The Bonding Games, Part 2

1

SCOTTY

“Did you honestly think you could ever have me? I thought I trained you better than that, Players.”

I can only stare at the sight before me, the muscles in my face slack. Because surely, what I’m seeing isn’t actually happening. Surely, what I’m hearing isn’t what’s actually being said.

I had a feeling something was off when I woke up to find Ezla no longer in bed, but this . . .

“Get your hands . . . off my Bonded.” Cooper’s voice is low, closer to a sound an animal would make than any human would. I can’t tear my eyes away from the disturbing picture before me, but I’m sure he has a glare forged from the fiery pits of the underworld fixed on that sight too.

The Game Master—Joseph, I should say, because no one so vile deserves even a lick of power, let alone the seas full of it that this man has—tightens his hold between Ezla’s legs and around her waist. “I would not be so sure she wants them removed.”

Two enraged snarls vibrate the air as both Cooper and Tate step forwards, and the movement finally snaps me out of my frozen state.

“No.”

Their heads whip my way, the heat of their cataclysmic fury digging into me instead. But my focus zones fully in on Ezla, and I speak before they can. “You used us.”

“What?! Scotty, no! That’s obviously no—”

“You let us believe you could feel something for us,” I cut Tiger off without sparing a glance at what’s undoubtably a heartbroken face. “Why?”

Tate laughs before she can respond, and there’s something concerningly unbalanced in it. “You better watch it, Scotty. Say another word—”

“It is not my fault you were so easily fooled,” Ezla interrupts in her typical unfeeling tone, voice robotically modified.

“Why?” I repeat roughly, chest squeezing as I keep boring my unwavering gaze into her helmet.

“Are you truly so heartless?” Pushing a bitter laugh out of my mouth, I feel as though the action is slicing my throat apart.

“Though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

You never really wanted my care—our love.

Guess you got off on messing with those you view as weaker than you, as the enemy—”

From the corner of my eye, a large, beastly form nears too quickly to slow before I’m launched off my feet.

“I SAID SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!”

Copper floods my tastebuds as my head smacks against the taalk floor, vision immediately spotty from the force of the blow delivered to my face.

Then another.

And another.

I don’t fight back, letting the blows rain down on me. And no one, not even my blood brother, comes to aid me.

Not until I hear a gruff noise of amusement from the throat of the man I despise more than anyone, more than anything.

Then, as much as I hate to do it, I slam my fist into Tate’s stomach in return, trying to use enough force to really sell the act but not too much that it’ll leave him truly injured.

“THAT ALL YOU GOT, FUCKFACE?!” The wind leaves me with the next brutal blow. “I KNEW I SHOULD NEVER HAVE LET YOU TOUCH HER!”

“As entertaining as this is, we do need to have a civil discussion,” I vaguely hear in the background. “Please do go and sort out your Evots, dearest.”

The crushing weight on top of me is lifted almost a second later, and I struggle for breath, Tate’s pained grunt sounding out to my left as he lands there harshly.

One of my eyes is fucking throbbing, swollen almost completely shut, but I can see myself reflected back at me clearly in that sleek obsidian visor.

A visor that should no longer hide the stunning face beneath unless she’s training.

And one which shows me the mess one of my brothers has made of my face. One well deserved.

My Bonded’s helmet tilts in that familiar eerie way, and I swallow, turning my head to the side to cough up the blood trickling down my throat.

A beleaguered sigh, and a figure appears beside her, Joseph’s features oozing contempt he doesn’t bother to hide. I war with my own facial expression to ensure my nostrils don’t flare as his arm wraps around Ezla’s waist possessively.

“This is who you let touch you, Daughter?” His perfectly polished black shoe prods my leg, and I don’t mask my snarl this time. His lips twitch into a smirk.

“I needed some fun. As you said, these Evots are very entertaining.”

“S-stop, E-Ezla . . . you—you don’t m-mean what y-you’re saying.” Alby’s rasp holds barely contained tears.

Her head lifts, and I grit my teeth as my palms press to the taalk to help me sit up. Fuck, I think Tate’s broken something.

“Actually, she does. I apologise for any confusion,” Joseph says with no apology in his tone whatsoever.

