Chapter 10 Thou Shalt Not Bone in Broom Closets
Thou Shalt Not Bone in Broom Closets
Arwen
“I’m supposed to meet someone about my sin power training schedule,” I lie to Holly. “But I’m so happy for you, and I’ll see you later.” I give her a big hug and smile at Sly before running.
It’s time to get out of here before any of my bonds, or Dean Bellows, walks out of the auditorium. I take off down the hallway, not caring where I’m headed. The bond ceremony took almost all afternoon, so students are making their way back to their dorms before dinner.
I hurry up the stairs of a nearby tower and into a random courtyard and start making my way down the intersecting hallways, searching for refuge.
Surely not all the rooms up here are dorm rooms.
My surroundings become dizzy as I feel blood rushing to my head. What am I going to do? I can’t get kicked out; I just got here!
I find a small wooden door at the end of the hall that doesn’t have a locking handle like the other rooms around it and step inside.
It’s dark and small and filled with cleaning supplies, but it’s empty.
Just what I need right now. Slumping down the stone wall to the floor, I rested my head on my knees.
I need to think. To plan. Maybe if I come clean to Dean Bellows and tell her I have no intention of completing my bonds, she won’t kick me out.
Thinking it through, I decide she wouldn’t give me any special treatment over others who have bonded outside of their faction… at the very least she would need to inform the council.
The dark silence is comforting and slows my breathing. The stone is cold against my back. I calm down and gather my thoughts.
Breathe. In and out.
The door bangs open, causing me to jump. A tall man walks in, but I can’t make out his face in the dark with the light shining behind him. He closes the door and lowers himself, sitting against it.
My eyes adjust, and my heart sinks as I recognize one of my new bonds.
Atticus. Fuck…
His perfect hair is in a bit of disarray, like he’s been running his hands through it. The front looks almost shaggy as it curls down his forehead and covers his eyes. He stares down at his shoes, his mouth set in a grim line.
I’ve had no time to plan, but now I just have to wing it.
“Come to get those tips about the academy?” I joke, but my laugh sounds hollow... maybe I can fake it, like I don’t feel the bond. Maybe he’ll question it too.
His stormy blue eyes flash up at me, angry. Still, he says nothing.
“Not in the mood for jokes… Noted.” I swallow. “How did you find me?”
“I followed the tug of the tether, obviously.” He says.
Well, I guess the idea of faking it is out the window.
“Do you think others are coming?” I ask, picking at my nails.
“Others? Why would I tell anyone else?” He asks. “This is a disaster. No one knows. No one’s coming.”
I sigh out loud. He doesn’t realize it’s an exhale of relief. He’s in the dark about my multiple bonds…. interesting.
I let the silence play out while I think.
If he has told no one yet, maybe he doesn’t plan on it.
It’s clear he doesn’t want this bond just as much as I do.
We both know it wouldn’t end well with our different factions.
We were both just smart enough, and emotionally damaged enough, that we could fake it through the ceremony.
Maybe we can still fake it... and continue to act like it never happened.
The thought alone sends a stab through my chest. My bond doesn’t like that idea, but it might be the only choice to stay in the academy.
We continue to sit in the silence for a while, listening as other students pass the door, chatting. It’s strange; I should feel uncomfortable, but my anxiety is easing. Just his proximity is settling something in me.
“Your trial...” he says, finally breaking the silence, “…you’re sinless.” It’s an accusation, not a question. He continues staring off like he’s overworking his brain, trying to figure out how the universe could pair someone like me with someone like him.
“That’s correct… by the way, thanks for telling your little girlfriend. It’s been great. Could I not have had one day to settle in?” I say. “Your judge of character is clearly as good as your father’s.” I dig.
It’s a low blow, but my bond is thrashing at the thought of him with either of those girls, and I can’t control the natural response that’s ingrained in me.
“Don’t fucking speak about matters you know nothing about, Wrath!” He says. “And you’d be wise to not say a word about my family. I didn’t say shit about your trial. I don’t talk about my father’s business or the Council’s. And I especially don’t take part in petty school gossip.”
Scoffing, I roll my eyes.
Unbelievable, he’s trying to deny spreading the word about my status.
“I don’t have time for relationships,” he says, looking me in the eyes and clenching his teeth. The dark, angry blue waves are still roaring.
“I’m fated to take my father’s place,” he says, emphasizing the word ‘fated.’ “I’m fated to continue my family's legacy. I don’t have time to be fated for a mate as complicated as…” he waves his hand up and down towards me.
After a deep breath, he sits back against the wall. “Look… I know this sucks. I know it… hurts… physically. I can feel it too. It affects me too. But we can’t complete this bond, we can’t tell anyone, we can’t let this cont- “
“I agree,” I say, catching him off guard.
“You agree?” He raises his brow.
“Yes, Your Highness… I’m sure it’s hard to get through that arrogant brain of yours, but I have no interest in completing our bond. I may not be a future council leader, but I have enough on my plate as it is.”
He really does not know how much is on my current plate.
“Well…” he continues, still skeptical, “That’s great then, I guess. So, we’ll just ignore it then... act like nothing ever happened. Tell NO ONE. Not even your little breakfast friends.”
I’m annoyed at his arrogance and the way he is talking about my new friends, who are totally badass and exceptional, but I need him to agree… so I swallow my sass.
“Yes, that’s what we should do.” I agree.
Maybe I can make this work. Maybe all my bonds will feel this way, and we can continue like this never happened. My bond continues to slice through my chest like a toddler having a meltdown, but I’m trying to keep us alive here.
“Good.” He says, still staring at me.
“Good.” I quip back.
He stands up and dusts his pristine school suit off. He turns toward the door, prepared to leave but pauses… “Why did you lie?”
I know he’s referring to the council office in Pride. I was hoping I could avoid this embarrassing discussion entirely, but my mind is too exhausted and overwhelmed to come up with some excuse, so I go with the truth.
“I didn’t think that I would ever end up here. I had accepted the fact that I was most likely going to be exiled. I’ve spent my life being insignificant. No sin power manifestation, no family, very few friends, even my teachers acted like I was invisible.”
I sigh, closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the stone. Just because it’s easier to admit the truth doesn’t make it hurt any less.
“When you assumed I was someone important… it…felt…nice.” I swallow. “I didn’t expect to cross paths again.”
He doesn’t turn around but nods his head once and then walks out the door. I’ve never been in a relationship so I’ve never been through a ‘heartbreak’, but I assume the physical pain in my chest is what one would feel like. It’s strange, like my emotions and my head aren’t mixing; they don’t agree.
This is necessary. This is safe.
It seems like my bonds don't know about each other based off of Atticus's response. If Atticus felt this way, there’s a large probability Maylo will too with his ties to the Council. I’m sure it won’t be difficult to convince my Lust bond that this would be a bad idea.
That just leaves the professor. He could be spilling our situation to Dean Bellows at this very moment. I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
I can’t hide in this closet forever, and it doesn’t help if my bonds can find me whenever they want, anyway.