Page 80 of The Bonds of Indigo

“Oh—uh—well, thank you,” Atlas stammers. He sounds petrified, but I don’t bother looking at him. My attention is locked on her. “I can make us a to-go cup⁠—”

The sound that leaves my throat is feral enough to make him choke on his own words.

“—two. Two to-go cups. Separately. Obviously. Heh.”

“Thanks, Atlas. Appreciate it.”

She hands him the mug, but before he can grab it, I dart my hand across the table and snatch it, covering the top so it doesn’t splash her. The hot liquid rolls across my palm, the heat not registering because I’m already burning.

“Karma’s funny, isn’t it, Butcher?” she murmurs, her voice sliding through the bond like a blade. “I’ll never forgive you for last night.”

My nose twitches as a slow, smug smile curls my lips. “For making you wet, or for leaving you with a mess you had to take care of yourself?”

Her mouth twitches with a ghost of a smile.

“I actually went to sleep. I’ve no interest in touching myself while thinking of you.”

“Filthy… little… liar.”

“Plus—” She wets her lips. “I’m all good this morning. You seem to be the one wound up.”

I’m going to fuck that word ‘good’ out of her system, I swear to the Gods.

“Alright, well I’m still here,” Atlas says, nervous as Beyond.

I blink, and suddenly the sounds of the breakfast area rush back in—kids yelling, plates clattering, machines hissing. Noise I’d tuned out completely.

Amarah looks at him, all innocence.

“Sorry. We’ll get those to-go cups, since someone doesn’t believe in sharing.”

How painfully ironic that statement is.

“It’s fine,” he says, smiling at her. The one she gives right back is genuine.

Godsdamn it. Even that, something so small, makes irritation claw up my spine. Am I actually jealous?

“Anyway,” Atlas continues, “about our next step. How do you plan on opening the gates?”

She sighs, and whatever sharp, chaotic energy she’d had moments ago—the teasing, the provocation, the fire—drains out of her. She reverts right back into herself: Reserved, controlled, and distant.

And as much as that little stunt of hers pissed me off, I can’t lie… it was fun. The spark in her. The bite. Even that tight, polite smile she gives Atlas now, it’s still nice to see.

She is beautiful.

Godsdamn these tug-of-war feelings.

Then it happens—so quickly it’s almost imperceptible. Her lips press together, chin dipping as she lets out a soft, quiet giggle.

She smothers it immediately, forcing her expression back to neutral.

Did she hear my thoughts? I didn’t send anything through the⁠—

“Stop thinking.”

Her voice snaps through the bond, before she switches smoothly to speaking aloud, directing her next words to Atlas, not me.

“I want to confirm something before making a rushed decision. You know there are certain places with higher energy concentrations across the continent, right? They’re called Vortices. Mundanes use them for healing and self-exploration, but for us Yldarwrights, they help us connect to Vendra directly. I checked online for the closest one before I came to find you both.”