Tragic Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #5)(26)

I don't want to admit how much fun I'm having, mostly because I don't want either of them to think that I'm laughing at their expense, but really it feels good to be on the same side as Nox, for once.

I've never necessarily thought that he had a poor judgment on things, just that he was overly antagonistic. He has always had a good head on his shoulders about anything that didn’t relate to me, and there's a reason that Gryphon and his brother trust and seek out his opinion.

He’s also a walking encyclopedia on all things Gifted and Bonds.

Atlas sidles around the ATV to get to me, throwing one last shitty look at Nox as he does, but aiming for a very gentle tone with me as he says, “Sweetness, you need to stop for a second and think about this. Maybe Gryphon doesn't want you and Draven coming here to antagonize his family. If he didn't tell you about all of the bad blood between his family and the Bonded Group, maybe there's a reason for that. Maybe he doesn't want shit to be started with his family. Just because his dad has shitty opinions doesn't mean that he needs to have his soul ripped out.”

I stop for a second to consider this.

I wasn’t really planning on killing the man, but I also don't want to embarrass my Bonded by running in there guns blazing when his dad is just kind of a dick. I look over at Gabe, but he is staring at Nox with an accusation in his eyes, as though this is all his fault.

It kind of is.

I glance at Nox, and a smirk stretches over his lips as our eyes meet. “The General said that Gabe should have been locked up for attacking Gryphon the first time that he Shifted. He also suggested that he should potentially be put down, like a rabid dog. He had a lot of opinions on what should happen in our Bonded Group.”

Nope, not going to let that sort of shit fly.

Maybe I will tear the soul out of this man.

“For fuck’s sake, Draven!” Atlas snaps as my eyes shift to black for just a second.

My bond pushes to come out to play, but I wrestle it back until my eyes are once again blue. No one really wants a bloodbath here, or the consequences of that murder, but I’m all for putting the fear of my god in this man. The things that my bond could do to him if he ever made those threats to us again… the things I could talk the Dravens’ shadow creatures into doing, all of it more horrifying than the last.

I stride forward into the Tac Training Center, Atlas cursing behind me and Gabe quick to follow us both, but I have a pretty firm hold of my temper by the time the doors slide shut behind us all. The foyer is full of people, and I search through their faces to see anyone familiar, but they are mostly Gifted that look at me with terror, which is a sign of someone who doesn’t know me very well.

Or someone who knows me a little too well.

“Jesus fucking Christ, you know better than to bring her down here!” I startle and Atlas shifts in closer to my side, but it’s only Vivian, standing there with a grumpy look on his face as he crosses his arms over his chest at us as though we are rowdy children who are disobeying orders.

“I’ve brought Gryph’s Bonded down here to meet his parents—how is that a bad thing?” Nox says with mock innocence in his voice, and again I have to bite back the grin that wants to burst over my face.

It's something else being on this side of his snark.

I open my mouth to send a snarky retort back to Vivian, when Gryphon’s voice filters into my mind, Why did Gabe just tell me that you're all here to meet my parents, and why exactly can I not hear you coming anymore?

I bite my lip and try to concentrate on what is happening around me so I don't look like a lunatic, but it's impossible when Nox answers for me, After how many months of you and North insisting on me finding common ground with Oleander, now you're going to have to face the consequences of that. I taught her how to keep you out of her head, and I let her know some truths about exactly who your father is.

I can feel North and Gryphon’s irritation at him, and that does put a dampener on my attitude a little bit.

We can go back to the house if you don't want us here, I say slowly, but I'm surprised when Atlas is the one that butts in, We're here to make sure that your father knows exactly who his son's Bonded Group is. If he thinks that Oli and the rest of us aren’t good enough for you, then he has another thing coming.

Vivian is staring at us all as though we’re insane, but Nox steps in closer to me as he sends Gryphon one last snarky message, Would you look at that? Bassinger and I agree on something.

It makes me a little bit nervous to think about how much Gryphon might be pissed off at us for showing up, but when he steps out of the meeting rooms, he only shoots a savage look at Nox before coming over to pull me into his arms. I tuck myself into his chest and let some of his strength soak into me, the hard planes of his chest just as comforting now as they were a few hours ago back in my bathroom.

“Your bond is not going to like the way that my dad speaks to the Dravens,” he murmurs to me quietly enough that I'm sure no one else around hears it.

I let my eyes slip shut and I check in with my bond to let it know that we're not in any real danger, that this is family politics and it’s nothing that requires death or destruction. It's not happy about it, but I think it's still tired enough from the soul-bonding with Nox that it agrees to sit this one out. Small miracles.

“I’ll be fine.”