Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(40)

When he’s strapping on his weapons, all of them pulled out from a safe underneath the bathroom sink that I was completely unaware was even there, I send through to him directly again, What does Nox do? You said even Nox has agreed to certain things about my bond. What has he agreed to?

Gryphon takes a deep breath, and I can tell that he is hesitant about my interest in the last of my Bonds. I think that even a week ago, if I’d shown this interest, he would have encouraged it and been happy about it because he wants the Bond Group complete and for all of us to have that extra security. But what was said last night at dinner, and whatever he saw in that tent between our bonds, has rattled him, and now he's not so sure.

He agreed to sleeping in his room. He has agreed to give you any of his clothing that you might require to keep your bond calm and centered, and when you were rescued from the Resistance and needed skin contact, he agreed to that too.

Holy shit.

He agreed to the skin-to-skin contact.

My shock must be palpable because Gryphon nods, even with his back turned to me. North was with him the entire time. He wouldn't let anyone else anywhere near him while he held you, but I wasn't expecting anything different, to be honest.

You know what his reason is, don't you?

Gryphon glances over his shoulder at me and keeps eye contact with me as he replies, I do. I can't tell you what it is. No one can tell you except him. Even though I am furious at the two of them, I'm not going to break that. Because like you said, trauma is hard, and you don’t get much more traumatized than Nox Draven.

I nod and duck my head back under the water, mostly to get away from the intensity of the moment. Gryphon finishes up and then comes back over to the stall, opening the door and catching my lips in a quick kiss as he stalks out to start his day.

A few moments later, the door opens again and Gabe stumbles through, making a beeline for the toilet. Something I will never get used to, even with having five male Bonds, is the ease with which men happily wander into an occupied bathroom and pee in front of an audience. I can't even comfortably pee with them in the next room over, half the time, without psyching myself up for it.

How did you sleep, Bonded? he sends through the mind connection to me in a soft and sleepy voice that comes through loud and clear. There’s a cheeky grin on his face as he revels in the perks of our completed Bond. I can’t help but give him one back, even with all of the chaos in my head.

Like a baby. The bed is perfect.

He moves over to the sink to wash up and he sends through to me, That's good, because we are going to spend the day visiting with Sage and trying to figure that situation out now that we have some more information from Giovanna. Hopefully we can get her outta there.

My eyes snap over to him and I cut the water off, jumping out of the shower like my ass is on fire. “Why didn't you say anything earlier?”

He shrugs at me and says out loud, “Gryphon just smacked me in the face to wake me up and told me that's what we were doing, so you knew the moment I knew, Bonded. Now I'm gonna go wake Atlas up the same way, because I'm sure he'll want to come too.”

Then he leaves the bathroom with a cackle that's just a little too close to evil.





Chapter Twelve





North



I don't like leaving the Sanctuary.

I don't have anything against traveling or any concerns about my own security or ability to handle any threats that might come my way for being a prominent council member, but the Sanctuary is still in its infancy and far too green to be able to run without someone in charge there at all times. Leaving Gryphon behind is a good start, because everybody there knows that he is able to speak on my behalf, but there's something about a consistent figurehead at the helm that is so desperately needed right now.

Unfortunately, the non-Gifted community has given me no choice.

I arrive at the Council offices and find Penelope waiting there for me. She’s dressed to the nines, skirt suit and pumps with a red slash of lipstick across her lips, and the flirty grin that she gives me sets my teeth on edge.

She is fully aware that I am Bonded, and that I have never shown her any interest beyond a working relationship anyway, but she still insists on trying to cultivate something of an affair. It had always annoyed me, but now that I know it is such a sore spot for my Bonded, it's no longer something that I can ignore.

I would never allow Oli to be in the presence of that sort of person, so I will hold myself to the same standard. I might be a controlling asshole, but fair’s fair.

“Give me my paperwork, and then go to your desk and do not interrupt me unless there's someone here to see me.”

Her face falls at the harsh tone of my voice, but only for a second before she's smiling again and nodding, following my instructions without another word. To be honest, that's the only reason she's lasted in the position, because she never questions anything. Also, I don't think she has the cunning or intelligence to attempt to use her position to further her career at my expense.

Even that won't be enough to save her if she doesn't quit this shit.

I take the paperwork from her and then stalk to my desk, shutting the door firmly behind me so I can go through the paperwork quickly before I have to leave. It's mostly notes from other council members, their own opinions and wishes on today's meeting, and all of it is predictable bullshit that I am not going to take into account.