Chapter 14 #2
“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.
A ny 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.
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.”