Page 25 of Broken Ties
With a curt nod at me when my fury finally abates, Al sends another apprehensive look over my shoulder before he turns on his heel and stalks back down the bar. He’s quick to clear thetips and empty glasses, wiping down the careless mess from the fleeing idiots.
The heat of a body sidling up to me has me turning to stone in my seat, right as some bitch murmurs in my ear and almost sends my bond hurtling into command of my body. “God, I thought he’d never leave! He’s extra chatty tonight; the poor old man must be lonely.”
Fuck.
I know this woman.
Granted, I can’t remember her name either, but she’s been stalking Gryph for long enough that I could pick her out of a lineup by the stench of her alone. The barstool next to mine squeaks as her ass hits the vinyl padding, the cloud of sickly sweet perfume washing over me. My bond instantly rejects the scent, but for once, the churning of my gut doesn’t enrage me. It smells like she’s just crawled her way out of a vat of sugar, but instead of being alluring or mouthwatering, as I’m sure she hopes, bile creeps up my throat.
“He's not here.”
The huff of laughter she lets out is so exaggerated that it’s pathetic, an overt attempt at sensual that misses the mark by a fucking mile. “I have eyes, Draven, I did notice that.”
That may be true, but she clearly doesn’t have a brain… or any sense of shame. “He’s not coming tonight, so disappear before I lose patience and drop the civility.”
The sound she makes this time is definitely an attempt at a giggle, far worse than her attempts at seductive chuckling. Pushing her arm into mine as she leans forward, I’m tempted to rip it out of its socket as she tries to flag Al down for a drink. He keeps his back turned to her, definitely on purpose, and I’d find some humor in that if it wasn't leaving me dealing with her instead.
“I'm not an idiot, Draven. I know you've never been civil, not from the moment your brother dragged you back here.”
Turning to face her finally, she falters at the sneer over my lips but holds up a hand to cut me off. “Look, I have no interest in you, Draven. I’m only speaking to you now because Gryphon isn’t here. I know you hate this Bond of yours; I heard she's an ugly bitch who thinks she's too good for her own Bond Group. All I’m asking for is a little help finding Gryphon so I can remind him that he has other options.Betteroptions.”
Gryph will hate it.
He’ll fucking rage about it, because no matter how he tries to pretend he hates the girl for leaving us all, he’s a simpering fool for her. He’s also not here right now. A decade of friendship down the drain over a repulsive Bond desperate to get us all under her thumb.
At the very least, it’ll be entertaining. “I’ll take you to dinner with the Bond Group on two conditions.”
Her eyes light up as a victorious grin breaks over her face, nodding without bothering to hear me out or think things through. She’s practically too stupid to live, but that’s not my problem.
“If Gryphon says no to you again, you’ll end this obsession with him and leave him alone.”
The grin slides right off of her face but she stands up from her barstool as she shrugs. “Fine, he’s not going to anyway, so there’s no harm in agreeing. What’s the other condition?”
I drain the last of the bourbon, then set the glass and a tip for Al on the bar before I turn back to her, my eyes shifting to the voids, and I enjoy the tremble of fear in her for a moment before I answer.
“Think of it more as a warning. Don’t ever touch me again. Not on purpose or by accident. If it happens again, I’ll set mynightmares on you until there’s nothing left for your parents to bury.”
North’s driveris wholly unimpressed when he arrives at the bar to collect me only to find I have an uninvited dinner guest accompanying me. The dour look he gives me in the rearview mirror as the car gets back on the road screams ‘disapproving parent figure’ and it only deepens when I finally realize I still have no idea what the smug woman's name is and finally think to ask.
“You really don’t remember it? You taught me History 101, and again sophomore year for 201. It’sAshlee.”
She says it like it’s important, like she’s memorable and I’m the one with an issue here, but she’s a leach with an agenda. I’m ready to forget it the moment Gryph sends her packing tonight. There's no question in my mind that he’s going to, but forcing him to deal with her is a petty inconvenience I’m spitefully leaving him with for dropping our friendship like it’s nothing.
Ashlee pulls out a compact mirror from some pocket she’d stashed it in and begins to primp herself as though there's something about her that could possibly impress a Bond, even in the presence of his central. Whether she hears the grinding of my teeth and ignores it, or the delusional self-talk no doubt looping in her mind drowns the sound out, I can't be sure, but North’s driver sends me another look when we turn into the gated community the Draven mansion resides in.
I wonder if he gave North these same pitiful eyes on the way to the dorms while my brother’s Bond pouted like a child alongside him in the backseat. A sadistic glee bubbles in my blood at how much that would dig under North’s skin, how muchit would goad his ego to be taken down by such a pathetic slip of a girl after dedicating years of his life searching for her.
It’s almost enough to brighten my evening up.
When the car is safely stowed in the garage, I open my own door and climb out without waiting, shutting the door as I tug at the sleeves of my jacket. Ashlee waits on the driver to open her door, a spoiled Top Tier Gifted through and through, but he pauses before me instead of rushing to her door.
“You’re causing your brother a lot of strife by bringing a guest to dinner tonight, Master Draven. He was already displeased at being forced to send me out to collect you after dinner was served.”
A smirk filled with sharp teeth and vicious wit slides into place on my lips without thought. “I have no interest in pleasing anyone, least of all my brother and the council he refuses to leave behind.”
I stroll into the mansion, refusing to do anything with haste, if that’s what’s being asked of me, and it only takes Ashlee a few seconds to catch up, but she huffs at me like I’ve put her out. Ignoring her, I lead the way to the dining room, but instead of following me silently like I hope, she rushes to walk by my side. She’s careful not to touch me, but she’s still way too close.
When I give her a look, she glances over her shoulder and then murmurs to me, “The rumors about your Bond are true, right? You all hate her? She’s a total bitch and acting like she’s hot shit when she doesn’t even have a Gift? You can test it out with me, if you want. I’ll play along, even though you’re a psycho and Gryphon is my soulmate.”