Page 55 of The Lost Ones

Seeing several of our mouths open to ask the same question he raises a hand.

“I’ll explain more about that another day, when I explain more about the Bonded.” He pauses as we reluctantly nodded in agreement, then continues where he left off.

“After that you had a fairly normal childhood and we were able to keep you well-hidden and safe, until you were around seven year’s old.” He swallows roughly and clenches his fists tightly.

I almost don’t want to hear what happens next even though I know I need to.

“We were ambushed by a group of highly trained soldiers; we were overwhelmed and somehow they had found a way to block our gifts. Whatever they used to block them sent out a pulse of energy that knocked us all out cold. By the time we came around you were gone.” Thomas’ voice cracks on the last word and Micha takes up the explanation when it becomes clear that Thomas can’t continue.

“My gift is that I can trace a person’s power signature, your gifts were bound when you were taken but because we’re family I could still trace your signature. I couldn’t find you though, somehow they had managed to shield it from me, they had obviously done their homework on our gifts and prepared accordingly.” He looks at me with determination. “I never stopped looking for you Sagely-Wren, none of us did. We expected to receive some sort of ransom for you, which we would have gladly paid but it never came, and we came to the horrifying conclusion that it wasn’t money they were after but the power that you could bring them.

We had a tiny spark of hope because your gifts were bound, and you wouldn’t be able to access them, that once they realised that you couldn’t they would return you or demand ransom. We were wrong.” There is so much guilt in Micha’s eyes and glancing around I realise the guilt is in all of their eyes.

They shouldn’t feel guilty though, yes it was awful, but they took all the precautions to prevent it and they NEVER stopped looking. Growing up how I did with absolutely no one who gave a shit about me, the fact that they carried on looking for me even when most people would have given up hope, means the world to me.

“Thank you for never giving up.” I say quietly. Trying to absorb everything that they’ve told me, the sheer volume of information is starting to make me feel increasingly overwhelmed.

I have powers.

I was kidnapped.

They tried to use me for my powers, which are bound.

Then there’s the snippets of information they gave us about the Bonded. There is some kind of Bonded training academy, meaning there’s more Bonded out there, still in hiding and training for what though? And once we are all bonded in some sort of ceremony, the guys will get powers too but in order to do that, I need to have my powers unbound.

I rub my temples at the information overload, there is too much, I decide that for now it’s better to focus on my past and what happened there before trying to focus on the Soulmate Bonds and the training academy, one thing at a time.

“I don’t remember anything; I’ve had brief flashes of memories about each of you but after each one I get a sharp headache. I can’t remember anything else.” I pause, “Now that I think about it though I can’t remember anything before the age of nine.”

My hand comes to rest on the Imprint Tattoo I received when I was nine years old, my earliest memory.

“It sounds like someone has blocked your memories. By the age of nine you had already been gone for a year, which leaves that entire year completely unaccounted for. I can understand why they would want to block your memories of us, but it worries me why they would want to block out that first year too.” Joey says thoughtfully.

Silently I agree, I can’t help but think that whatever memories they’ve blocked, they aren’t the cute and fluffy kind, a sick feeling churning in my gut seems to agree with me.

“We have a friend who we trust, his Soulmate Bond gift is blocking and retrieving memories.” Thomas informs us.

“The only downside is that he can’t retrieve select memories that have been blocked. He would have to retrieve them all.” He pauses frowning before he continues. “So, he wouldn’t be able to retrieve the memories you have of us and keep the memories of the missing year blocked. There are only a couple of reasons why they would need to block that year from your memories, and they aren’t good. It’s possible that you went through something so traumatic that your mind couldn’t cope. If they wanted to use you the way we think they did, then they would’ve had to block them, to ensure your cooperation in the future. It might be that now that you are older you are strong enough to remember but that’s only a possibility, there are no guarantees and you still might not be strong enough to remember the trauma and that could have long lasting effects which worries me.” Joey explains, confirming what I had already been thinking.

“You don’t need to make a decision now Poppet, take as much time as you need and tell us when you’ve made a decision.” Willow reassures me.

My mouth no longer seems to be working, so all I can do is nod; I’m struggling with the emotional and information overload.

“Why don’t you go back with the boys and get some rest Little Ladybug, it’s late and we have thrown a lot of information at you. We can talk more about the Soulmate Bond whenever you are ready.” Thomas says kindly.

“Come on Titch.” Maverick says gently.

I’m vaguely aware of being lifted but I’m too deep in my own mind to really pay attention. Following pure instinct, I sink down towards my centre and I’m mildly surprised to find golden strings showing the individual bonds that join me to each of my guys. Still following my instincts and needing the reassurance that the guys are all with me even though my mind is preoccupied, I focus on each of the Bond lines individually, glad to see they’re all with me as we walk back through the house.

All of the Bond lines glow brightly, except one. The Bond line attached to Jax is duller than the others and from it I can tell that he is upset and hurting about something. It makes my own heart hurt. I need to talk to him. I’m shocked to find that I’ve been stuck in my centre for longer than I thought, when Hunter open’s the car door and gently nudges me.

“Sweetheart, we’re home.” He says softly.

I just blink up at him, I heard the words but with everything else swirling around my mind right now, I don’t absorb them.

“Would you like to go straight up to bed, Darling?” Levi asks, gently brushing some hair out of my eyes, causing me to sigh at the gentle sparks that light me up when his fingers trail against my skin.

“Yes.” I say simply, my brain is incapable of forming an answer any more complex than the simple word.