Blood Bonds(The Bonds That Tie #3)(70)

Fuck, when I’d heard her spit that word at my Bonded, I didn’t believe it. Not until Oli had immediately freaked the fuck out and run away like she was being chased by the devil. Every pore of her being was terrified.

Of me.

Me hearing it, me rejecting her, me telling the others and them all turning on her. My head had felt as though it was about to split from everything screaming out of my Bonded, and every protective instinct in me kicked in. I wanted her safe and secure in my arms, a million miles away from this place, and I’d barely made it through watching the interrogations without dragging her out.

Bassigner walks slowly down the hallway, oblivious to the memories of Oli assaulting me. The Gifted inside the cells are all thin, haggard-looking men and women with blank sort of eyes. They are all fed and taken care of, but most go on hunger strikes to attempt to kill themselves.

I usually end up here forcing them to eat with my gift.

I get my head back into the game. “Any you recognize?”

Bassinger is slow and methodical as he checks them over slowly. He’s taking this seriously, and I’ll give him credit for that too.

He points between two of the cells. “Him. And that woman. They’re both familiar, but that’s it. I’d have to look through the footage to pinpoint it exactly. Well, them, and I know Carlin, but you already know that. You should kill her for what she did to Oli.”

She does deserve it, she deserves a lot more than we’ve done to her so far, but she’s still being processed for now.

One day she’ll face North’s nightmares, and I’ll enjoy nothing more than watching her being consumed into nothingness.





Chapter Twenty-One





Oli


When I finally climb out of Gryphon’s bed close to noon, I drag my ass into the shower and attempt to look as though I slept well and didn’t have my brains eaten out by him last night. I was kind of under the impression that guys only really went down on girls to get their dicks sucked, but Gryphon just blew that theory out of the water.

I turn beet red when I think about him walking around right now, smelling like me and honestly being smug about it. Literally, my skin is glowing and hot as I brush my hair out, and the color of it looks even more bleached out, more white now than silver.

I need to do something about it before it sends me into a full spiral and my Bonded freak out about the mess my head is in.

Brutus sits by the door with me, but August is nowhere to be seen. Gryphon refuses to let them sleep on his bed, and while Brutus will sleep on the floor, under protest, to stay with me, August mostly goes back to North when he’s not allowed to be all over me while I sleep. I miss him and need to go rescue him from North later.

When I leave Gryphon’s room, I can feel one of my Bonds in the living room, and I find Gabe sitting there with the TV off and his phone in his hand as he scrolls aimlessly. He looks up at me and grins the moment I walk in, holding out a hand for me to take as he draws me into him.

“North had breakfast and lunch sent up for you if you’re hungry. Everyone is working. I’m heading into the fifth zone to work on the houses there if you want to come with me.”

I nod and give him a quick kiss, moving over to the small kitchenette to poke around in the fridge until I find the loaded steak sandwich wrapped up in there for me. The chef and kitchen staff are all working in the huge communal food hall for now while the food supply chain starts working and people can go back to eating in their own homes. One of the many things that North is working on at all hours of the day and night. I still can barely believe that this is something he’s been working on for literally ten years, and his uncle for decades before that, just to keep us all safe.

It makes me very proud to be his Bonded, and also a little guilty for not being the perfect Bond for him. I’m too much work, too hard, and too freaking emotional for the good councilman. But I can try to help out and, at the very least, not be a burden to him.

Thank God Gryphon is working this morning and not tripping over my thoughts, I’d never hear the end of it.

I grab the sandwich and take a bite as I walk back over to the couch, thanking all of my lucky stars again for the chef who was clearly blessed by the gods themselves, because this sandwich is orgasmic. Gabe smirks at the look on my face, moving a little so I can join him on the couch and then dragging the coffee table closer for me to put my plate down.

I clear my throat and attempt to look civil as I tear into my food, murmuring around my mouthful, “How are the houses coming along down there? Are they close? I know we’re struggling with occupancy.”

He shrugs and shoves his phone away. “It’s not so bad. The families are mostly bunked in double, but everyone has enough rooms to handle it. This place is about making do and keeping everyone safe, so mostly the lower families are just grateful to be here. The Top Tiers are giving North shit, but he’s put Nox in charge of complaints, so they’ve all shut the fuck up for now. His attitude does come in handy for some situations.”

I snort with laughter at the thought of Nox dealing with those spoiled assholes. “I’m sure he’s loving the work too. Telling people how pathetic and useless they are is kind of his superpower.”

Gabe pulls a face and takes the other half of the sandwich when I offer it to him. There’s so many different fillings in it that I can only manage half, and what a beautiful thing that is.