Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(52)

Once I know that Oli is feeling better, I step towards North where everyone can see and signal that we’re moving forward. It's easier to just talk to him directly, but we need silent communication, not private communication here.

We had already contacted the keeper to let him know that we were on our way, so it isn't hard to gain access to the building. I can't imagine locking myself in this place willingly for a lifetime as that man has, but after Alistair had lost his entire Bonded Group in the riots back in the seventies, he’d chosen to dedicate his life to protecting this place.

I’d contacted him after Kieran had told us that he sent Silas Davies here, but the sadistic Resistance asshole hadn't made it through the concrete, just as we'd all known he wouldn’t.

It had been a very smart move from Kieran.

Oli walks behind me as we move forward, her footsteps even quieter than the last mission to the lake house as we move through the giant steel and concrete opening that Alistair has unlocked for us.

We end up in the first of four vaults that seal you in one at a time, confirming that there are only friendly faces inside before the next one will open.

The first two chambers are cold, the concrete soaking in the wet and frosty weather from outside, but the deeper into the Hail Mary we get, the warmer it is. The sheer density of the walls is holding in the heat, and I can feel the wariness in my Bonded grow the further into the building we get.

By the time we're stepping out of the fourth vault, her eyes have shifted to black. Her face still has expression though, and I know that she's still in there because I can hear her thoughts. She’s called on her bond to see better and to keep it close to the surface because of how nervous this is making her. If we didn't have so many TacTeam personnel around us, I would reach out and hold her hand, but I don't want any of them to question her or her ability right now. Instead, I send directly through to her, If you need a minute, just tell me, and I'll figure something out.

She glances over at me and I take a second to marvel at the depths of the black voids of her eyes. It had never really occurred to me that the voids might be a threat to her, but now I see just how naive I was being.

I'm okay. I just didn't realize how different it would feel in here, and it is making me panic a little.

I nod and give her little space, trying not to crowd her and make the claustrophobic feeling any worse. Nox is watching her very carefully now that he’s seen that her eyes have shifted, but there's something different about him around her now. It didn't make sense to me before, but I’ve figured it out.

His bond is getting impatient with the distance between them.

There is no way in hell that Nox would have chosen to stay in the tent with Oli a few months ago. No way in hell. He would have found a tree to sleep under and had his shadow creatures keep watch for us all. But I’d seen the momentary look of panic on his face when he stepped into the tent. His bond wouldn't let him leave.

Then I’d heard the exchange between the two bonds as they had spoken and, though I’ve chosen not to tell anyone yet, they're both right on the edge of taking matters into their own hands.

I don't want that for Oli.

I don't want the choice to be taken away from her, but I have to admit that the idea of the Bond Group being complete and everyone having that connection is incredibly important to us all. Oli being strong enough to protect herself from Silas Davies when he eventually comes calling for her is also a huge push for me to want them to bond, I just don't know if he's capable of it.

I don't know if she would survive the fallout either.

North turns to face me and uses hand signals to start directing the TacTeam to where they all need to be, taking over because I was too busy fussing over Oli. Rather than calling me out on it, he’s done what's best for his Bonded and assumed the leadership position.

Oli swallows as though she's trying not to vomit, and I speak to her directly again, I'm going with Nox to the library. It's a bigger room, if you'd like to come with the two of us instead of going with North like you were supposed to. It might help you to breathe and get the panic under control.

North’s eyes flick towards her and he replies before she can, Go with them, Oli. Kieran and I will keep watch here. And I'm more than happy to let my bond assume some control to get a better assessment of the situation.

She looks surprised that he is willing to do this, and it's pretty obvious that she still hasn't come to terms with just how much North Draven would be willing to sacrifice for his Bonded.

I’m already fully aware, so it's not a shock to me.

We follow Nox down the sloping hallway of old cobblestones and uneven concrete to the library. After the summer he’d spent here with North when things got out of hand back home, he knows the place like the back of his hand.

His shadow creatures walk alongside us, their eyes shining unnaturally in the darkness, an anomaly because they’re also voids. Oli is flanked by Brutus and August as she keeps pace with us by breaking into an almost-jog. She's a little taller than the average woman, but we’re both tall, and her legs are definitely nowhere near as long as ours. I’d feel bad for her, but I also like being able to pick her up and haul her around with ease.

Mind out of the gutter, Shore.

She'd kept up with our hiking through the woods to the lake house beautifully and without complaint, and she makes me proud to be her Bonded every time we go out on one of these missions.