Page 30 of Shadow Bonds

I quickly move onto Malakai. The bond between us is red and warm, almost fiery. I feel his passion, his protectiveness towards the others. But just like Theon’s switch, there’s also something almost soft and gentle about it too.

I slam the barrier between us and focus on the last of the four.

Knox.

I frown when I see his bond is green and light and airy. Like a wide-open forest. But there’s something almost sharp about it too. Like the edge of a blade.

“Don’t you even think about—”he starts, but I yank the barrier down on him too. And then there is nothing but silence. And a thumping headache.

But I’ll take that over having to deal with any of them.

I take a moment to breathe before packing up and moving. Knowing they’ll probably head straight to the library, and I need a few hours to myself before I have to head back to them.

I spend the next four hours eating, training, and hiding out in the forest. Enjoying every damn minute of it.

When it’s time to head back, I hide some food in a small container and place it under a rock in a hidden spot in the forest just in case. While also hoping the animals don’t steal it from me.

I slip into the house after I know they’ve gone to bed and head upstairs, breathing a sigh of relief when none of them come thundering down the hall to my room.

Stripping into just a tee and shorts, I slide into bed and sprawl out, happy that I’ll have a peaceful night’s sleep tonight.

Taking advantage of the beautiful silence in my head right now, I let every inch of my body relax before slowly starting to drift into a deep sleep.

In the back of my mind, I hear a door open and close. But I think nothing of it as I drift further into the dark.

An arm slides under me, and I jolt awake only to find Knox pulling me closer to him and his body.

“What the hell are you doing? Get out!” I shout.

Knox ignores me, so I start moving, shoving and kicking him away.

He tenses up and glances right at me and the look in his eyes makes me pause. It’s dark, making warning bells go off in my head, but there’s also layers of pain and sadness.

“I’m on the edge right now, Sena,” he admits. “The others are managing. But right now, I need this. So just suck it up and fucking let me hold you. You can go back to hating me in the morning,” he grits out before settling in behind me and moving us until my back is to his front.

“You hated me first,” I remind him, still trying to figure out what the hell is happening.

“Yeah, I did,” he whispers, and I pause at the complete honesty his voice.

I wait for a minute for him to completely relax and then I ask, “What did I do?”

He stills, and I feel every inch of his body tense up. He doesn’t answer, instead choosing to stay silent. But I really need to know what she did to them that made them this way. There are glimpses of the men they could be. But it’s completely overshadowed by their complete and utter hate for me.

“What did I do to make you hate me so much?” I ask, allowing the vulnerability in my voice to seep out, hoping he’ll give me something.Anything.

His hand slides up and curves around my throat, and he leans up and over me as he turns my head to him, looking down at me like he doesn’t know whether to strangle or kiss me.

I’m about to decide for him and break each of his fingers when he leans down and chooses the latter, running his tongue over my lips and mouth and destroying every thought I just had.

The kiss starts off lazy and languid while he holds me still and tempts and teases me with each stroke and brush of his lips, leaving me breathless.

Lost in a haze of pleasure, I hungrily push back, kissing him and sucking his tongue needing more.

He groans low and deep, making me shudder, and something snaps inside him. His hand tightens on my throat, and I feel him harden behind me.

Within seconds, the kiss turns angry and brutal, like he hates that he’s enjoying this as much as I am but can’t stop himself either.

And even though I still hate him and his shitty attitude, this body and the bond between us doesn’t. And it’s desperate and fucking hungry to feel more of him.

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