Page 60 of Twisted Bonds
I don’t listen as they excitedly babble about how they found us or their tight embraces. Or the kisses. Interestingly, I don’t seem to be alone in this sentiment. I glance up at Cal’s bitter face, twisted in disgust at the display of affection.
“And this must be the Fourth?”
The tone catches my attention. It’s the First Shard, of course. His tone is less than friendly.
“Callum.”
The introduction is gruff and distant. Standoffish even. Cal removes his foot from my back, walking over with all the bravado a gaunt scholar can have. I take the opportunity to peel myself from the floor. Moving slowly, I brush the dirt from my suit, not to disguise the aches in my body. Mira’s healing helped significantly, but I’m still cut and bruised like a tenderized steak.
The blood on the floor remains as I finally get to my feet and spare a glance for the group gathered. I take a step back, arms folding over my chest as I lean against the wall. Not for support. Because it’s comfortable.
“I see you handled him well enough,” the shifter says with a smile, nodding at me, as he takes Callum’s hand. “Name’s Bobble. Nice to finally meet you.”
Mira practically swoons in his arms, the purring from his chest radiating around the room. I can’t keep the sneer from my face. I test the shield around me, hoping to find a weak spot where my Chroma can leak out. Despite Mira trying to save me moments ago, these guys are going to tear me apart the second she turns her back.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I blink at that, trying to hide my surprise. Sunder stands back, letting the other two chat. His eyes are only for me. Smoldering hatred burns there, and I return it with disinterest. He’s nothing to me.
“What’s going on here?” He eyes the pool of blood on the floor.
“Everything’s fine,” Mira says, her eyes brushing over me with hesitance. “We aren’t going to hurt Tairyn.”
“Like hell we aren’t.”
She steps up to him, squaring her shoulders. “He’s my mate, and despite all he’s done wrong, he’s not all bad. Besides, he’s your… brother?”
“Not brothers!” The cat pipes in a little too quickly.
Something flickers on Sunder’s face as he glances at the hulking ginger. Was that guilt?
“Look, it doesn’t matter. There’s something we have to talk about. All of us. Tairyn has news of Yurghen.”
All four bodies turn to me in unison, with looks of equal horror and disbelief. I’d laugh if I wasn’t thoroughly enjoying the aloof mask. It digs under the First’s skin. Too easy to rile that one up. I curl my finger and bring my nails closer for inspection.
“Well?” The First Shard demands. His voice grates on my nerves.
“If you’d kindly remove the shield? I’d like to monitor my wards for any further intrusions.”
I don’t trust those two dingbats to be discreet about anything, much less breaking and entering into a hidden lair. They probably blabbed about their destination every night at different pubs.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not.” Sunder practically spits back at me. Mira takes a step towards him, but I hold up a hand. I don’t need her to defend me or protect me. She glances at me, something like a question in her eyes. I hold her gaze as she nods and releases her shield over me.
Sunder’s, however, stays in place.
“The wards are there for a reason. Threats you don’t yet understand. Release. The. Shield.”
I form the words as a blade, holding it to his throat. Callum steps forward, likely to threaten me, but Bobble steps between us. I snarl at him, and he gives me an unabashed grimace.
“Listen, we’re a team. Probably. Soon maybe. Let’s calm down. Callum, you did a great job subduing him earlier-”
I scoff at that. I did not lose a fight with that soft dough boy. “Only because I was distracted by my wards being broken. Something likely to happen again, and next time it won’t be anyone with good intentions towards her.”
“And then you warned us and told us both to run. See? He’s… okay.”
Okay. Not good. Not on our side. Just okay. My stomach twists at her words, but what else would I possibly expect?
“This sick fuck hunts us down, takes you from us, and you think he’s okay?”