Page 7 of Bonding Beasts (Bonding: The Ultimate Guide #3)

Peacemaker: “ That’s something you’d need to speak with him about. Not my story.”

I wince again. “ Sorry, that was rude.”

How do you converse with someone who can read every insane thought that pops up?

Peacemaker: “ Some thoughts are unstoppable.”

I think of all the times I spoke without thinking and silently agree with him. At least some people have enough self-control to not say it out loud. I’m definitely not one of them. He laughs again, and my lips twitch.

Ben’s hand slowly shifts up to my thigh, and I look up in surprise. His grip is affecting me, and I’ve got someone in my head. Cue panic. It makes no sense that males can be so casual about touching without knowing the havoc it can wreak on a female.

Peacemaker: “ He has a hand. Wait, you think he doesn’t know what he’s doing? He’s male. Are you sure you aren’t a virgin?”

“ I’m not a virgin. Why is everyone always asking me that?”

Peacemaker scoffs. “You miss the completely obvious social cues. Fuck, you and Mitri were meant for each other. Clueless wonders.”

“ Hey!” I jostle my knee back and forth angrily, knocking it into Mitri’s and gaining his attention. I try not to panic as our eyes meet.

“Your gun is digging into my leg. Scoot over.” I try to fill the sudden tension with the excuse and hope he buys it.

Mitri’s gaze flicks down to the weapon and zeros in on Ben’s hand on my thigh. His eyes slowly lift to my face, and he raises an eyebrow. Then he turns back to the window with a smirk.

Did he just give me a silent ‘deal with it’? That asshole! The silent game has just leveled up.

Peacemaker laughs through the entire exchange.

“ Can’t he hear you talking to me?”

Peacemaker: “ I cut him out of the loop. They can’t hear us. He’s just enjoying the break from listening to me.”

“ They?”

Peacemaker: “ The other gun. Vendetta. We can speak to each other but only through him.”

“ Then how are you talking to me if he isn’t in the loop?”

Peacemaker: “ I’m in physical contact with you. It’s all I need.”

“ You can talk to anyone as long as they touch you.”

Peacemaker: “ Yeah.”

He just opened up a whole lot of insane questions.

“I thought touching you equaled instant death? I’ve been holding a grudge about him handing you to me. Who else have you spoken to? Anyone famous?”

Peacemaker: “ No.”

He sounds like he’s pouting. “ Why not?”

Peacemaker: “ You’re the only person he’s ever handed me to.”

My head whips around to look at Mitri’s profile in shock.

Peacemaker: “ Are you picking up any social cues yet?”

I can hear myself swallow and turn my head away before Mitri can notice the horrified look on my face.

“ No.”

Peacemaker: “ Yup.”

“ He can’t.”

Peacemaker: “ Not the way you would. But it’s there.”

“ The male has no emotions!” He has been emoting more but I don’t think those emotions run deep. They’re brief flashes that get wiped away in seconds.

Peacemaker protests but it seems weak. “He has plenty of emotions. Just not guilt or remorse or love. No biggie.”

“ No biggie?!”

Peacemaker rallies quickly. “Obsession can be a form of love.”

“ Like violent and unhappy love!” Oh no, what do I do?

Peacemaker: “ He won’t kill an obsession.”

“ That’s the silver lining here? I’m not impressed.”

This is my life. Summed up by complete insanity in a nutshell. I can feel a headache coming on.

Peacemaker: “ Just give him a chance, please. He will spoil you just as much as the dog, if not more. You’ll never have enemies. They’ll be dead.”

Impressive selling point.I’m not buying.

“ I would also never have friends because he would kill them! Oh shit. What about Ben? Is he going to hurt Ben? Please, say no. He’s the only person who’s ever given a damn about me.

If he takes that from me, if he takes him from me -” An unstoppable tide of anger begins to rise inside me, and Peacemaker starts to panic.

Peacemaker: “ Whoa! No, no, no! He knows you’re attached to it - him. He won’t jeopardize what small favor he’s gained with you by killing him. He hasn’t touched him at all since they met. Do you think that's a coincidence?”

I try to stuff the rage that suddenly came up back into the background and catch my breath with my eyes squeezed shut.

Peacemaker: “ He’s actually trying, which is saying a lot . He'll comply if you tell him what you won’t accept.”

“ He’s a person, not a robot.” Treating him that way seems wrong. Can’t I just convince him to leave me alone? Yeah, he’s gorgeous and I have a crush but I’m trying to not step any further into the depths of madness.

“Bees?”

My eyes snap open as Ben touches my cheek. He’s frowning in concern as he tilts my face towards his. I’m still stuck on the conversation I just had in my head and can’t work up what to say to him.

“We’re here,” he says hesitantly and frowns at Mitri.

“Ok, cool!” I practically shove him onto the pavement in my rush to get out of the car. I don’t want to think about what Peacemaker was talking about. I would happily convince myself that it was all in my head if I could picture telling myself someone likes me. High school never ends, right?