Page 130 of Burdened Bonds

“Will they hold?”

“I think so,” Azlan says with that same confidence.

“I can add some of my own,” Renzo says, jumping to his feet and nearly knocking Winnie over in the process.

Azlan eyes him, clearly wary of any spells Renzo might cast.

“That would be really helpful,” I tell Renzo, ignoring Azlan. Renzo’s magic is more chaotic, more unpredictable and less practiced than ours. He wasn’t taught in the same way the rest of us were. I think a lot of his magic he taught himself. And I think that may give us an advantage when it comes to Christopher Kennedy and his forces.

“Wanna help me, little rabbit?” Renzo says, holding out his hand. In response, Azlan clutches my hand more tightly.

I stand up, tugging my hand from Azlan’s grip but not taking the hand Renzo offers.

“I tell you what,” I say, “why don’t the three of us do it together?” Renzo frowns at me and Azlan goes to open his mouth but I ignore them both. “I think we could build something pretty darn strong and impregnable between the three of us, don’t you?”

My two mates look unconvinced but Winnie – alwaysready to take my side – nods eagerly. “I think it would.” She grabs a hold of Trent’s arm eagerly. “We’ll leave you to it.” Then she pulls her boyfriend out of the kitchen and we hear her giggling as they race up the staircase.

“They’re going to fuck,” Renzo says helpfully.

“Yes, thanks,” I mutter, “I think we figured that out for ourselves.”

“That’s what we should do after we’ve done this spell,” Renzo continues, Azlan scowling at him. “What?” Renzo says, grinning at the man in black. “We’re freshly bonded, and it’s the only way to ease the pain, right, Az? Isn’t that what you told her?”

“I didn’t tell her anything,” he growls between gritted teeth.

I clear my throat, regaining both their attentions. “Can we focus on the job at hand please?”

“You can take triggerwot for the pain,” Azlan says, “there doesn’t have to be any fucking.”

“The spell!” I say. I’m relieved beyond belief that we’re all together, safe for the time being, but this situation between us is going to be tricky. There’s work to be done.

“Right,” Azlan says, throwing one last dirty look Renzo’s way. “The spell.”

I take Renzo’s hand in my right and Azlan’s hand in my left.

“Now you hold hands too,” I say motioning with my head.

“This isn’t fucking kindergarten,” Azlan mumbles, but I give him a no-nonsense look and he takes Renzo’s hand loosely in his.

Renzo winks at me. “He has big hands, little rabbit. Big strong hands.”

I swallow. Yep, that’s something else I don’t need Renzo to tell me. I know.

“Okay,” I say, “are we ready?”

Azlan mumbles a “yes” and Renzo nods his head enthusiastically.

“Let’s do this then.”

I close my eyes and start to recant the protection spell my aunt taught me. The one she would cast over the house every night before we headed to bed. Beside me, I hear Renzo and Azlan do the same and immediately I see how different our three spells are. Renzo’s chaotic and hissing and sparking just as I predicted. Azlan’s strong, solid and dependable. And mine? Beautiful – like a web spun around us.

At first our magic is separate and distinct, but soon, they melt into one another, combining and weaving together. It’s not quite like it is when I combine my magic with Tristan’s. It’s different from that, but it still has the blood in my veins thrumming, and my bond spinning. A smile plays across my lips and I can’t help bouncing up on my toes.

We’re better together. Cleverer. More complex. Stronger.

Maybe I am beginning to see why fate wants us together after all.

I’m lost in the magic and the sensations pulsating through my body, that is until a sarcastic voice pops our magical bubble.