“Ezla has a bit of a wild streak. It does not usually go this far. You see, she and I have a unique father-daughter relationship. She is perfectly happy with it, I assure you, despite what you may have been led to believe. However, she sometimes likes to explore. Of course, I am telling you this in confidentiality.”

Is he . . . ? I am in utter disbelief about how deranged this man is. How on earth do people believe the crap that comes out of his mouth?

“Perfectly fucking hap—”

When Cooper catches my eye, he pauses mid-hiss, brows twitching downwards. It’s hardly a blip in time, but thank fuck it’s enough for him to change his tune as he continues with a minor shift, “Of course she is. As long as you get some cock, right, Ezla? Doesn’t matter whose.”

Tate roars, leaping up to his feet and charging at him next. “I’LL KILL YOU!” he rages, and I don’t at all doubt his promise as I take in the look on his red-hot face. I myself feel like rushing Cooper, even if it was the right thing to say in this situation.

Tiger shoves Cooper, a mask of wrath and pain the likes of which I’ve never seen before contorting his usually smiley features.

“How could you say that?” Another shove, and Cooper crashes into Tate, who doesn’t hesitate to wrap a tree-trunk arm around his neck.

The former’s face purples as he lets out a choked sound and smacks at the limb restraining him.

No one helps him. Not even Alby moves, his tear-streaked face frozen, puffy eyes locked on Cooper as if he’s never seen him before.

Struggling to my feet, I painfully work to get oxygen into my pummelled lungs.

“Tate, stop,” I force out with a wince, just the act of speaking shooting pain all throughout me.

At the same time, Ezla walks over, and the large man does freeze then, relief blowing through me as his muscles relax and his attention lasers into our Bonded.

Cooper sucks in multiple ragged handfuls of air, stabbing an elbow back into him, which Tate hardly seems to notice, only letting out a quiet puff of air as Cooper breaks out of his hold, that ever-present intensity in his gaze glued to Ezla.

“He is only telling the truth, Player 4.”

His expression falters. “Don’t call me that, Havoc,” he growls.

Ignoring him, she slowly steps closer, and his fingers twitch with the need to drag her into him. Fortunately, he somehow holds back. “But it is all you are,” Ezla replies unfeelingly.

I stamp down on the pain her words bring me.

“No, Havoc—”

“Did you truly believe anyone could love you?”

He stiffens, and I hide my grimace.

“That I could one day love you?” She throws her head back and laughs, the robotic notes spearing cruelly through the otherwise-silent room. “Someone who stalked me online for years, no less. Do you think someone like that deserves to be cared for?”

Tate’s jaw stiffens, fists clenching at his sides.

“Do not be so cruel, Daughter.” Joseph’s glinting eyes are in contrast with his admonishing words.

“They are Evots; they do not know any better.” My teeth grind as he moves far too close to my woman once again, a hand coming to rest on her lower back.

He directs his next words at me and my brothers.

“You see, you could not handle someone like her. And that is completely fine.” Then he feigns sympathy.

“I sincerely apologise for any distress this situation has caused you. Rest assured, no more pain shall come from this. I see a couple of you have already seen the truth”—his plain brown eyes move between me and Cooper—“and I hope, in time, that you will find the right person for you. Unfortunately, the world does consider you to be in a . . . romantic relationship”—he almost loses his composure there—“so you will have to put on a show for the public—look pretty in Games and continue your training together. But once this year’s Bonding Games is over, you may go your separate ways.

Everyone knows Bonded groups are very private after the event; no one will find it strange to not see you out and about together. ”

No matter how convincing he thinks he is, I’m sure none of my brothers actually believe this bullshit.

This man wants us dead. Even if Cooper and I have managed to convince him of our pain and anger directed at Ezla, I know he won’t want to risk his hold on her.

He’ll wipe us all out, no hesitation, just for reassurance.

I’ve never seen the monster clearer than I’m seeing him right now, and I just know his mind is so warped, that he’s so possessive over a woman he has no right to be possessive over, he won’t be able to settle without the threat—us—completely abolished.

To bury the dagger even further into us, Ezla runs a hand over Joseph’s chest. Everything in me recoils, urging me to yank her away. Humming, that robotically modified voice purrs, “Let’s return home, Father. I grow impatient for some alone time.”

