Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(89)

I bite my lip and stop myself from pointing out that we're going on a rescue mission because someone's literally being tortured right now. I'm only glad that it's just the three of us here, because Atlas is good about keeping his mouth shut as well and just letting Gabe have a gripe about it.

He heads off to the bathroom, and I hum happily under my breath at the chunks of watermelon in my bowl, picking out the nicest-looking bits first.

“They're going to be in the meeting for at least a couple of hours first while they hammer things out. There'll be a lot of conversations about whether or not it's smart to have the Draven Bond Group all go together,” Atlas murmurs as we listen to the shower turn on.

I nod and offer him a piece of fruit, happy when his hand comes up to cup mine, drawing it to his lips as he bites into the piece of apple directly from my fingers. It's a very flirty move, but there are aches and pains in me that say that sex is definitely not on the table for us this morning. Damn, is it tempting though.

I attempt to shift my mind back to the matter at hand. “I want to go and see Aro. I can't shake the feeling that she's important, and the fact that Nox felt it too makes me curious about her.”

Atlas nods slowly. “The fact that he felt it definitely says something, Bonded. We can head straight down there once Gabe’s done in the shower, if you like.”

I nod and finish up the last few pieces, offering him more, but he shakes his head, draining the last of his protein shake.

I get up with a little bit of wincing at the aches and pains, and Atlas’ eyebrows shoot up his forehead. “Do you need to see a healer?”

My cheeks flush scarlet. “There is no fucking way I am going to Felix about this.”

Atlas frowns at me for a second before he smirks. ”So… not injuries from last night then? Or not the part of last night that I'm thinking of anyway.”

I grab a pillow and shove it at his face, ignoring his laughing at my expense, and I rummage around to find a pair of shoes to pull on.

I head straight to the Tac Training center, bypassing as much of the town as possible. Word has definitely gotten out about Gabe’s dragon, beyond just our friends, and the few people we do pass all stare at him with a mixture of awe and distrust that makes me feel a little… violent.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss onto the top of my head, a total heartthrob move, as though this is all perfectly acceptable behavior from the Gifted in our community.

I’m not feeling so kind about it.

Atlas swipes a card at the Tac Training center to get us in, and Gabe greets a few of the TacTeam personnel in there as we head straight down to the cells. No one attempts to stop us or even escort us down there, and when I raise an eyebrow at Gabe in the elevator over it, he smirks.

“I have clearance. You and Atlas don’t yet, but I do.”

It makes sense, what with him going on missions with Gryphon in the past, but that doesn’t make me any less insulted.

I sputter out, “I listen in on North’s council meetings. I’m fucking great at keeping secrets! What do I have to do to get clearance? Clearly sleeping my way to the top isn’t working!”

Gabe cackles and kisses the top of my head again, still acting a little too calm and loved up right now for the situation we’re in. Am I the only one with the sense of doom and dread hanging over my head?

Maybe.

Atlas is calm as well, totally at ease as the elevator doors open and we find ourselves walking into the cellblock again. It’s much nicer this time around without all of our friends in here, much less guilt and terror running through my veins at least, and not hearing my bestie sniffling is nice.

The girl is sitting on the bed at the end, a book in her hands and a pile of snacks sitting there with her as she happily munches away on some corn chips. She glances up as we walk in, putting the book aside and staring at both of my Bonded distrustfully.

I know that look.

My stomach turns at the sight of it, and I step forward to draw her attention back to me, to attempt to look like I’m non-threatening and that both of my Bonded are absolutely not going to… hurt her.

I fucking hate those Resistance camps.

“Hey! Sorry it took us so long to come see you. I see they’ve brought you food. Is there anything else you need? My Bonded, Gryphon, he’ll be down sometime soon to question you. If you pass all of that, we can figure out how to get you… out into the Sanctuary. We can find you a house or something. Lots of female roommates.”

I slip that bit in at the end as a reassurance, but she’s shaking her head anyway. “I need to speak to someone who is in charge. Like, now. I need to speak to someone about my brother.”

Right.

A brother.

“Sure, I can speed things up a bit. Your brother, what’s his name and why is it so important you speak to someone about him?”

“Lahn. He’s… all I have left now. He’s back at the camps and… I need to know if there’s a chance you’ll be going there. He’s only five.”

Oh, God.

I could handle just about anything but them having a freaking kid as a hostage. My bond stirs in my chest, taking an interest in the conversation, which is a little weird.

Find the boy.

Ahh, excuse me? Since when do you care about rescue missions for kids?

We protect them all, not just the Bonded. Even the mouthy one.