Page 16

Bellamy

S itting on top of the suitcase, I fight with the zipper until it finally closes.

Everything I own is reduced to two bags, one of which is completely filled with tech.

Monitors, I’ll buy when we get back to Mercy Ridge, but my tower and hard drives?

Those are irreplaceable. All the programs I’ve written to break through firewalls and hijack security feeds are stored in there; it’d take years to replace that work.

Hell, my backpack only has one spare outfit because I was running out of room for the things I couldn’t imagine leaving behind.

Sighing, I set my bag down, running out of excuses to procrastinate. “Time to rip off the bandage.”

Myles rummages around in a small basket in the corner before pulling something out with a triumphant smile. “I’ll come with you, I have something to show your grandma.”

I raise an eyebrow, but don’t ask; I’ll find out soon enough.

Sure, it’s annoying that Ledger instilled the rule that Ever and I always have an escort, like I can’t protect myself, but even though I’ll never admit it, it’s…

kind of nice. Their protection feels different than what I’m used to in the compound.

Those mysts look at us like delicate unicorns in need of knights in shining armor.

Ledger, Myles, and Arson? They know I’m a threat and respect me for it.

But care enough to insist on giving me back up anyway.

Admittedly, the kidnapping wasn’t exactly my best moment. I let my guard down because they were my own men. I’ll never make that mistake again, though. Not when Ever could pay the price for my carelessness.

Our footsteps echo in the otherwise empty tunnel, the awkward silence threatening to suffocate us before we reach the end. Myles breaks first.

He looks around at the glowing streaks threaded through the stonework around us wistfully.

“I can see why you wanted to bring her here.” Watching me from the corner of his eye, he chooses his next words carefully.

“Are you sure about this? It’s a lot to give up. An elder seat. Your family. Your home.”

Is he serious? I thought he was the smart one.

“I’m not giving anything up. I’ve always felt like an outsider here; it’s one of the reasons I was so excited to have Ever to myself. But there’s something about Mercy Ridge that feels more like home than this place ever has.”

He dips his head and smiles softly, satisfied with my answer and dropping the subject as we continue the walk in relative silence. But his question did stir up something that I’ve been carefully avoiding thinking about.

I’m officially out of a job. I can do anything I want with my life now, and that’s terrifying in its own right.

What do I want to do with my life? I’m nearly thirty, for fucks’ sake, I can’t start over now… can I? I’m supposed to have everything figured out and be halfway to retirement.

But was I ever actually happy?

Lost in my thoughts, I jolt when Myles knocks on the door, not even realizing we’d arrived. As someone calls out to enter, we step through to find my grandmother and two other elders seated around the council table.

Her face lights up in surprise. “Boys! What an unexpected pleasure. What brings you by?”

Subtly sucking in a deep breath, I brace myself for her reaction.

“I came to say goodbye. Now that Ever’s got a better handle on her powers, it’s time for us to head out.

The wards have been strengthened and my replacement knows how to navigate the computer system I established; there’s no reason for us to stick around anymore. ”

Her face crumbles, and I feel like a real piece of shit.

But I can’t let her guilt trip me into living a life I don’t want.

“I’ve already laid the groundwork for people to accept your bondmates despite their less than savory introduction to our society.

And your mate will be safe here, free to be herself.

Isn’t that why you left in the first place?

To bring her home where you could keep her safe? ”

“I didn’t really understand until I left, but… there’s more to life than being safe.”

Tears spring to her eyes. “Tell that to Emma. Or Mateo. Any of the people you’ve rescued. And yet you want to put your mate at risk for… what? What could you possibly have up there that we couldn't find a way to bring down here?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Freedom.”

“You’re free to be yourself here!”

With a sad shake of my head, I soften my voice. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

She swipes at her watery eyes. “Your parents were the same. Restless. Jumping at any chance to leave for a mission. And look where it got them.”

Hackles raised, I struggle not to bite her head off.

“They died doing what they loved, saving people and bringing them here where they’d have the kind of life they desperately needed.

That’s what made them happy; having a purpose.

Adventures. Taking risks while exploring the world and feeling alive.

Not sitting at home while life passed them by. ”

Grandma slumps, resigned. “All I ever wanted was to keep my family safe.”

Closing the distance between us, I take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “And you have. You taught me how to take care of myself and protect my family. You raised me to be someone that you could be proud of, and have always trusted my judgment before. So trust me when I say I need to do this.”

She tugs my hand, pulling me into a fierce hug and exhales heavily. “You’re just like your father; he was never happy here either. Even if they hadn’t died, it was only a matter of time before he left me, too.”

My stomach twists with her bittersweet resignation.

Before things can get any heavier, Myles clears his throat, pulling something from his pocket.

“Actually, I have something that might help with that.” Sliding the silver band across the table, he waits until one of the other elders picks it up before explaining, “It’ll prevent anyone from force bonding you.

So long as the user is wearing that bracelet, it won’t matter if someone spikes their drink before a one night stand or assault; it’ll prevent the bond from being created.

No power boost. No mark appearing on their skin. ”

One of the elders narrows his eyes on Myles. “Why would we need these here? You cannot believe we’d allow anyone to remain in the compound if they showed so much as a hint that they’d harm one of our own!”

“No, of course not,” Myles stammers, caught off guard at the vehement objection.

“But if anyone wished to leave, this would offer a layer of protection. Without the risk of being forcibly bonded, death is the only real threat from the outside world, right? So if people started wearing these every time they left their homes, they’d be safe to have a real life. Be able to live without fear.”

The other elder’s face begins to redden as he interjects, “It’s one thing to gamble your own lives, but another to convince these people to leave the only safe home they've ever known to risk theirs unnecessarily.”

Myles’ eyes widen as the elder tosses the bracelet back on the table in front of him. “If our wards can be broken, so can this paltry piece of metal. You haven't even tested it!”

Red creeping up his neck, Myles refuses to take it, gritting his teeth.

“At least I’m trying to give your people a chance instead of hiding them away to rot underground, convincing them to be afraid of their own shadows.

I get it; hundreds of years ago, life sucked and you guys were victims. But times have changed since you stepped foot in the world, and you’re stuck in an echo chamber validating your fears every time you rescue someone from a shitty situation.

But guess what? There are good people too.

Yet, you never see them because you don’t look for those, you look for people that need you.

The world is bigger than what you’ve made it out to be, and it isn’t fair to the people born here to grow up in a bubble simply because you’re ignorant of what’s changed in the last thousand years. ”

He turns on his heel and stalks out of the room. Grandma picks up the bracelet he left behind. “Wait, take this with you.”

Myles stops in the doorway, shoulders tense, but refuses to turn around. “Keep it. Maybe one day you’ll come to your senses and see that somewhere in your quest to ensure mimics don’t have their choices taken away from them? You became hypocrites doing the same damn thing.”

He storms off without another word, and I give my grandmother one last hug, knowing I have no intention of ever returning here after this.

“All he wants to do is offer our people an extra layer of protection. How can you fault him for that?” Shaking my head in disappointment, I add, “Roman knows how to contact us if you change your mind.” When I reach the door, I tighten my grip on the handle.

“Oh, and by the way? We’re taking Kiara with us. ”

I yank the door shut and bolt down the tunnel, leaving their muffled shouting behind me where it belongs.