Unbroken Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #6)(48)

Gabe and Atlas had gone to some of the newer houses to help Gabe’s uncle with a problem that he had down there. North and Nox are busy working through the information that we recovered from Atlas’ parents’ house, so Gryphon and I had offered to pick up dinner for everyone.

When he’d moved to grab the keys for one of our ATVs, I simply shook my head and pulled on my sneakers instead, happy to spend a little extra time with him on the way. I feel like we’ve only seen each other in our Tac gear or naked lately. I miss just being around him, speaking to him about anything other than work or the delicious things he’s doing to my body.

The problem is that we haven't spoken about his father, other than Gryphon apologizing for what he'd said, but I hated to hear that out of him. It's not his fault the General is a dick, and I’m quick to make sure he knows it.

All the guilt he feels right now is about the innocent people who just left the safety of the Sanctuary because of the fear-mongering campaign that his father started.

“They're scared. I know it. North knows it. And even though he’s ready to send his shadow creatures through the entire place to wipe them all out, Nox knows it too.”

He stops speaking as he looks out over the rows of eerily quiet houses in front of us before he continues, “I think they’re all assuming that we're about to go rogue and turn into something worse than the Resistance. They don't understand what’s really happening here. You've got to remember that they’ve all heard stories of the Dravens as though they were the Boogeyman. For years, they’ve been waiting for North and Nox to blow up someday like Nolan did.”

That doesn't make me feel any better. “And what about me? Do you think they're all waiting for that from me as well with my void eyes? Because the only thing that's going to push me there is everyone acting like this.”

Gryphon shrugs and hugs me closer to his side, slinging an arm around me as his hand stretches out over my bare stomach where my sweater has crept up. I feel his power heat his skin where it touches mine, and the ache across my shoulders eases off. I hadn't complained to him about it, the result of being twisted up into fifty different positions by each of them, and he chuckles under his breath at the color that stains my cheeks.

“Thanks,” I murmur quietly, and instead of acknowledging that, he gives me something far more powerful.

“Know that if any of them ever attempt to call you anything, it'll be the last words they say, Bonded. I'm done playing around with this, and if they think that they’re going to find a stake to burn you on, they've got another thing coming.”

A memory flickers in my mind, one of my bond’s, at that exact fate happening to me, and Gryphon nods his head as the shiver runs through me. “I remember it as well. The Soothsayer was there. It saw the whole thing. If I shut my eyes, I can see it as clearly as if it was my own memory. Never again, Bonded.”

The dining hall is full of people, though it's quieter than any other time I've been here. Gryphon greets the Tac operatives who are standing watch at the door. Each of them nod respectfully back to him, then me, without a word, completely obedient to their leader. I sigh in relief.

Any of the operatives who are still here that have questioned us in the past have been put on leave, effective immediately. I told you that we're not messing around here, Gryphon sends through to me, and I nod back.

I move to the buffet-like station and begin filling up containers for each of my Bonded. It’s a surprise to me when I realize I know exactly what each of them will eat, little bits of information I seem to have picked up without really trying, and when I hand Gryphon his, he smirks at me.

“I thought this was a North Draven trait? If you start taking on his personality as well, I'm out.”

I laugh at him and grab a bag to start stashing away the food. “Liar. You love me too much to give up on me so quickly, and North is definitely not your least favorite Bond.”

He laughs at me and grabs the back of my neck to smack a kiss on my lips. “You’ve got it all wrong, Bonded. I don't play favorites unless we're talking about you.”

“Can you two keep that gross shit out of my kitchen, please? I don't need to see it. I already know what's happening, and that’s disgusting enough,” Kyrie drawls as she places another tray of roast beef on the buffet.

I move away from Gryphon’s arms to start filling up more containers with the fresh meat, knowing that Atlas and Gabe will devour a full container between the two of them alone.

“I’m pretty sure this isn't your kitchen, Kyrie. Plus, I've seen enough of you sucking face with my operatives for a lifetime, so you don't have a leg to stand on here.”

She shrugs and sends me a grin. “Alex is pretty hot though, am I right?”

I shrug back. “I have no idea who that is.”

I see Gryphon’s shit-eating grin from the corner of my eye, the pure male satisfaction at the complete honesty of my words. His reaction is so instant, it’s as though I’ve started talking dirty to him here in the middle of the room.

Kyrie sighs as though we’re killing her. “Of course you don't. You're in the ‘Bonded Group bubble’ where you don't give a fuck about what anyone else looks like. Again, it's disgusting!”

I can't argue with her there. I haven't looked at any person, male or female, in months and had their looks factor into any part of my stance on them. I couldn't even tell you if there was someone attractive in the room right now. Except that Gryphon is here, and of course, he is one of the five hottest men that ever walked the earth.