Blood Bonds(The Bonds That Tie #3)(80)

Gryphon has clearly learned that the best way to approach me is the one where no one will ever know it’s happening and just talk to me through our mind connection. I’m not groveling. Black was being a dick, but I’m not ashamed of my Bonded or what we do together, and you shouldn’t be either.

I duck down to check the undercarriage of the truck North points out for me, pushing at my gift just to be extra sure there’s nothing under there. Then why was North so pissed off about it? If it’s all just a proud Bonded moment then that isn’t at all embarrassing.

If he had his way, North Draven would have you locked in a tower right now, completely unreachable to anyone who isn’t in our Bond Group, and even then, he’d only give the rest of us access to you because it would hurt you not to. He’s a jealous, possessive dickhead, and I’m not. I want everyone to see what’s mine and know that they’ll never get to have something as fucking perfect as my Bonded. I’m a smug asshole, but an asshole all the same.

Damn.

It’s a very good explanation, even if I really want to stay pissed at him, I can’t. I can’t because I’ve known he was smug, and proud, about having me. I knew how much he loved being the first to Bond with me, no matter the circumstances, and it’s always made me feel like maybe I could have this.

Maybe I could keep them all and not become a mindless killing machine.

Are you still pissed? I’ll slit Black’s throat and bleed him out right now.

I straighten up and give him a very sassy look. No the hell you won’t! That’s not just your friend and colleague anymore, he’s Sage’s Bond. But fine, your soul can escape the next killing round. I’ll let you live to make it up to me later.

His eyes smolder back at me, fiery depths beneath the calm facade he’s putting on for everyone else. I love those depths and the stream of filth that comes out of his dirty mouth when he leans into it.

If you two are done, can we get back to what we’re supposed to be doing here?

I startle at North’s haughty tone and duck my head, climbing up into the backseat of the truck without another word.

“Are they giving you shit again? You’d think they could leave you be for a couple of hours while we work,” Atlas grumbles as he slides in next to me, pulling on his seat belt before helping me with mine.

“Gryphon was just apologizing. He’s not great at it, but it’ll do,” I tease, ignoring the way Rockelle overhears and cackles as he climbs into the back section. He’s got a gun in his hands, and when he clips himself down to the floor and sets up like he’s about to be shooting out of the back of the truck, I give North a look.

“Why does this feel like we’re entering a war zone? It’s a trip to Walmart for water,” I sass, wiggling my ass a little to get settled.

North climbs in and takes up all of the remaining room in the backseat so that I feel as though I’m being crushed between him and Atlas again. Weirdly, it’s more comforting than problematic.

Bonds are fucking weird about this stuff.

He doesn’t bother with his own seat belt, just grabs the bar that runs above his door frame and holds on while Kieran gets us on the road. Gryphon’s in the front seat, his eyes still white as he monitors everything around us.

North has to speak loudly so that I can hear him over the truck’s engine, even with all of the windows sealed shut with bulletproof glass. “We have supply runs and incoming resident drop offs every day, and at least sixty percent of them have been attacked or raided in some way. Since this trip has been forced by the Resistance, I’m betting it’s not going to be a smooth ride. There’s a reason we’re all coming along. Water is too important to hold off on, but with our gifts, we should be able to minimize the fallout.”

Interesting.

“Is there any chance that you guys would let me be involved in the supply runs and incomings? I could be really useful here, more useful than learning how to build houses.”

All three of my Bonds speak over each other in agreement.

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I didn’t want you coming today, these two insisted.”

I glance at Atlas, surprised at his reply, but he just shrugs. “I’m a lot happier with you being in the Sanctuary. I’m not going to lie and say this is all fine with me, but there was also no way that they were bringing you and leaving me behind.”

I sputter over my words, “I—my bond is more than capable of handling shit if things go wrong!”

“Yeah, and yet you still spent two years being tortured by Silas Davies. I don’t doubt you, but I also don’t doubt that he’s a fully Bonded Neuro with the ability to shut your brain and bond down.”

I cross my arms. “He’s powerful, but his range is shit. Gryphon’s gift is better.”

Atlas nods and shrugs again. “And yet, Silas is still our biggest threat. Maybe, and I really mean maybe, the Draven nightmares could deal with him. If North or Nox’s ranges are as good as they seem to be, we might be able to use one to take him out.”

I already know their range is phenomenal, Brutus came to the camp with me, and while Nox couldn’t tell where we were, he could still see through his creatures’ eyes. Gryphon had told me that and told me how worried they’d all been when I’d given him to Kyrie.