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“We won’t say anything,” I reaffirm. “You’re both right. They don’t need to know right now.”
She pulls back from Soren’s chest, turning to me with confused eyes.
“They’re your pack,” she points out needlessly.
I snort in contempt. “Love, compared to you, they don’t even signify. And I’m not exactly feeling charitable toward them, yeah?” I bite my lip, considering. “We’re just going to have to get on one page about our Bonds. I haven’t mentioned our Scent-Match Bond yet, and so far no one’s bothered to ask specifics about the silver Bond, but make no mistake—those questions are coming.”
I lean in, brushing a loose strand of hair out of Idril’s face. She’s so beautiful. So perfect. I could stare at her forever, awed by her very existence. My heart swells with love, and I funnel it down the Bond, eager for her to feel the way I feel.
She gasps, hands flying to her chest—a soft, small smile blooms, full of wonder and hope.
It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Soren grabs the pillow Idril tossed at his face and leans back, shoving it behind his head. “To be completely fair, I have plenty of questions about the Bond, too.”
“What questions? You’re Scent-Matches,” I point out, frowning in confusion.
Soren shakes his head, hesitates, and starts nodding instead. His frown deepens, brow furrowing in confusion, and he shrugs.
“Wow,” I respond flatly, once I’m sure he’s not going to change his answer a fourth time. “That was incredibly fucking insightful and not at all confusing. Thank you.”
Idril laughs, and the sound of her happiness fills me with light. Her joy makes me smile and clearly affects Soren the same way, because his frown is gone and his face splits into a huge grin.
“We’re Scent-Matches,” he clarifies. “But another Bond snapped into place down in the cells. It’s stronger. More real, if that makes sense. It’s so…” he scrubs a hand down his face in frustration. “I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s just… more.”
There’s no need for an explanation, though. And in his defense, I don’t think even the most talented wordsmith to ever exist could find a way to describe the way the silver Bond feels.
“So then… there are two for both of you. One gold—the Scent-Match Bond—and one silver. Except,” she turns to me, “why haven’t I felt the Scent-Match Bond with you yet, Caelan?”
“You will,” I promise her. “As soon as my suppressants wear off. It’s common practice to keep a patient on suppressants, but they’re not long-lasting, so it’s only a matter of time.”
Her eyes light up, and I swear I see her Omega peeking out for the briefest second before disappearing again.
“I know the gold thread is a Scent-Match, but the silver… I have no idea what that is,” she admits.
“I don’t either,” I admit.
“No clue,” Soren sighs. “But there has to be some information somewhere.”
“If there were, Daxen would have found it,” I tell him. “Or I would have in the days leading up to the Ambush.”
“Well, I say we lean on our ignorance of the new Bond if anyone asks,” Soren suggests. “As long as we keep what we do know to ourselves and continue letting everyone think your Scent-Match Bond is with Soren while my Bond with you is a never-before-seen Bond that we simply don’t have answers for…”
“That sounds easiest, and technically none of it is a lie,” Soren agrees.
“I do want information on the silver Bond,” I grumble, standing up and stretching the kinks out of my neck. “Maybe I’ll find something while I’m searching for a way to break my Pack Bonds.”
Silence.
Idril stands. She studies me, searching for something she must find because the next thing I know she’s in my arms, limbs wrapped around me tight like she never wants to let go.
“Thank you,” she whispers, then shocks the shit out of me when she leans in and gently rubs the side of her neck and face against mine. Scent-marking me.
“Why are you thanking me?”
Instead of answering, she lets go of me, and reluctantly, I release my hold on her as well so she can get down. For a long moment she just stands in front of me, eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears and so much fucking gratitude it makes my chest ache.
“You can’t break your Bond with them,” she tells me fiercely.
