Gryphon blows out a long breath, frustration etched into the lines of his face. “I’m not a hundred percent sure, obviously, but I was aware of what it was doing to her. If I had to make a guess, I’d say that she really is going to be fine. Actually, I’d say she’s going to be protected from anything like that happening again, not just from that god-bond, but any other being that might try to manipulate her.”
I let out a deep sigh, relief coursing through me and unloading a heap of pressure that I have been carrying for the longest time. There had always been a fear in me that whatever had happened to Sage when she had been possessed might happen again. Gryphon's god-bond, the Soothsayer, has given me a priceless gift by protecting her in such a way.
“Do you think that it could do that for the rest of us too? If he can keep Sage’s mind safe like that, could he protect the rest of us as well?”
Gryphon’s head pushes back into his pillow as he considers my words, his hair falling over his forehead where it’s come loose from the leather hair tie he keeps it back in. “I don't think the rest of the Bonded Group needs it. I think that I might be the only one capable of getting into their heads in the first place. I've only ever done that with their permission, even Atlas.”
I nod and settle back into his arms, taking a second to just enjoy the quiet peace of the bedroom. I’m afraid to let it go, to get up and get back to our lives. The moment I do, this will all slip through my fingers, and I’ll never have it again.
As I sigh for the third time, Gryphon shifts me in his arms, murmuring, “I’ve never been so sure of our ability to win this war. Whatever you're thinking about that has you sighing like that, Bonded, don’t tie yourself up in knots about it. We’re going to deal with these god-bonds, clear out the rest of the Resistance scum, and no one is ever going to be able to take this away from us again. This is it for us, the perfect Bonded Group and life. I’m sure of it.”
The slow smile stretches over my face as I run my hand over his chest, enjoying the simple touches between us that we so often miss out on because of the demands of his job.
“It sounds like you might actually like the god-bond more than you’re letting on here, Bonded,” I whisper with a self-satisfied smile, the type that shows that he's taken care of every last one of my needs.
“If the god-bonds are going to keep you safe and get us all through this alive, then I’ll like it a whole lot more than I was ever expecting to. You’re worth every bit of that possession feeling, the helplessness, if it keeps you safe.”
He lifts a hand to thread through my hair as he curses under his breath at his phone, looking down at me draped over his chest with nothing but pure male satisfaction.
He cups the side of my face and presses a gentle kiss to my lips, murmuring against me, “The one feeling that the god-bond woke up with, that stayed with it for the entire time he was in control of my body, was the overwhelming need to protect you, covet you and worship you… to destroy anything that might harm you or upset you. It's a relief to know that if I'm going to have something like that living inside of me and sharing control of my body, at least we're on the same page about that.”
My heart flutters in my chest at the idea of their shared devotion, at being the catalyst within the Bonded Group, the one thing to bring each of these men to peace with the gods living within their skin.
His phone buzzes again, and he curses viciously under his breath as he grabs it. “The world won’t wait for us forever, Bonded, though I might just kill Black for interrupting us like this.”
As much as I feel as though I'm betraying Sage by thinking this, I agree with him wholeheartedly as he gently moves me off of his chest and gets up to walk back to his own bathroom to shower.
After a few minutes of moping quietly, Atlas ducks his head into the room and, seeing that I'm awake, saunters over to me with a relieved grin. He's careful not to wake Gabe, which is another thing that sets my anxiety off. He would normally shove at my shifter playfully or throw a pillow at him or some other show of rowdy friendship, but even he can see that Gabe needs his rest.
Atlas senses my anxiety, and after he's swooped down to brush a gentle kiss against my lips, he whispers, “He’ll be fine, Sweetness. It's just the shift sapping his energy, the same way that you used to take extended naps.”
I nod. I'm sure he's right, but I can't help myself either. I drag myself out of the bed to pull clothing on as quietly as I can, aware of Atlas’ eyes on me as he not-so-discreetly checks me for any damage the Soothsayer may have done.
I’m more worried about whatever marks Nox’s firm grip might have left, but Atlas doesn’t say anything, and his face is still calm when I turn around in a pair of jeans and one of his sweaters that covers me to the knees.
I check on Gabe before we leave, pressing a hand gently against the side of his neck to feel the steady thrumming of his heartbeat and trying to let it lessen my anxiety a little bit.
He sighs in his sleep and rolls towards me unconsciously, his body seeking me out even in his slumber. I find myself very tempted to just climb back into the bed and lie with him, but there's also a frenetic sort of energy underneath my skin; the juxtaposition of how tired I feel but how wired I really am is making me itch.
“I’ll take you over to Sage’s place, Bonded. We can message Gabe later and tell him to come over when he’s finally up. Everything will be fine, Sweetness. Stop frowning. He wouldn't want you fussing over him like this, not when he's not awake to enjoy it.”
I scoff a little and then follow him out of the door, dragging my feet a bit.
CHAPTERFIVE
Oli
The doorto Sage and her Bonded Group’s house is opened by Wick, and he stares down at me with the sort of distrust and wariness that I'm used to seeing on the faces of everyone within the community except those close to us. I have to remind myself that just because he is one of Sage’s Bonded, it doesn't mean he owes me anything, and I haven't exactly had time to make nice with him yet.
Wick growls at me, “So, Sage isn't allowed to go anywhere or speak to anyone, but you guys are allowed to come over unannounced whenever you feel like it to check in on her?”
No ‘hi, how ya doin’’ or anything that could have passed as good manners. I have to place an arm across Atlas’ chest to stop him from launching at his throat.
I paste on a sweet smile that just about kills me. “This isn't a wellness check. This is me coming to see my best friend and see how she's coping after her personal space and boundaries were once again violated by some asshole god-bond—”
“Like the one that’s living in your head?” he interrupts, crossing his arms over his chest as he continues to stare me down.
I'm surprised Atlas’ teeth don't crack under the pressure as he gnashes his jaw violently, but I'm proud that he manages to hold his temper, because I don't really want to fight with this man.
