me to ensure you have everything you need."
Freedom, independence, and a plane ticket out of here. "My bag was in North's car, it has my clothes in it."
She nods. "I will have it here shortly. Goodnight, Miss."
She leaves me to it and I check out the bathroom quickly before climbing in the shower to wash off the guilt and awful feeling Nox has left me with.
I have no choice but to get dressed back into my pajamas, leaving the boxer shorts in the laundry basket. I'll never freaking touch them again. I should really burn them. I absently wonder how much it will cost to replace them and suddenly becoming a cam-girl is looking even more tempting.
Someone out there must want to pay to see my rack, right?
My bag is sitting on my bed when I get back to my room and it reminds me to flick the lock on the door before I climb into bed.
I grab my phone and find Atlas' text message waiting for me.
I've already called the Council and put in a formal complaint. They'll probably rule in North's favor, but I'm pushing to have you here a few nights a week, Oli. I'm sorry, I didn't realize how fucking irrational he is about you. Sweet dreams, sweet girl.
I'm not sweet though. I really am fucking poison, just like Nox said. I'm everything that's wrong with our bond. If I wasn't born... wrong, this would never have happened. I'd never have to leave them again and we'd all be whole right now instead of being these broken people.
Nox is so fucking damaged by what I've been forced to do, I don't think he'll ever forgive me.
I know I won't forgive him.
I won't even be able to look the guy in the face ever again.
Fuck.
My phone buzzes in my hand again.
I can see you've read the text, Oli, tell me you're okay. Because if you're not, I'm coming there right now, fuck the Council.
I rub my finger over the photo of him in my contacts. Fuck it, we're bonds right?
Nox is pissed and he tried to bond with me. It didn't work and he's told me I'm defective. You should probably be warned that you're trying to solidify a bond with someone who isn't... worth it. I'm turning my phone off to go to sleep. Goodnight, Atlas. You're the best guy I've ever known and I'm so sorry you're stuck with a defective Bond.
I switch my phone off the second the text shows as delivered. I don't need to know what his answer is, I just need to forget about this absolute shit-show that my life is and pass out.
I can’t run from this forever but I can for tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The house shakes me awake.
I'm sure it's an earthquake and I panic because I know exactly nothing about what the hell to do in an earthquake. Then I remember that I’m at North’s house and I don’t even know how to get the hell out of this place usually, let alone during a natural disaster. What the fuck am I supposed to do?
I turn my phone on, ready to start calling my Bonds until someone picks up and tells me what the fuck to do right now, only to find thirty messages from Atlas.
When the house rumbles again, I realize the shaking is absolutely related to my Bonds and I immediately hit dial on his number.
“Oli? Where are you? Which floor? I’m taking you home.”
I scramble out of the bed and stumble over to the window, yanking on the curtains until I can see out onto the street. Sure enough, there he is.
The gate is also rubble.
“What the hell— okay, never mind. The third floor, but good luck getting past—“
He cuts me off, “Fuck the Dravens. I will take the entire fucking house down to the ground if they try to stop me. That asshole North told me you’d be safe here and then he can’t even protect you from his own brother? I’ll kill the cunt.”
Jesus have mercy. “It’s not exactly like that, Atlas. Please just listen—“
There’s the sound of a key in my door and I almost drop my phone before I remember the maid’s words. Only North has a key, so at least it’s not going to be Nox storming in here to tell me again how worthless I am as a human and a Bond.
The door swings open and North flicks the light on, glancing at the bed and then around the room