Page 31 of Twisted Bonds
“Of course. We can sense your presence. Your pull, if you will.”
I barely hear him. I’ve met all the Shards. All my mates. I blink back into reality, a surge of anger at being left in the dark once again.
“And this is how you treat the shared pieces of your soul? You imprison him in that dark, depressing place? For how long, Tairyn? How long has he been there? What kind of monster are you?”
Tairyn’s response is a swift, frosty laugh, devoid of any humor that might have touched his lips before. He crosses his arms over his chest, matching my stance. “I’m the monster that’s kept him alive, Vessel.”
His words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. It comes out like a threat, as if he could end him at any time of his choosing.
“I can’t believe you’re my mate. I refuse the bond between us.” I spit out the words, not even knowing if I can do that.
“Perhaps I should just pin you down right here and take the bond, then.” His nostrils flare as his eyes trace down the curves of my body, as if he can smell the rage mixed with a hint of excitement radiating through me. The threat seems empty even as he says them, the thrill of verbally sparring clearly egging him on.
“Surely, you aren’t ignorant enough to think that would work. The bond between mates doesn’t snap from sex alone. Trust me, I’ve tried. You have to actually care for each other.”
I search his eyes, looking for something there that would hint at his true motivations, but I find nothing. His face is a mask of cool composure. If he really wants to bond me, it would further Sunder’s goal of reinstating Dan’thiel. But the longer I spend in this world with these Shards of my mate, the more I realize I don’t want that at all. Dan’thiel is nothing and no one to me. The others, however…
He stares at me for a long moment, as if searching my face for truth too. For a moment, we’re locked on each other. A challenge dripping in the air between us. Something changes in his posture as he shifts his weight, as if unsure how to proceed.
Finally, he takes a seat in the armchair with a heavy sigh and gestures for me to sit back down on the chaise. “There’s no reason to strain yourself, Vessel. I apologize I wasn’t able to fully heal you.”
For the first time since entering this room, I almost believe him. There’s no joke or teasing in his tone. His face almost seems regretful, but just then it’s gone. And I’m left wondering whether it was ever there at all.
“That’s a start,” I tell him in a chiding voice as I reclaim my seat on the chaise. The heat on my cheeks is still pulsing with fuming rage. His easy threats dangle between us, but I know I have to play the game with him. Make him think he’s winning something. He makes a thoughtful humming noise that seems to reverberate deep in his chest.
“I suppose it is,” he replies, raising an eyebrow. His gaze, intense and heated, rests on me for a moment before drifting towards the old bookshelf in the room's corner. “I’m not entirely heartless,” he adds softly, almost sounding like he’s trying to convince himself. “Of course, I would not force myself on you or anyone else.”
I scoff before I can think better of it. “Could have fooled me.”
His lips twist into a thoughtful frown. “You clearly are not interested in bonding yourself to me, and I do not want to release you from my home. We can come to an arrangement then. A bonded bargain?”
My brows pull towards my nose with suspicion as I eye him carefully. The phrase is pretty self-explanatory, some kind of magically sealed agreement. “Go on.”
“A simple arrangement. After you bond me, I’ll let you leave my home.”
“How do I know you’ll fulfill you part of the bargain?”
“A bonded bargain is sealed with Chroma. Should one party fail to fulfill their promise, they will lose all ability to channel Chroma. It’s a very powerful motivator.”
“But I can’t control the bond. It may never happen. I can’t make myself care about you.”
He watches me silently for a moment, but no emotions cross his face. “This is the deal I’m offering you.”
I consider this for a moment, but I need more out of this deal. I seriously doubt that we’ll be able to bond. I just don’t see either of us growing to care for one another. Sure, he’s handsome, but that’s as deep as his good qualities go. He locked me up to get me alone. And he imprisoned poor Callum for disagreeing with him. Or maybe just for being a Shard.
“Sunder once told me that the Red Order are known as the Spinners of Fate, but I don’t even know where to begin learning how to use my red magic. How to inflict luck or misfortune on others. I want you to teach me how. And how to use white, like you did.”
“I can’t guarantee that you’ll learn even if I try to teach you, but yes, fine. I will give you lessons in Chroma.”
He waves his hand dismissively at the idea, clearly unconvinced that I’ll be successful. I consider the words longer, playing them over in my head. There’s no stipulation about me not trying to escape or obeying him or even touching him. It seems like a simple agreement. If we bond, I can leave.
I chew on my lip, knowing Sunder would be furious with me for making a deal with this guy. But Sunder isn’t here. I need to get back to him. Besides, if Tairyn is giving me lessons in Chroma, that means he’ll need to lower my shield sometimes. Maybe I’ll be able to reach out to Bobble and Sunder through our bond.
It’s the best chance that I have.
“It’s a deal.”
fifteen