Unbroken Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #6)(49)

I'm dumb enough to say this to Kyrie, and she makes a gagging noise as Gryphon smirks smugly back at her. His arms cross over his chest as he turns to beam down at me for a second before he looks back at her.

The smile slides off of Kyrie’s face for a second. “Did Mom call you? She tried to call me, but I was too busy ignoring everything from the General to pick up.”

I try not to flinch, knowing how much Gryphon adores his mom. The thought of him being separated from her again, and my part in it, kills me.

He just shrugs back at her. “She did. I think we are no longer on speaking terms.”

My eyebrows shoot up my forehead, and I’m sure I look like an idiot right now. “You didn't tell me that.”

He shakes his head at me, his eyes soft. “I knew that you’d blame yourself, and there's no need for it. She was very concerned about the god-bonds, and that's not anyone's fault. I'm not going to be upset or ashamed about any of it either. My bond is what brought me to you, so I will be happy and grateful for it for the rest of my existence. Nothing about any of this bullshit is going to change that.”

Some of the fight leaves me, but I still just want to curl up in a ball and cry for having any part in this.

Kyrie shakes her head and taps one of the large serving spoons on the tray in frustration. “This is why I don't want to find my Central. I can't imagine just blindly following some man away from my kids and my family and friends just because his ego gets in the way of things. It's disgusting.”

Gryphon shrugs again and then holds out his arms, beckoning towards her until she darts around the table to hug him back. I can't think of anything to say to her. There isn't much that any of my Bonded could ask of me that I wouldn't do, but I suppose that's got more to do with trust than anything else.

I trust them all.

I trust them to make decisions for our entire group and not to act irrationally or in a selfish way without fully considering how it will affect the rest of us. I know it's something that North struggles with a lot, thinking through every one of his moves, all day, a thousand times over until he's sure that it's the best one for us all. Though it's taken me a long time to see it, I know that Gryphon holds his temper more often than not. Atlas gave up everything to be with us. I know that while it ended up being the best decision for him overall, it still was something huge to undertake at such a young age. Especially without ever having the promise of a good life or a good Bonded Group. Still, he had faith and was a good person despite everything.

Nox died for our Bonded Group.

He died for North and for us all to have the chance at a good, long life. He had no idea that my bond could bring him back like that. I will never take that sacrifice for granted.

“Give me a call if they try to contact you or if you need anything, Kyrie. Promise me. You’re too secretive about things these days. I don't like it.”

She scoffs and pats him on the back, pulling away to nudge him with her elbow. “I’m secretive about things because I don't need my brother sticking his nose into my business just for the sake of it. You do the same; please call me if they get their heads out of their asses or if something happens.”

My blood chills at the thought of something happening, but Gryphon simply nods and reaches out to grab the bags of food that I've put together. “Prepare yourself, Kyrie. I already know that this mass exodus from the Sanctuary is bound to hit the Resistance’s radar, and I have no doubt that there are going to be casualties. Before I told Mom that I was done with them, I made my peace with her too. If they don't come back… that has to be enough for me.”

She clears her throat and nods, heading back to the kitchen after a quick detour to hug me too.

I follow Gryphon out the door without another look at any of the dining hall occupants. We walk in silence, and it's not until their mansion comes into view for us both that I find the words to speak, my mind a whirling mess. “Do you really think something's gonna happen to them?”

Gryphon sighs and nods, squeezing my hand a little. “It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. My dad is the leader of some of the most wanted TacTeam operatives, and the Resistance will attack them the moment they find a weakness. I just hope my parents are strong enough to make it through, not that they deserve it after what they said about you.”

I shake my head. “I don't wish them dead just because they don't like me. That really would make me a monster.”

He smirks at me again, lifting our linked hands to kiss the back of my hand sweetly. “That's all right, the rest of us will be the monster for you. Fuck, I thought Nox was going to tear the General apart with his bare hands. Who would have thought that he would love you so hard once you got under his skin, Bonded.”

I blush and duck my face into his chest, happy when the contact is met with quiet, satisfied noises. That he loves the contact just as much as I do fills me with a deep satisfaction.

“I don't deserve him or his love, but I'll do my best to take care of it.”

He shakes his head back at me. “Nobody deserves it more than you, Bonded. We are the ones who aren't worthy.”





CHAPTER FIFTEEN





Gryphon



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