Page 28 of Forced Bonds

I nodded. “A long one at that, and it seems to keep growing in the present company.” I glared at him.

Chris’ face slowly morphed into a smirk and I already knew I wouldn’t like what was coming. “Want another thing to add?” He’d only just asked before he was on me, our food clattering to the ground, the plates breaking on impact, but I was the one breaking apart on the inside. Chris’ warm lips were on mine, and it felt right. So right. I wanted to punish him for that, but all I could manage was to fist his hair in a painful grip, not ready for his lips to disappear just yet. Why were both men so damn talented with their tongues? How was I meant to fight them when I knew how good they made me feel?

Chris had been right. I now had a new thing to add. Talented tongues would be my undoing.

“Having fun without me?” Zar purred, his voice way too close. But it broke the spell. I could finally breathe again. I pushed the annoyingly talented alpha off me, glaring at him again even though I knew it did nothing.

Chris ignored said glaring like I knew he would, and instead asked Zar, “What did your master say?”

Zar sat on the bed, his hand on my leg like he had the right to touch me. I snatched my leg back. No way was he touching me after making me feel like a slab of meat. If I could just keep my distance, then I would be able to actually think and show them just how mad I was.

They both ignored me as Zar began to explain his conversation with Altaur. “According to my master, the book isn't common knowledge, so he feels it's best to continue keeping it hidden. We don’t want humans to know we exist and a fluctuating number of vampires will surely make that happen. So, he’s going to send more our way to help guard the library. We don’t want the knowledge to leave us, so we must stay in Keen until the dangers pass, all while looking for the source and eliminating them.”

I stood, so fucking done already. “Oh, you decided that, huh? What about the humans that keep dying because of rogue attacks? But you don’t care about humans, do you? You just see us as food for you to do whatever you please with!”

Zar went wide-eyed by my words. Maybe he couldn't really feel my emotions after all, otherwise he wouldn’t have been this surprised. I’d been stewing with anger ever since Chris had told us about the damned book.

“Where is this coming from?” Chris asked, even if I’d really asked Zar. At least Chris didn’t feed from humans.

I shot him a dry look. “When you two decided what should be done without consulting me. You both proved just how little I matter in this sick mating slash blood bond situation. I didn’t want either of you in the first place. I especially don’t want you now that I know just how utterly disposable I am to you!” I had nowhere to go, so I locked myself in the bathroom, turning on the light blindly until I felt something poking out. It was a small black button. I pushed it and could cry from utter relief when I saw the glass go opaque, hiding me from view. That lying piece of shit. I locked the door, knowing it did absolutely nothing, but I felt it did so that was all that mattered.

I wished I’d taken my phone with me, but at least I still had my underwear and T-shirt on, even with some of my cum on the shirt. I couldn’t believe I’d let Zar touch me again like that. I would keep my distance. It was the only way I would remain in control. The walls were closing in on me again and I struggled to breathe. The screaming began. Even though I knew it was all in my head, it still sounded real and awful: my mother’s scream as a rogue vampire tore her throat out; my sister screaming from upstairs; my father nowhere to be seen; me hiding in the kitchen pantry, feeling blood drip down from the ceiling and having no idea which family member's blood I now wore.

“Benji!”

I was vaguely aware that someone was shaking my shoulders. But I wasn’t in the bathroom. I was in that pantry, hiding away as I shook with fear, peeing my pants out of sheer terror even though I knew the monsters would likely smell it along with my fear.

“Benji!”

The shouting continued, making me cover my head with my arms so I could drown out the screaming. Suddenly pain and pleasure flowed through me, a perfect mix of both. I sucked in a startled breath, meeting Zar’s glowing red eyes.

“Relax,” he ordered and I did, blinking rapidly to center myself. I was on the bathroom floor, the door now off its hinges and barely holding on. I had blood on my T-shirt, from a new wound on my neck, I noticed as I touched the tender mark. I would’ve been furious had I not felt so damn drained. Nothing mattered right now. I had no energy to protest when I got carried back to bed. No objections when Chris spooned me and rubbed my chest. No will to fight them as I let the comfort of pine needles and forest lead me into the best sleep I’d ever had.

I woke up to the scent of freshly brewed coffee, pine needles, and the smell of baked bread. It was a wonderful mix to wake up to, but my mood soured when I realized I was still in the hotel room and bonded to two supernatural beings who didn’t care about me. Fun times.

“Morning,” Zar greeted once my eyes found his across the room. He gracefully stood from the armchair and placed the small table thing on top of the bed, before placing a plate full of delicious breakfast items. I had bread, eggs, bacon, and some jam and butter. “I got you coffee and orange juice as well. Let me know which you prefer first.”

I would prefer whatever offered me some goddamn privacy, but I just shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t feel like talking to my captor, which Zar basically was right now.

Chris made a groaning sound next to me before his lips somehow found my hip and I held up my breakfast before kicking him off the bed. Now he was groaning from the floor. Served him right.

“I don’t consent to either of you touching me,” I stated, grabbing a forkful of eggs. I knew my words meant nothing to them, but it felt good saying it out loud.

“Okay,” Chris surprised me by saying. “But if you ever end up in the same situation as before, we will touch you.”

“Or if you’re in danger,” Zar agreed.

“In danger from what? Vampires who feed from me without my consent? Or perhaps other supernaturals with a fondness for biting who, like you, want to claim me without my consent?”

They both growled at that, making me sigh. “Stop acting like you care. You just don’t want me to die because that means so will you.”

Zar took my plate away from me just as I was about to spread the jam. “You really think we don’t give a shit? You think that I just picked you out randomly after centuries of being without a bonded?”

I shrugged, feeling shy under their intense gazes. “You don’t treat me as an equal, in fact you two seem to somehow team up against me. It’s hard to feel wanted when you show me over and over again that what I want and what I think isn’t important.”

“When have we ever done that?” Chris questioned.

Was he for real?