Tragic Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #5)(48)

As he begins to speak, Nox walks over to join us, looking analytically over every TacTeam member who has been assigned to come with us, as though he is making his own decisions on them. His eyes bounce over Sage and Gray without much thought, and it warms me a little. While neither of them have ever tried to hide the fact that they didn't like him much, he knows that they're both good at what they do.

“This is a clean out. We need all of the Shields taken out and every last member of the Resistance to be dealt with before we leave.”

Rockelle nods from across the room and clears his throat to get North’s attention, interrupting, but in the most respectful way I've seen him act. “I just want to confirm that this is a ‘no prisoners’ mission before we move out.”

North nods at him and then speaks again, looking around the room. “These people have nothing that we need, so unless there are extenuating circumstances, we're not planning on giving anyone a ride home today.”

A ride home.

The politest way that North can say that we're going there with the intention of killing them all.

It doesn't bother me. I'm not squeamish about this and, if anything, it will be good to get my bond back into the swing of things after the soul bonding. It's been quieter and less bloodthirsty, which should be a good thing considering how much I normally hate its demanding and vicious ways, but honestly, I'm a little freaked out at how docile and sleepy it's been.

Maybe the energy boost of the souls we’ll consume there is exactly what it needs.

I swallow around nervousness that is a lump in my throat and tuck my hand into Gabe’s, leaning into his side a little as we both listen to the tactical plan that North lays out. I already know it by heart, having spent most of the last two days going over it all with my Bonded, but watching him explain it all to the TacTeam gives me the opportunity to watch how they all process it.

These are the most trusted men that Gryphon leads, and even Rockelle is hanging on to North’s every word, no messing around or added attitude out of him at all as he listens to what is expected of his team.

“The most important thing here is that we are not leaving until the Wasteland is shut down. Leaving them open is about the worst thing that we can do, and we've had our hands tied the last few missions, but that isn't going to be happening anymore. We go in, we take them out, and we leave no survivors behind. Any questions?”

When no one raises their hands, he nods again decisively. “Then let's move out.”





When my feet hit the ground at the Wasteland, it’s as though we’ve traveled to a different planet.

It looks nothing like it had before.

Although it has only been a few days since we were last here, it might as well have been months. The bodies that are still strewn around, left behind wherever they died, are in various states of decomposition, the process sped up by maggots and whatever other wildlife has managed to survive in this place. I try not to gag at the sight of them feasting on the fallen Resistance here. Thankfully, the TacTeam members who had died here when the Trigger attacked us all had been brought home, and I'm not about to see any familiar faces in the fields of dead.

Gryphon's hand brushes my neck slightly to relieve some of the sickness pooling in my gut. When he's finished with me, he does the same for Sage, who has a hand clamped over her mouth as she tries not to breathe in any of the horrific smells around us.

Kieran stays tucked in close to her side, as though he is desperate to transport her back home, but the moment that Gryphon steps away from her, she drops her hand away and gives her Bonded a curt nod.

Now isn't the time for me to smile at her or acknowledge just how amazing my best friend is. I always knew she was stronger than anyone gave her credit for. She isn't reacting to any of this any worse than I am, and I have been around a hell of a lot of death.

Gryphon starts making hand signals to disperse everyone. Once his team is in a formation, he looks back, nodding to me. I let my eyes slip shut as I reached down to speak to my bond.

I hope you're hungry, because we have a big job to do today.

It's slow to answer me, They're all pathetically small. Not worth my time.

A meal’s a meal, right? Our Bonded deserve some power.

That piques its interest a little more, just enough that it reaches out to each of our Bonded to check in with them, and it stays with Nox for longer than any of the rest.

They're not in danger.

Honestly, I could kill it for acting like this. I know, but you said it yourself, we need to bring the fight to the Resistance.

This isn't fighting. This is cleaning up and they're not worth my time.

I sigh and open my eyes back up, meeting Gryphon's gaze and shrugging. “There's no one here strong enough to be a concern.”

Sage exhales like I'm saying something reassuring, but Gryphon knows exactly what I mean and nods back at me slowly, signaling once more to the teams around us, and then we're moving. It would be much easier if my bond would just take everyone out instead, but I guess there's nothing wrong with getting a good view of everything that has happened.

There’s a lot we can learn from the destruction.

The giant craters that we come across make my stomach sink, each of them a monument to how close I'd come to losing Gryphon. As we move, I watch the air shimmer around us. The power of the Wasteland slowly begins to fade as the Shields get taken out, one by one.