Page 252 of Psycho Gods
The strange dream I’d had about the Necklace of Death; the new vibrant colors; the lack of emptiness in my chest; the enchanted pulsing jewelry.
I stared down at my diamond covered wrist in astonishment.
My new soul bond with the twins must have broken my toxic connection with the kings.
I was free.
I tipped my head back and laughed with abandon.
It was a miracle.
Immediately, my euphoria abated as I remembered how the bond was hurting the twins. There was still something wrong with my soul.
I rubbed at my aching sternum and breathed deeply. I tried to calm my racing thoughts.
You’ll figure it all out.
“What are you doing?” Orion yelled over the wind as he sprinted toward me. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”
I composed myself.
“Breakfast,” I answered casually.
A hand on my arm stopped my forward progress through the snow.
“I can’t tell you where they went,” Orion said like he could read my mind. Snowflakes gathered on his dark eyelashes, the white contrasting with his golden skin. “But don’t worry, everything is going to work out. I promise.”
I sighed.
Staring into his eager eyes, I realized I couldn’t tell him about the fixed bond sickness.
He’d be devastated and convinced that I’d chosen the twins over him and the kings.
I didn’t want him to suffer.
I didn’t want any of them to suffer.
Not anymore.
“Let’s go eat.” I held out my hand.
Instead of taking my hand, Orion draped his arm over my shoulder and pulled me flush against him. I melted into his embrace.
The silence between us was peaceful.
He led me into the cafeteria, pulled my chair out at the table where Jinx was sitting, then went and got food for both of us.
At the beginning of the war, each of the tables had been full of soldiers eating and talking boisterously.
Less than half the tables had people seated at them.
Everyone spoke in hushed murmurs.
I started to count the number of people present but stopped because it was nauseating.
We’d walked into the last battle with fifty-nine soldiers.
There were not that many left.