Page 83 of Forging Bonds: Part One

“How the fuck did that happen?” I ask aloud. A small buzz of magic, barely noticeable, buzzes in the hand that’s holding Betty. It’s nowhere near as strong as it is with Azael, but it’s definitely there, and it wasn’t there before. “Azael, is Betty somehow becoming an enchanted object?”

Azael buzzes strongly in my hand, and I know that he’s telling me yes.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired and a lot of shit has happened today, but I hug Betty as tears start to well in my eyes. She has been through so much with me and has often been the only thing that I can confide in, and now she’s going to be able to communicate with me too. In a limited way, but still so much more than she has been able to. It will also give her a level of protection. She will always be able to find me.

Holy shit, maybe that’s why she has had bullets in the past when I know that she shouldn’t have had any in her.

I need to go to bed. I can think about this at a later date and definitely talk to Raiden about it because he probably knows loads of stuff that I don’t and will be able to explain to me how this has happened and if there’s anything I can do to speed up the process and get her to the same point that Azael is at.

Tomorrow.

Now I need sleep. Holding them both tightly, I head back to my room; before I leave the bathroom, though, I grab a towel to place under my boots; I can’t risk not having shoes on, but I also don’t want to mark the bed with my boots. Setting everything up, I lie down, with Betty in one hand and Azael in the other, now not because I think that they won’t come if I need them, but because they make me feel safe.

∞∞∞

Azael and Betty buzz violently in my hands, and that’s the only warning I get before I feel the same sensation as before when we got pulled through the portal. I land in a crouch, feeling really super proud of myself that I didn’t land on my ass.

Instantly, my eyes scan my surroundings, looking for danger and assessing the situation. We appear to be in some kind of desert, and it’s hot, really fucking hot. Unfortunately, by we, I mean the Draconian Team and I.

“Great,” I mutter, and they all send daggers my way.

My eyes scan them, and I smirk when I see that the only one of them who thought to do the same as the guys and I is Coen, he’s fully dressed, including boots, and even has some weapons strapped to him. He looks hot as fuck, butI don’t allow my eyes to linger. I don’t want Kylen to figure out that we know each other before we can figure out how to break the control he has over Coen.

“Give me your shirt,” Kylen demands, glaring at Coen.

Coen’s expression tightens as he unbuttons his shirt and hands it over to Kylen. I’m briefly disappointed by the fact that he’s wearing a shirt underneath. Coen’s tattooed chest is one of my favorite things in the world.

My attention moves to Kylen since if I stay looking at Coen for any longer, I’ll get all hot and bothered with memories playing through my mind, and that would definitely give away our relationship.

Oh, and we’re in the middle of a task for the Choosing, and I probably shouldn’t be thinking about that sort of stuff right now.

I can’t help but snicker, “Oh, you look like you just put on Daddy’s shirt.” Adding sarcastically, “It’s just a smidge too big. Aw, I see your hand grew back. Was it as painful as they say?”

Rage fills Kylen’s eyes as he rushes toward pulling his fist back, I don’t move, I just carry on smiling. Before he can get to me though, Coen steps in his path.

His voice is rough as he mutters, “You’re being filmed.”

Kylen clears his throat and straightens his shirt, which makes me snicker again. I know I’m playing with fire, but am I really? I mean, would it be a great loss if I accidentally cut his head off?

I don’t think so.

The voices rise in warning and the smile that graced my features while I was thinking about killing Kylen drops. My eyes move to our surroundings.

Coen proves just how in sync he still is with me as he picks up on my change in mood immediately and becomes just as alert as I am, his eyes scanning around us just like mine are.

Kylen, of course, is completely oblivious, “You’ll learn manners soon, little girl.”

I scoff but choose to ignore him as the threat becomes bigger.

He continues, “You think that you . . .”

Coen interrupts his voice sharp, “Shut the fuck up, something is coming.”

Rage once again flares in Kylen’s eyes, but he listens, and finally, the rest of the team starts to pay attention as well.

I grip Betty and Asael tighter as I drop down into a fighting stance, from this position, I’m ready to fight or jump. Hell, even run, the point is I’m ready, and Coen is in the same position as I am while the others are just looking around bewildered. How the fuck are these idiots still alive?

It wouldn’t surprise me if it was purely Coen keeping them alive.

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