Page 5 of Bonded to The Boo Hag

“And so we are bound,” I spoke.

“And so we are bound,” he replied.

2

Gatlin

Ididn’t expect to feel anything once we were bound, so the steady thrum of awareness just at the back of my mind took me by surprise. It wasn’t like a rope tying me to Palmer or anything like that––it was a feeling of comfort. As Palmer had said, the magic had my back. Near the end of our bonding dinner, she mentioned that “magic favors humans,” and knowing that was a relief. If this was what it felt like when everyone was keeping their end of the bargain, only a dumbass would fuck around and find out.

I needed that reassurance because Palmer had the upper hand in every sense of the word. To Palmer, this might just be an adventure, but for me— The world as I knew it hung in the balance. We would be married for a year and a day, and in that time my twin sister would get better. Afterward, I could get on track again with my life and career. A year of my life for the possibility of many more years of hers wasn’t that big of a deal.

With that thought, I ate my dinner next to my Boo Hag bride, made polite conversation with the people and beings that approached our table, and waited for the time that we would leave Club Nyx for my new home.

She leaned in after the dessert course, the scent of orange blossom and spices filling my nose. I shifted, feeling her breath on my cheek, and once again I was struck by her mercury-colored eyes. I suspected most of her appearance was false, but her eyes seemed unspelled. Maybe I needed them to be because though she was disturbingly perfect, her eyes were unfailingly kind whenever they looked at Gemmy.

When she gazed at me, I saw curiosity and something raw and piercing that I felt bone deep. My fingers itched for my sketchbook for the first time in years.

“Are you ready to go, Gatlin?” she said softly, her voice cutting through the room's noise. “I have a hotel suite in town for our use.”

My breath hitched, and unease flooded my body. “So we won’t be going back to your estate?”

She chuckled, bringing her hand to rest on the back of my chair. My body stiffened at her proximity.

“Though I do want to bring you back to the Duvall family manse”—she withdrew her hand— “I thought perhaps you would be tired from the changes today has brought. The suite has four bedrooms and is quite spacious.”

I relaxed, remembering her unequivocal position on the subject of consent. “Thank you. Your home is about twenty-five minutes away, right?”

“It is, and though we could make it there by two in the morning, I want you to sleep before we supervise Gemma’s transport to the new hospital.”

Relief washed through my system, calming me even more. I had no reason not to believe Palmer’s promises. The contract was clear, and the magic felt right. Maybe it was the human fight-or-flight reflex I was pushing against, fueling my nerves. “She will be transferred tomorrow?”

“Yes, into the best suite available. It will be simpler than continuing to sneak into Gemma’s room at St. Luke’s. They think we are taking her home for hospice, her sudden improvement signaling a supposed decline. It’s easier this way. The hospital is a private one that I fund and is close to my home. They have done this sort of healing before and are well aware of what is happening.”

I shift away, shocked. “You’ve done this before?”

Palmer laughed; it was full-bodied and happy. I felt a tugging grin on my lips, though I wasn’t sure what the joke was.

“I have done this for the past seventy years. I suspect I will continue to do so. My people owe a debt, and it will be paid.” Her lips quirked, her look turning saucy. “Why do you think you were seen so quickly by the Nyxian Council? I assure you it did not play in your favor to hear you went to the Aetherian Council first.”

“You just expect humans to throw themselves willingly––” I flushed, remembering where I was and whom I was speaking to.

“At the mercy of monsters? Yes, I do. You have so much to learn, Gatlin. Humanity has always been watched over as they make their choices by these supposed holy and higher powers. In contrast, our people have consistently interfered and entwined themselves in humanity’s fate. Why seek a passive power when you can have an active one?” She smirked, reaching for her glass of champagne and taking a sip.

I scowled at her. “You can’t tell me that all of monsterkind’s attention has been purely for mankind’s benefit.”

She chuckled again. “No, I can’t, but between the two groups, who needs humans more, us or them?”

I sat with my thoughts circling on the idea that monsters were more our saviors than the literal beings we worshipped and their heavenly messengers.

She signaled across the room to someone, and the music faded. With it, the light scrapes of metal against china and general conversation waned.

Palmer stood, her hand just above the back of my neck. I’m sure to those assembled it looked like she was touching me, but she wasn’t. I was both relieved and strangely concerned I had offended her––maybe Boo Hags were a touch-oriented species.

“Everyone,” she called to the guests, gaining their attention, “we would like to thank you all for attending our bonding. We are retiring for the evening, but please enjoy the rest of your meal. The tab for the bar tonight is on me!”

Clapping and a few cheers rang out across the room. Not needing more direction, I stepped back so Palmer could lead us out of the room. It struck me then that over the next year, Palmer would be doing a lot of leading, and I suppressed a feeling of shame at the relief I felt at the prospect.

The suite at the private hospital Palmer owned was huge compared to the dinky room my sister had at St. Luke’s. Monsters and other mythical beings ran Marshland Regional Hospital. My sister was elated because the very beings she studied surrounded her.

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