. “I have brought it here as well.”

He digs into his jacket’s inner pocket and pulls out a set of familiar keys, laying them gently on the floor by his feet. I appreciate that he doesn’t throw them at me. I’m clutching my towel like some terrified virgin, and I don’t want to drop it .

My shoulders sag in relief as I sigh, “Your service, Mitri. You’re amazing.”

I could kiss that man.

Why don’t you?

My inner hussy just has to have a say in things.

I’m almost positive that Mitri is asexual at this point. Not that I blame him. I’m sure everything gets old after a while. No matter how many sexual positions you can come up with, it’s only exciting once, and he’s probably hundreds of years old.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the man's skill, grace, and dedication to a cause. Plus, his brain gives me a lady boner. But what a tragic waste of a smokin’ hot body! Not that I would ever tell him that. Mitri do as Mitri do, after all.

I clear my throat awkwardly at my thoughts and scurry over to drag the go bag into the bathroom with me. I just embarrassed myself horribly, lusting after someone who probably doesn’t even feel arousal anymore, much less happiness or care.

He brought you your things. He cares.

Don’t try to convince me, inner ho. This is a slippery slope, and I don’t want to ruin things with the guy I’m bonded with? Soon to bond? May not ever bond again because I’m a horny embarrassment to myself, and I don’t want witnesses? Ugh, feelings .

I spend the time in the bathroom dressing in jeans and a regular shirt. I also convince my inner self that trying to seduce an asexual is just plain rude, and I should think about his feelings.

Ha! His feelings. As if. I just don’t want to waltz out there fully naked and get the Mitri doll eyes of disdain.

Picturing that look on his face cools things down considerably and makes my heart give a painful lurch in my chest. Damn thing must not be healed all the way.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it .

By the time I reemerge, all the blankets and pillows are gone. Crap, that’s a lot to move. How long was I in there? I glance over at Mitri with a frown.

“Did he just…”

“He did,” Mitri stands and walks up to me, extending his bent arm in a gesture so old-fashioned it takes me a second to realize what he’s doing. I hesitantly place my fingers in the crook of his elbow, and he smoothly begins to guide me towards the door.

A male treating me like a delicate flower? The world is ending, I’m convinced now. And no, I’m not blushing, and this isn’t nice, damn it.

We enter the dining space since it’s practically all one big room, and my feet stop moving. Mitri doesn’t for a moment, but when my fingers begin to slip from his arm, he pauses to glance back at me.

I stare at the various faces around the kitchen table and try to take in the extreme changes in expression as they all stare down at the plates laid out.

Kimi’s face is vacant of expression, which hits me in the chest with how wrong it is. Where’s the playful, fun-loving, life-manipulating villain I know?

Mal’s eyes are narrowed in a level two glower as he looks down with irritation.

King’s right eyebrow is raised almost to his hairline with surprise and pleasure. Why is his nose crooked? Is that a black eye? Two black eyes? His chin is swollen at its point, and his lower lip is jutting out in an unintentional pout. Did Ben do that?