Unbroken Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #6)(22)

Her voice breaks on the last one, and I seriously consider turning around and going back to find Wick and thumping him. Like anyone in that Bonded Group needs more guilt than they already have. Instead of pretending that I have the answer to everything and that my own Bond was a peaceful experience, because how laughable is that, I do what I can to offer her a little support.

“Things will die down with him. It's kind of like a pecking order thing. He’s trying to figure out where exactly he is on it. He probably never thought he would be sharing with such high-profile people, per se.”

Sage raises her eyebrows at me. “And what exactly is the pecking order in your Bonded Group? And how does that work out?”

I grin a little sheepishly, and I'm very careful not to look back at my Bonded or hers, even though they are probably eavesdropping on us right now.

I also choose my words very carefully.

“No one's in charge… except maybe me and my bond, when push comes to shove. But everybody has their own special skills or areas of knowledge, and we all naturally default to that person. North is always going to be the councilman. He's always going to have more knowledge about the families and the inner workings of those sorts of things. I would never presume to know more in those areas than him. Gryphon is the TacTeam leader. Even North, who has training in tactical response, will defer to him when it comes to missions and that sort of thing. Nox has always enjoyed more of the research side of things.”

Sage nods along and glances back at Atlas. “And the other two? Because this is my problem! Kieran has a very clear job and position within my Bonded Group, as does Felix. Riley doesn't care yet about that sort of thing. He's still so lost in his own guilt and grief that he might never question his place, but Wick has just walked into a very established set of relationships and is not comfortable just gelling with everyone else. He wants his own place and his own strengths recognized.”

I nod and tuck my arm into hers, pulling her in a little closer so that I can be quieter about this. “Atlas was the one who struggled. The reason that he didn't kick up too much of a fuss about it was because of his plans to run away with me. When those plans were changed, he definitely had an adjustment period. But in the end, the one thing he could agree on with everyone else was keeping me safe. He has taken it upon himself to shadow me through every mission and keep me alive, no matter what. I'm sure that once we have dealt with the Resistance, he’ll find something else. There will probably be an adjustment period again, but I guess that's part of being in a Bonded Group. Everybody has to grow and change and do it together, even when it makes it so hard for everyone else.”

Sage nods and sighs, and I say the one thing to her that Gryphon and North have said to me a dozen times between them, the reassurance I’ve needed a hundred times over. “It's not your job to police their relationships. Just because you're the Central Bonded, it doesn't make you responsible for making everyone be friends. If they're upsetting you, tell them. If they're butting in to things that aren't their business, tell them. You get to choose what your Bonded Group looks like, but it's also not your responsibility to keep everyone happy. That's way too much shit on your shoulders, Sage, and none of us can bear the brunt of all of these men and their egos. Not even me and my god-bond.”





CHAPTER SIX





Gabe



I wasn't expecting that the shift into the dragon and allowing the god-bond to take control would sap so much of my energy and leave me feeling so fucking awful. Even after a full eighteen hours of sleep, my stomach is still tender and my head feels as though it’s full of sand, slowing down my brain and making me feel like death itself. If we’re attacked right now, I’m going to struggle to be of any help to my Bonded, and that’s not fucking good enough.

I need to pull it together.

The streets of the Sanctuary are busy with bodies, dozens of workmen carting supplies to and from the loading zones. Now that my uncle and my cousins have taken over the everyday projects, I can see progress on the streets around us, and our time away has made the changes dramatic. I wouldn't be surprised if we were able to start offering single homes to Bonded Groups in the coming weeks.

I wave and greet as many of the workers as I can as I make my way down to the dining hall. A few of my cousins give me a curious look at the state I’m in. I don't exactly want to tell any of them that I'm having indigestion problems from devouring Resistance soldiers whole. There's a few TacTeam personnel who duck away so that they don't have to meet my eye, so there's a good chance that word has already spread.

I don't care about any of that shit.

The only people I care about are the ones that I was protecting that day. As I round the corner, the dining hall coming into view, I find my Bonded standing outside of it, laughing with Sage. Her head is thrown back, and the silver glory of her hair is shining in the morning sun. It's brighter now than it's ever been before, something I know she is super self-conscious about, but it's like a beacon calling out to me. I can't help but break into a jog to get over to her as quickly as possible. The grin she’s giving Sage is a sight for the weariest of eyes—stunning—but the way that her eyes light up and her entire body turns towards me as she spots me making my way over to her has my heart thumping in my chest.