“I feel fine. And until I need it to come out, the Eternal is happy to leave it to me. We're on very good terms, you know.”
The Corvus cocks his head to one side as it looks me over. I smile, reaching out for a hug, and am delighted when it lets me. Both of the veryhumanBonded behind me make unhappy noises at all of the touching. I pull back for just a moment instead, using the opportunity to get some more information.
“Which god-bond has come to see us? Is there anything I need to know before we go down and face it?”
“We should kill it,” says the Crux, and the Soothsayer shrugs.
“It's not happy that I broke the connection and it's been forced to come crawling on its own two feet instead of using what belongs to us.”
Even though the words might be a little confusing, it all snaps together in my head slowly. “It’s the possession one, isn't it? The one that took over Sage. It's here because we wouldn't listen to it.”
All it takes is a single nod of the Corvus’ head before I'm off, stalking over to the elevator and jabbing at the button. I’m ready to run down and open the gates myself to punch this god-bond square in the jaw before I rip its soul clean out, and no one will stop me from doing so.
That asshole almost destroyed my best friend, and I’m going to kill that motherfucker.
* * *
I supposewhen I think of god-bonds, I think of tall and muscular men. I think of the handsome faces that surround me and the men who are so devastatingly attractive that I never stood a chance trying to keep myself and my bond away from them. I think of the paragon of beauty and grace and desire.
I certainly do not think of middle-aged men with a receding hairline and a severe underbite.
“That's really him?That'sthe guy who infiltrated Sage’s head and killed Dara, who came close to ruining my best friend's life and definitely her peace of mind? I almost feel bad for wanting to punch him,” I snark.
The god-bonds don't react to my words at all, but Gabe howls with laughter, clutching at his belly dramatically. “You're struggling to comprehend that he is a god-bond because he's not hot enough?”
Atlas scowls at Gabe for a second before a shit-eating grin creeps over his face, and I have to smother the urge to throw hands at the two of them.
“I’d be more concerned if you did think they were hot,” Atlas snarks back, and it's weird not having one of the other three chime in. I have to remember that they're probably in there somewhere biting their tongues and waiting for the moment that they can give me hell about this.
You won't have to wait for long.Nox’s voice drifts through to me, and I startle as I glance over, but his bond is still in control. We’re all standing in one of the control rooms, watching the god-bond on the large monitor, everyone just waiting for something, anything, to happen.
It’s making my skin itch.
Are you okay in there?I send back.
We’re all fine, don’t worry. I’m interested to see what they choose to do here. There's been a lot of talk of how powerful and incredible they are but not a whole lot of substance yet. I want to know what they will do for you.
That's a little bit sweet from him, and I duck my head. Naturally, Gabe and Atlas both notice.
“It’s Nox, isn't it?” Atlas says in a wary voice. “That's definitely a Nox smile.”
I choke back a laugh because part of me wouldn't believe that I had a Nox smile a few months ago, but I can already feel it on my face, so I'm not going to argue with him about it.
“He's keeping an eye on everything. I don't know how much North and Gryphon can see, but he's here to watch everything.”
“Well, that's what North said, wasn't it? That Nox always got along with his. I only hope that someday I can get along with mine that well,” Gabe says.
“How do you get along well with a dragon?” Atlas says as we watch the monitor together, waiting for the god-bonds to make a move. It's like a very long, very intense game of chicken. Everyone is waiting for someone to do something worth reacting to.
“It only ever talks to me when Oli is around. Even then, it's just to make the claim over her. It doesn't really have opinions like the rest.”
Atlas nods slowly, thinking it over, and Gabe shrugs at him. “What's yours like? Have you spoken to it yet?”
“Mine's pretty much the same, except it doesn't like a lot of things… like people being around Oli. In the cafeteria, it pretty much wanted to try to tear everybody to pieces.”
I give him a look, but Gabe chuckles under his breath. “The dragon wants to eat them. I guess I’m expecting that sort of reaction from all of them.”
Atlas nods again and then turns to me. “Sweetness, what does the terrifying and cantankerous Soul Rending god-bond say to you?”
