Page 3 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

I did that. My words are doing that to her. I promised to take care of her—it’s all I’ve ever wanted. And now I’m doing the opposite when she needs me most.

But I’d rather hurt her, have her hate me, than have any more harm come to her from the man who’s trying to tear us apart.

Ezla doesn’t answer me, only turns away, scanning her thumb beside the exit to our Bonded chambers.

“EZLA! PLEASE, DON’T GO!” Tiger continues to sob hysterically, mirroring my internal state, even as I fix the facade of anger and disappointment on my face as I watch the taalk door slide away to reveal the long hallway outside. “NO! I’LL BE SO GOOD! PLEASE!”

“ALBY!” I roar, alarm spiralling through me as he chooses that moment to throw himself across the room after them.

Joseph’s mask slips, lips twisting into an ugly snarl. He reaches into his suit jacket, and even though he’s not a former student of a training school, from both the fact he’s the ultimate power in our world and what I saw in Ezla’s memories, I know he has his own armoury sticks along with multiple other privileges he shouldn’t.

But Ezla lashes out before my quietist brother can meet a blow from him.

Everyone freezes as we take in her slim gloved fingers curled around Alby’s pale neck.

Hazel eyes wide, his throat bobs in her grip. “E-Ezla . . . I-I’m not a-afraid of you,” he struggles out as she squeezes, his already-splotchy cheeks gaining even more colour as his lungs beg for air. “Ple . . . ase, don’t l-leave . . . Y-you . . . I lo-love you s-so much . . . Don’t . . . don’t g-go.”

“You are, and have always been, pathetic. There is no love in me to give, so I’d advise you to stop wasting your breath in your attempts to get it. Furthermore, you have only latched onto me because I am the first woman to give you a scrap of attention. Do better. It is embarrassing to have you as my Bonded.”

Joseph’s chin dips as his lips threaten to twitch into an evil smirk when Alby’s face crumples. I myself feel as though someone’s just carved into my chest cavity with the hollowness I now find inside it, but again, I show none of this in my outward appearance.

“She doesn’t mean it, Alby! She doesn’t!” Tiger’s wild movements start up again, and my muscles strain as I struggle to keep hold of him.

Alby lands in a heap on the unforgiving taalk floor as Ezla drops him. Then, without a glance back, she and Joseph leave the room.

“HAVOC! Get your fucking hands off me, Cooper! I won’t hesitate to kill you! HAVOC!”

“EZLAAA! Scotty, let me go!”

I’m trembling, aching all over as my family falls apart around me. And only when that taalk door slides closed, only when our Bonded and her jailor are long gone, do I allow the tears to gather in my eyes and streak down my cheeks. My forehead thumps against my brother’s back, and a choked sound leaves me, getting lost among all the other soul-crushing sobs and pleas and furious bellows all around. When Tiger’s legs give out, I go down, too, and I can only grip him tight, trying my hardest to keep him together as much as myself.

2

ALBY

You are, and have always been, pathetic . . . no love in me to give . . . only latched onto me because I am the first woman to give you a scrap of attention . . . Do better.

It is embarrassing to have you as my Bonded.

I feel numb.

For a few moments, at least . . . and then the pain crashes back in again, my stomach revolting in response.

The process repeats itself over and over as I sit here motionlessly, staring at that glossy slab in front of me that’s taken Ezla away.

Ezla . . .

You are, and have always been, pathetic.

No . . . she doesn’t mean it . . . she doesn’t mean it . . . she doesn’t . . .

Furthermore, you have only latched onto me because I am the first woman to give you a scrap of attention.

That’s not true. I wanted her before then, was drawn to her since the end of Game 1. She’s made me feel special, yes, but her attention only feels the way it does, so unexplainably good, because it’s her. Because of who she is. The way she’s so confident, so unapologetic, so different from anyone I’ve ever known before. She can read me like no one else has ever been able to, and I know it’s not just because of the bond. We have a natural connection. And she doesn’t baby me in training, doesn’t—

“Alby!”

I jolt, swollen eyes snapping up to Scotty, who looks no better than I must.