Teeth grinding, I wonder if the force of the action will make dust of them. Cooper isn’t far behind me on that, his chest rising and falling too rapidly, too heavily, and Tate is seconds away from attempting something that will have him killed faster than anyone can blink.

“No, Ez!” Tiger cries, rushing towards her suddenly, and I lunge, catching him around the waist. He’s too lost to his pain to care about my own as he thrashes against my beaten body, and I suck in sharp breaths every time he hits a particularly sore spot.

“Let go! Scotty, let go! He’s going to hurt her, what are you doing? !”

Another faker-than-anything sympathetic look is given to my brother, another aimed at me. “I trust you will all be okay?”

Does this fucking look like we’ll be okay?

Keeping the whirlwind within me at bay, I nod stiffly. Then I look to my Bonded as her nauseating sperm donor begins to guide her to the door.

My brother becomes more desperate, provoking a dizziness in my head with each mad movement. “NO! SCOTTY, LET GO! LET GO! I’LL HATE YOU! STOP HIM! STOP HIM, SCOTTY!” My ears ring, muffling the cacophony of more shouts and hits connecting nearby as Cooper lunges on Tate to restrain him as well.

Grinding my throbbing jaw, I lock venomous eyes on my Bonded. “Look what you’ve done to us, Ezla. Are you finally happy? Is this all that was needed to bring you joy?”

I think I’m going to be sick as some of her agony slips through the bond.

I did that. My words are doing that to her. I promised to take care of her—it’s all I’ve ever wanted. And now I’m doing the opposite when she needs me most.

But I’d rather hurt her, have her hate me, than have any more harm come to her from the man who’s trying to tear us apart.

Ezla doesn’t answer me, only turns away, scanning her thumb beside the exit to our Bonded chambers.

“EZLA! PLEASE, DON’T GO!” Tiger continues to sob hysterically, mirroring my internal state, even as I fix the facade of anger and disappointment on my face as I watch the taalk door slide away to reveal the long hallway outside. “NO! I’LL BE SO GOOD! PLEASE!”

“ALBY!” I roar, alarm spiralling through me as he chooses that moment to throw himself across the room after them.

Joseph’s mask slips, lips twisting into an ugly snarl.

He reaches into his suit jacket, and even though he’s not a former student of a training school, from both the fact he’s the ultimate power in our world and what I saw in Ezla’s memories, I know he has his own armoury sticks along with multiple other privileges he shouldn’t.

But Ezla lashes out before my quietist brother can meet a blow from him.

Everyone freezes as we take in her slim gloved fingers curled around Alby’s pale neck.

Hazel eyes wide, his throat bobs in her grip.

“E-Ezla . . . I-I’m not a-afraid of you,” he struggles out as she squeezes, his already-splotchy cheeks gaining even more colour as his lungs beg for air.

“Ple . . . ase, don’t l-leave . . . Y-you .

. . I lo-love you s-so much . . . Don’t . . . don’t g-go.”

“You are, and have always been, pathetic. There is no love in me to give, so I’d advise you to stop wasting your breath in your attempts to get it.

Furthermore, you have only latched onto me because I am the first woman to give you a scrap of attention.

Do better. It is embarrassing to have you as my Bonded. ”

Joseph’s chin dips as his lips threaten to twitch into an evil smirk when Alby’s face crumples. I myself feel as though someone’s just carved into my chest cavity with the hollowness I now find inside it, but again, I show none of this in my outward appearance.

“She doesn’t mean it, Alby! She doesn’t!” Tiger’s wild movements start up again, and my muscles strain as I struggle to keep hold of him.

Alby lands in a heap on the unforgiving taalk floor as Ezla drops him. Then, without a glance back, she and Joseph leave the room.

“HAVOC! Get your fucking hands off me, Cooper! I won’t hesitate to kill you! HAVOC!”

“EZLAAA! Scotty, let me go!”

I’m trembling, aching all over as my family falls apart around me.

And only when that taalk door slides closed, only when our Bonded and her jailor are long gone, do I allow the tears to gather in my eyes and streak down my cheeks.

My forehead thumps against my brother’s back, and a choked sound leaves me, getting lost among all the other soul-crushing sobs and pleas and furious bellows all around.

When Tiger’s legs give out, I go down, too, and I can only grip him tight, trying my hardest to keep him together as much as myself.