Unbroken Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #6)(64)

I can't imagine how difficult the burden of raising her younger sibling is. The way that she does it with such devotion, love, and respect for him is a huge credit to both her and her Bonded Group. I only hope that things will settle down in the world soon so that we can get to know the little boy a little bit more and help him make friends in the Sanctuary.

With the way things are at the moment, Aro doesn't even want to send him to the school in case he gets targeted for being so close to our Bonded Groups. It was something else I felt a small sprinkling of guilt about until Sage pointed out that it was as much about her own Bonded Group as it is about ours.

Kieran and Felix are notable players, as well as Sawyer, thanks to his job doing security.

Not everything is about me and my void eyes.

That was a quiet dose of reality I very much needed. As we approach the dining hall, the only structure big enough to house the entire population of the Sanctuary, if everyone stands, I remind myself of that again.

Not everything is about me.

But this meeting just might be.





It doesn't matter how prepared we are for the situation. There are always hiccups, the first of which is Nox's complete meltdown about where everyone is going to stand. I can see how much it grates on Atlas until he realizes what exactly is going on here.

Nox is concerned, of course, that someone is going to try to attack North as he's speaking. It would be a stupid idea, but it’s also a very real possibility now that we know about the god-bonds and their ability to mess with things even inside the safety of the Sanctuary walls.

He also knows that I am the bigger target here.

So Nox finds himself split between who he is going to protect himself, the only person he truly trusts to do the job properly. I think we’re going to have to watch the Draven brothers fight it out over canceling the meeting, except then I witness a minor miracle.

“I’ll stand with North. I can project my Gift onto him the entire time, and if you guys all stand closely enough, I can project it over Oli as well, that way you can stand with her but know that I have North covered, as well as our Bonded,” Atlas says in a very firm and confident voice.

I watch as the cogs turn in Nox's brain. He doesn't answer him right away, but it's also not a disrespectful thing, he’s figuring out whether or not this situation feels safe enough for him. Whether or not he feels as though his brother is going to be guarded enough. I can tell that North is having to physically restrain himself from getting involved, but we leave it to Nox for a moment until finally, he turns to me, three shadows falling from his body as Mephis, Procel, and Rahab appear.

“Stand right here with me, Oleander,” he says, pointing. I do as he says, ignoring the shortness of his tone.

It's all the answer that Atlas needs as he steps up beside North and gives him a nod. Gryphon flanks my other side and talks to Gabe quietly as they figure out exactly where best to position themselves. If anything happens, Gabe will need the room to shift into a dragon if the Draconis takes over.

Gryphon has a good point of view from where he's standing, able to not only reach out with his mind to see where everyone is but also to check for any discrepancies within the crowd.

As I prepare myself just in case we require Soul-Rending today, though I sincerely hope that isn't going to be the case, Nox’s fingers wrap around my wrist like a bracelet, holding me as though he thinks I'm going to attempt to run away from him. Or maybe he thinks I’ll run head-first towards any danger that might appear. I'm not sure, but I don't attempt to pull away or move from him even as the room begins to fill up around us.

I hate the feeling of all of their eyes on me.

I never did enjoy being the center of attention like this, and my sarcastic nature wants to kick in, to deflect away from the situation. Unfortunately, I promised North I'd be on my best behavior.

Something I kind of regret now.

Sage’s Bonded Group comes to stand at the front with us where Kieran can watch over his Bonded as much as he watches over the room, and Sawyer’s Bonded Group comes in shortly after, having waited outside until their parents had arrived. The Bensons stand close to their children, looking well-dressed and confident as they throw their support behind us as well. Vivian, Unser, and Adella shepherd in their own children as they join us.

North had taken a very calculated risk when he called the meeting, and he and the others had spent quite a lot of time making sure that security was in place, knowing we were all going to be in one spot for however long this takes.

I don't feel as concerned about it.

Not with my Gift cast out like a net over the entire building and knowing that Gryphon is doing the same, our eyes both glowing black with the use of our power. I'm sure it's making some people here uncomfortable, but I'd rather be sure we're all safe.

Nox’s fingers tighten around my wrist, and I glance up at him, but his eyes are fixed on the end of the room as more people fill the space.

What is it? I send to him, and he doesn't react as he answers me.

I recognize some of the newcomers from Draven. I don't like them, and North should have warned me.

I nod and flex my fingers but there's nothing I can do to fix that situation, something for the brothers to work out amongst themselves. Instead, I stand there with my void eyes surrounded by my beloved Bonded Group as the entire town watches us. I stand there with my back straight in the beautiful dress North had picked for me, my white, ghostly hair curled to perfection, makeup on, kitten heels, and red lips stretched into a smile as though I’m not a monster in disguise.