Page 26 of Twisted Bonds
Sunder’s pacing picks up, the sound of his boots echoing through the cave. I can practically feel the heat radiating off him as his frustration boils over.
I wait for him to lash out, but it doesn’t come. Interesting. He’s holding back. Good for you, I beam at him.
“What are you smiling about?” The question is almost a snarl.
Time to pick a fight.
I jump to my feet and lift my hands like a boxer. “We need a plan. So, let’s plan.”
I swing at him, letting him narrowly dodge my fist. His eyes widen in rage, but he still doesn’t strike back. “What are you doing?”
“Right now? Letting you win. You need to fuck or fight right now, so pick one and let’s get started.”
His eyes flash as he dances in unison with me. He throws a quick punch towards my left side, but I swiftly maneuver out of its path. “Is that all you have? Maybe we should train every day again. You’ve gotten soft, Sundy.”
With a roar, he launches an all-out attack, and I still myself, bracing for impact. Blows fall in quick succession. I double over as two strikes connect with my stomach and a third upper cuts my jaw. I stumble back, spitting out a trickle of blood. Sunder’s chest heaves before me.
“Is that all you’ve got?” I ask before barreling my shoulder into his midsection. Without hesitation, he takes out my leg, throwing me to the ground. I grunt in pain as my back hits the rocky floor. Before I can blink, he’s straddling me with fire in his eyes.
“What is wrong with you?” He growls into my face, using both fists to pound against my barrel chest. “We’re wasting time. Mira’s gone. Who knows what he’s doing to her? We have to find her, not sit here and fight for no reason.”
As he continues to pound my chest with increasing intensity, the words pour out of him. His despair pulses through our bond as tears well in the corners of his eyes. Using all my strength, I grab his wrist and stop his attacks. His body freezes as I pull him into a hug, blood dripping from my nose. A soft sob escapes him as I soothe him, running my fingers through his dark hair.
“We have to find her,” he whispers.
A surge of warmth spreads through my chest, fighting against the throbbing pain that courses through my body. Despite the agony, a rush of safety swells inside me as Sunder exposes his vulnerable side to me. I shut my eyes tightly, inhaling deeply as he buries his face deeper into my chest, seeking solace in my embrace.
“We will. I promise.”
twelve
Tairyn
The deserted hallway hordes an eerie silence. The only sound breaking through is the soft thud of my boots on a plush, wine-colored rug. My home has always been minimalistic, with just two diligent guards, a skilled chef, and one meticulous housekeeper. I kept a small staff, believing that fewer people around meant fewer chances for chaos or complications.
However, as I pace down the corridor now, I can’t help but crave a disturbance. A bubble of commotion here, or a gathering of gossiping servants over there. Anything to take my mind off the daunting task at hand. Anything to distract me from the woman who creeps into each and every thought. Frustration bubbles inside me, and I let out an annoyed huff of air, only for it to bounce off the rocky walls and mock me for my lack of willpower. Once these long, mindless walks through the empty halls gave me peace and perspective. Now…
Now it just fills me with dread. Too much space to fill with thoughts of her. Her scent. That persistent blip of Pink Chroma that heralds a waiting vision whenever I’m near her. I’m lucky the vision didn’t take me by force when she slammed herself against me. A tightness forms between my shoulder blades.
A few more weeks and Malicryn and her cronies will be here to retrieve her. I suppose that’s my fault too, though.
I can’t shake off this feeling of unease. My jaw clenches at the thought of Mal and her plans for the Vessel. Part of me wants to know what she’s up to, but I also know that if she shares them with me, it’s only to gain an advantage over me. Besides, I always knew I’d be the downfall of my supposed mate.
When I first awakened in this body, my sole purpose was to find Malicryn. I knew she couldn’t have mastered the complex and ancient ritual on her own; she must have had assistance. Whoever helped her would know enough to make me complete again. I never planned to become involved with the Vessel or the other Shards. My only desires were to regain what I had lost in Chroma and reclaim my soul. To ride the Great River after my death and be reborn as myself, not as Dan’thiel.
When I made the bonded bargain to serve Yurghen, I didn’t know what he had in store for me. I never thought I would see my Chroma return in this cursed hue. I assumed it would be the same as before, a vibrant green. Now each time I channel, my every action is tainted by the haunting shade of purple. I constantly live in fear of what new visions will plague my mind and bring forth unimaginable terrors. Perhaps I deserve them for what I have done.
I do not blindly follow Yurghen and Mal. I have always fought back and caused chaos in my own ways. Their demands chafe at me, a different type of prison than being in this body, but it binds me, nonetheless. But now, as I face my last task of delivering the Vessel, I cannot ignore my growing doubts. The agreement seemed simple enough at first, and I thought I fully understood its terms. I should have known better. The bargain was to serve Yurghen, and by extension, serve Malicryn when needed, in exchange for restoring my magic. Once the Vessel was located and destroyed, he would perform a ritual to heal my fractured soul.
I never expected the Vessel would be someone like her. Yes, her beauty is undeniable, but it’s not just her physical appearance that has me so unnerved.
It’s the way she looks at me with such intense curiosity, as if she can see straight into my soul. Yet her fierce determination to protect her other mates, while noble, grates on my nerves.
It confuses me, the role I play in this back and forth. The playful banter and light jabs between us only add to the chaos in my mind. As I pace through the fortress I call home, I can feel myself unraveling from this simple task. What is it about her that has me on edge? Why am I struggling so much with this?
Keep the Vessel here until Malicryn comes to collect her, I remind myself. My hands clasp tightly behind my back as I make my way through the haunting quiet of this fortress I built long ago. Dug into the mountains themselves, the views from the top level are inspiring and the entrance is tucked deep into an abandoned mountain pass near Zinyth City.
I need to get this distasteful business over with. That’s the only way forward. Delivering her to Mal directly would be explicitly disobeying my instructions and might break my bonded bargain. If I don’t fulfill my part of the bargain, not only will I lose my Chroma but all chances of becoming whole.