Page 97 of The Bonds of Indigo

“You may be the creator of this bond,” he says, voice low and steady. “But don’t forget I’ve had to live with it every second you have. I’m not stupid, even if you insist on treating me like I am. I don’t know what happened to you earlier… but I’m going to assume you’ve lost your mind being touched by whatever creature that was.”

A laugh bursts out of me, sharp and unexpected. “That creature is⁠—”

He cuts me off by covering my mouth with his palm. “Stop talking.” As he leans in, I swear I’m the source of the spring’s heat. “I’m going to walk away and go find something to kill. This conversation”—he motions between us—“isn’t done.”

“I can still talk to you like this,” I say through the bond.

His nose twitches, his eyes darken, and though I know he wants the reaction to scare me, it doesn’t. What comes through the bond is… different. Domination. A warning. The kind that says if I don’t submit, I won’t like the consequences.

Except my body very clearly disagrees because I know I would.

“What’re you going to kill, ‘Not Okay With This’?”

His hand tightens around my mouth. “A rat. Then I’m going to cook it, and that’ll be your dinner.”

“Seems like a lot of effort to⁠—”

“If you speak again,” he growls, “I’m going to bend you over and spank you. I’ve done that to my friends, so don’t be a smart ass.”

The entire point of this was to give us space, to let him walk away, though every part of me screams to let him follow through on that threat. But I obey. I have to.

He studies my eyes for a moment, then nods. “Good girl. Now.”

I know he heard the whimper that escaped me. I just know he did, even if he pretends he didn’t.

“I’m going to go get this aggression out—though I’d prefer to handle it another way—but someone is being fucking difficult.” He glares at me as if I’m the problem. “When I come back, you’ll be clothed, and we will continue this conversation.”

I nod, even though I fully intend to avoid that conversation with everything in me.

“Give me a minute. I’m going to go shove Atlas back in his tent.” He leans away, muttering under his breath. “I don’t want to kill my friend for seeing what he shouldn’t.”

The bond makes him possessive and jealous. That’s all. It’s becoming stronger because we’ve been around each other longer. That’s it. He’d not be this way if it weren’t for this damn thing.

I just have to keep telling myself that.

The break will be less painful.

It will be.

I’ll be okay.

“Are we clear?”

“Hmm?” I hum against his palm. Had he said something else?

“You’ll put clothes on before telling him it’s okay to come out, and I’ll be back before breakfast. Do not leave camp. Don’t run, hear me?”

I nod.

I have no intention of running. I’ll just avoid him as much as possible. The three of us will get back on the road, and I know Kayn won’t want to talk about this in front of Atlas. I’ll insist we drive straight to our destination and sleep in intervals.

Yeah… that’s it.

When we get there, I’ll help him retrieve this Luce person. Then I’ll activate the blood bind and make him complete his end of the bargain. Vendra will have to sever the bond then… She’s grown fond of him.

It sounds… horrible.

But necessary.