okay? Do you need help to the med bay?”
She sounds sincere enough and I wave her off. “It’s not the first wall I’ve been thrown into, you’re fine.”
She nods and straightens up, turning to face Vivian, but staying close to me like she’s expecting me to pass out on her or something. I attempt to pull my focus back to the class but it’s like the air in the room has shifted and now there’s tension leaking out everywhere. I glance around but there’s no signs of where it’s coming from so I force my attention back onto the sparring that’s happening on the mats.
I’m forced to sit out for the rest of the session but there’s a rough sort of competition that starts and it’s too freaking cool to watch. Round after round, we watch as the groups get smaller and smaller. There’s a weird, Bond sort of pride in me that Gabe wins every fight until he’s the last one standing.
Vivian grunts a ‘well done’ at him but Gabe preens like he’s been given endless praise, and it’s freaking weird. We all head back to the locker rooms to change and Hanna sticks a little too close to me the whole time. I start to think her apology was just a smokescreen and she’s about to throw a punch at me while I’m standing around in my underwear, but then she takes a deep breath the second the locker room door swings shut.
“Holy shit, I honestly thought I was about to have my life ruined by Shore’s entire TacTeam for throwing you off. I swear to you, I didn’t mean to do that. I have no idea why my gift went haywire.”
Her words come out in a rush and it takes me a second to remember that Gryphon’s surname is Shore. “It’s fine, they were probably just shocked you’d stepped out on Vivian’s rules. I’m not hurt, don’t sweat about it.”
She groans and strips down to pull her jeans and tee on. I’m a little more awkward about changing in front of everyone but only because half of my clothes don’t actually fit me anymore and it’s embarrassing to not look the way I want to style myself.
“We all know what happened to Zoey, I know better than to lose my shit around you. I’ll never let it happen again.”
I frown at her but she’s still muttering to herself and I have to butt in to say, “Zoey lost her spot because she went against a teammate, it had nothing to do with me. Chill out, Gryphon honestly can’t stand me. You’re good.”
She stops, staring at me for a heartbeat, and then shakes her head. “He went to her family personally. I was at her place to finish up an assignment we had together and it was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen. Personal shit aside, you’re still his Bond, and Gryphon Shore is not someone you just decide to piss off on a whim.”
She slings her bag over her shoulder and rushes out before I can decipher half of what she’s said. I’m left standing there in the locker room as it clears out, my hoodie clutched in my hands, as everything I thought I knew about these Bonds of mine is questioned.
When Gabe and I arrive at North’s mansion for our bond dinner, I’m still a twisted, messed up pile of emotions. I don’t like feeling like this, like I don’t really know where I stand with any of them, and Gabe keeps staring at me like he’s worried I’m about to burst into tears.
I mean, it’s not that far off because I might.
He unlocks the front door like always ,but when we step in, we’re immediately stopped by two of the house staff and North’s driver. Gabe doesn’t seem worried, but I feel so uncomfortable because I’ve seen these people dozens of times and yet I still don’t know their names. It feels classist and like I’m some asshole for not introducing myself to them properly.
The driver inclines his head at me respectfully and gestures to the house staff. “Miss Fallows, Councilman Draven is attending a dinner in the city tonight and you will be joining him. He’s on a call at the moment, but he’s left instructions for you to be ready in the next hour, so we must move quickly.”
Oh, fuck no. Absolutely not. “I’m not—“
“Miss Fallows, you really must hurry. Councilman Draven won’t be available to speak with you for some