Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(24)

When she gets to the very edge of my bedroll, right down at my feet, she stops short of touching me. I glance down and am struck by the void stare, my bond shoving at me desperately, but I fight it a little longer. Mostly because I’m stubborn, but also because I can feel the growing horror coming from Gryph.

What the fuck is going on, Nox?

I meet his eye across the tent, which is the worst fucking thing to do because the shock and alarm there is exactly what I knew would happen if he or my brother found out.

We’re talking about this, right the fuck now.

No, the fuck we’re not. I leave the words at the surface of my mind, but my bond takes over before I’m sure he’s had a chance to hear them, my own consciousness slipping away like the tide. Then I know nothing for the rest of the night.





Chapter Seven





Oli



I wake up to a completely different feel in the air than when I had gone to sleep.

Nox is already out of the tent and his shadow creatures are gone with him. Gryphon is sitting cross-legged with some of the food packages he’d called MREs in front of him. There’s a pissed-off look on his face, one that’s usually there because something big has gone down with the Resistance, but we have no way of contacting the others… not unless they reach out to me, and I would’ve woken up if that had happened, so I have no freaking clue what’s happened.

He's already packed up and cleared away his bedroll and pulled his jacket back on. I instantly feel lazy for having slept in, and I hope to God that’s not why he’s sitting there looking around like he’s plotting out murder and assassination plots.

I'm sorry. How long have you guys been awake? You should have woken me up when you got up.

He glances over at me and his eyes soften the tiniest fraction, shaking his head as he replies, I didn't sleep much last night. Nox got up before sunrise and disappeared with his creatures. There's no reason for you to feel guilty about not waking up with the sun, Bonded.

I shake my head dismissively. It sure feels as though I’ve been lazing around while the two of them have been working hard. It’s frustrating that the two of them have Gifts that can be used at a distance and I don’t, at least nothing that isn’t lethal. I know these people are traitors, but I’m also not sure that we can just kill them all without some sort of legal proceeding. Not without them attacking first… right?

What exactly are the rules in this sort of war?

That’s too much for my brain this early on, so I move as quietly as I can to pack away my own bedroll and slip my jacket back on, attempting to move quickly.

I desperately need to pee, but the thought of Nox being outside of the tent and one of his shadow creatures potentially finding me squatting behind a tree is not exactly how I want to continue with the day.

Gryphon smirks and shakes his head at me, my thoughts clearly being ‘too loud’ again and shouting in his direction. He speaks directly into my mind, Just let Brutus down, and take him with you. He'll keep everyone away from you while you take care of business.

I blush, stupidly, and grab out the tiny, rationed roll of toilet paper that I had insisted on bringing and head out of the tent. The sun is barely peeking through the trees, only just breaking into the sky, and the air is cold on my cheeks. It’s quiet enough that I can hear the rustling sounds of little creatures going about their lives, the calls of birds above me, and the leaves rustling in the faint breeze.

It’s peaceful, and I hope it’s a good omen for the day.

I don't actually see Nox or any of his shadow creatures as I walk through the trees, thank God. When I do find a good, sheltered spot, it takes me a second to psych myself up to actually be able to relieve myself. I am very firm with Brutus that he has to turn his back on me while I do, and by the time I get back to where the tent was, Gryphon has it packed away already.

The food that he had gotten out is sitting on a tree stump, waiting for me, along with a bottle of water. I still don't actually feel hungry or thirsty, but I know that I'm going to need my energy, especially if Giovanna and Riley come back from wherever it is that they've disappeared to. I’m hoping I will be of some use today, or at least, more than I was standing around yesterday, and I'll need the energy for that.

I’m tired as hell for some stupid reason.

I'd slept soundly, far more soundly than I thought I would out here in a tiny tent with Nox only an arm's reach away from Gryphon and I. Yet my body doesn’t feel as though I had gotten a full eight hours. It sort of feels as though I’d been out to a rave and danced the night away.

Gryphon's eyes flash up to mine and his mouth hardens a little. That makes me blush harder than talking about peeing behind trees because I don't want him to trip over my thoughts and think that I am complaining about being out here or whining about how tired I am. I’m here to prove myself, dammit!

For a second, I forget myself and open my mouth to make an excuse. Then I snap it shut again when I remember that we’re radio silent at the moment… or whatever you call this whole not-talking-out-loud thing that we’re doing. I should probably ask Gryphon what the official name for it is.

Before I can figure out what the hell to say to him, his words filter into my head. We'll talk about why you're tired when we get home, Bonded. It's not your fault that you’re feeling tired.