Broken Bonds (The Bonds that Tie #1) - J. Bree Page 0,26

my suspicions have been confirmed. He’s been hanging around me to spy for North. Freaking perfect.

"Sage Benson. She's a Flame, she seems nice enough. Hasn't encouraged any adventures," Gabe mumbles, looking miserable even as he eats enough food to feed me for an entire week.

North's head tilts as he frowns at him. "Benson? Maria’s Bonded daughter? Isn't she one of Riley's Bonds?"

Gabe nods again, sighing as he looks over at me. "Yeah, her and Giovanna. She fucking hates Giovanna as well, so she's trying to focus on her studies. Oleander and Sage have been pulling extra hours in the library."

I put my knife and fork down. There's no way I'm going to sit here and listen to the freaking debrief.

North notices straight away. "Not to your liking, Fallows? I'll let the chef know for next week."

“Next week? I’m not coming back again.”

Gabe stiffens, his movements getting jerkier, but he doesn’t stop eating. I’m not sure anything would stop him at this point.

North watches him and then turns to me with a sharp glare. “You’ll be here every Friday for the foreseeable future. It’s taken a few weeks for me to nail down a day that works for us all but now that I have, this is going to be a regular occurrence.”

I scoff. “I can see everyone seems to be taking it seriously. Can I leave now? My curfew starts in ten minutes and I don't want to be late."

Gabe winces and takes a big gulp of his beer. Of course he gets alcohol and I get freaking water. What I wouldn't give for a vodka soda or a beer or something right now. Anything to take the edge off because I can feel the bullshit in the air, like things are only going to get worse.

"Your curfew isn't an issue during our dinners. My chef put a lot of work into cooking us all dinner, Fallows. The least you could do is eat it."

My lip curls and I'm about to rip him a new asshole when the door opens and in walks Gryphon. He ignores me entirely and takes a seat further down the table where he won’t have to look at me.

I roll my eyes— can any of them at least pretend to be civil— and then Nox stumbles through the door with one of his many little groupies tucked under his arm, giggling like a child.

My idiot, traitorous bond keens in my chest.

I don't fucking care what the asshole does but apparently my bond does.

"Oh, if it isn't my little poisonous Bond. Are you here to ruin dinner for us all? How about you do what you do best and run off and leave us all to our meal in peace."

Two minutes ago I desperately wanted to leave this table, and now I'm going to eat every last thing on my plate, even if I freaking choke on it.

Fuck Nox Draven.

The groupie giggles as she slides into her chair. North ignores her presence entirely but says to his brother, "You're late. If you're not going to be able to make it to dinner, please tell me beforehand. I can reschedule."

Nox shrugs and the little giggling bitch slumps into the chair next to Gryphon, leaning into his body to grab a plate.

My bond doesn’t like that.

Not one little bit.

Gryphon glances up to meet my eyes and I hold his gaze for a second, completely transfixed by the rage in my chest, before he glances away and breaks the moment.

He doesn’t push her away.

I grip my knife so hard my fist shakes. I think about everything I want to say right now, all of the home truths I could give these arrogant, ungrateful, asshole bonds, and then I swallow them back down.

The high road is definitely not for me and walking it just might kill me.

Chapter Seven

I manage to get through dinner without stabbing any of my Bonds or the giggling nightmare that Nox had brought with him, which in itself is a miracle because after we finish the main course, there is an elaborate spread of desserts brought out by a horde of North’s household staff.

Everything looks amazing and anything chocolate is an absolute must for me but on principle, I once again attempt to refuse.

North fills me another plate to the brim.

I don’t know if this is just him trying to prove his dominance over me or he’s trying to say something about all of the extra curves I have compared to the gorgeous, rail-thin women he