Bonding Nameless (Bonding - The Ultimate Guide Book 6), page 19
“Wha’?” Aodhan sounds bewildered and I spin around, the fear overtaken by anger as I face them all.
“My face isn’t my face anymore!” I shout. My fists clench uselessly at my sides as I shake. Everyone but Mitri seems surprised.
“You look-” Mal starts before Aodhan cuts him off with a panicked look.
“Do not finish that sentence. Ever.”
I cover my face with my hands and try not to hyperventilate.
“Why are you freaking out?” Mike snaps impatiently and I round on him.
“I’m supposed to blend in, Mike! Not noticeable. Fade into the background like any other normal person! How can I do that now? Huh? I can’t! I can’t just disappear in a crowd anymore; do you know how fucked up that is? I’ve been doing it for most of my life and it’s gone!”
Gentle hands land on my shoulders and turn me to see King.
“You look like any Other passing on the street,” he says calmly. I fasten onto his comfort like a lifeline and don’t let go. I also grab his shirt with both fists and refuse to let go. “You won’t blend with Humans any longer but on this side of the divide is another story. You stuck out as a Human here, right?”
I nod stupidly and he smiles as he cups my cheeks.
“Now you don’t. You’re just like everyone else outside these doors.”
“I am?” That makes a lot of sense.
“Yes. This is another weapon in your arsenal.”
“Another weapon,” I repeat dumbly.
“Like this, the dismissal of suitors will be more believable as well.” Why was that the plan to send away the people needed on the front lines if he thought it was a bad idea?
“How?” I ask warily.
“You are not a Human that could be pretending to be a mender, scoffing at the elite as if they’re nothing. That could be easily wiped away or overlooked, possibly an insult resulting in death. An Other, the last of her kind, dismissing a suitor will be highly effective and bring doubt to a person’s house. If a mender is not willing to align with someone, how bad will that look?”
“Ok?” I hate politics. He can have all that drama to himself and giggle behind his hands like a schoolgirl. I bet he was a mean girl when he was growing up.
“This also allows you to behave however you want. No pretending to be meek and powerless. They can’t doubt you now based on your looks or your scent.”
“My scent?” I squeak, the panic trying to make a sharp return.
“Is lovely. Use it as a lure for the weak,” he recommends with a placid head nod that I can’t help mimicking. “If you allow yourself to sweat a bit before the gala it will cover the smell of your weapons.”
“No one will check a mender for weapons.”
“And they can’t doubt that you are Other anymore. They’ll assume your guards will carry the arsenal, not you.”
“I forgot the book,” I suddenly remember and King stills for a moment, thrown at the comment.
“I’m sure it will find its way to you,” he assures me.
“I don’t like this.” The words come out flat and he nods. I would think he was trying to whammy me but his eyes are mellow amber ringed in yellow instead of the glowing lanterns when he uses his power.
“Emotion first, logic second, correct?”
I nod warily.
“Let’s go do some digging through the books we already have,” his arm slides around my shoulders and squeezes me to him.
The crowd of guys behind us parts as he leads me away.
“Weaponize beauty and she’s okay with it,” Mike huffs from behind me.
Ben passes me with a wary smile and says, “Mom sent some packages for you.”
“The book?” I desperately twist my head to see over my shoulder because King is relentless about getting me down the hallway.
“Clothes and shoes,” Ben calls back and I wince.
“Maybe she snuck it into the library.” I hope so. But something new and horrifying isn’t there when I look.
King distracts me with several different books, all about dragons, and quizzes me on what could be helpful to Mal. I latch onto it with a single-minded focus that blanks out anyone else.
So far, nothing we’ve found is helpful. The texts all make it seem like this is natural and instinctive. Maybe if he wasn’t cursed it would be but as it stands, we’re screwed.
I really believe that what he needs is an extra push in his powers. Something to bloat him up and make those chains pop. It might not even take much; the chains seem weak and rusted.
Sparky agrees but even she is concerned about bonding that many people. If we did less people, they would have to be a lot stronger. It seems like the truly powerful ones are mainly bad guys so that’s out too unless we want to drain them to death.
All those thoughts get pushed aside when Ben hands me a book covered in supple leather. It’s old with yellowed pages and no title on the spine.
“Mom said it’s for you. Anyone else that tries to open it will get a one-way ticket to the King.” He adds the last part with a pointed glare at Mike.
I feel all the blood drain from my face as I take that news in. It’s way too easy to get this guy’s attention. My stress was a waste of time.
“It’s just spelled shut, right?” I ask warily as I take it. At least it isn’t bound in skin. I can’t take much more today.
“It will only open fully for you,” he assures me with a kiss to my temple.
“Which King?” Mike asks and I shake my head with wide eyes. I need to find some signal to give him to make him shut up.
“Oh come on, we’re here plotting how to save people, share!”
I glance at Ben and he shrugs.
“The Unspeakable One.” Even saying that version of his name brings a chill down my spine and Sparky decides she wants to hide in my chest cavity just in case he shows up.
“Who’s that?” Mike asks, bewildered. The rest of the guys are looking at each other in confusion. Mitri’s head is tilted as he takes in my fear.
“Look it up,” Ben suggests with a vicious smile while I shake my head no with wide eyes. “Just don’t speak any of the words out loud. You’ll be fine.”
“Don’t.” I don’t know if Ben’s glib attitude or my frightened one gets it through his head but Mike sinks back in his chair and mumbles, “Never mind.”
“I’m going to read this upstairs. Just in case,” I give Ben a weak smile and he nods with wide eyes.
No one stops me as I head to the room Mitri assigned me and settle on the bed cross-legged to read. I’m expecting ominous music to pour out like some kind of demented birthday card but all I get is peaceful silence and an onslaught of information about menders.
Sparky isn’t an abnormality. All menders have a guiding light that keeps them focused on the good in life instead of bogged down with the gritty reality of it all. It’s often described as a parasite in Scilla’s handwriting and Sparky is not happy about it. The light feeds on the body of the mender as well as any bonded.
Sparky: “That’s why you looked Human.”
“I guess?”
Sparky: “Think about it. I’ve been eating you from the inside, weakening you instead of myself. Then GV2 began to as well, doubling the stress on you.”
She sounds sad and guilty about it.
“We didn’t know any better and she doesn’t matter,” I admonish her and she settles back, not happy but relieved at my acceptance.
If a mender loses their light they lose a whole host of powers and the ability to withstand death.
“GV2 was really a mender.”
Sparky: “She killed us after she lost her way, not before.”
“Using the power boost up for as long as she could.”
Sparky: “And choosing incarnations of her own before we got a choice.”
“To see if she could succeed the lazy way.”
Sparky: “She will keep us alive this time.”
I swallow hard. “How?”
Sparky: “We are bonded.”
The sorrow-filled voice makes my shoulders slump.
“And we made sure that they have to stay unless I cut them off.”
Sparky: “She will never allow that. She is still within.”
This version of hindsight is agonizing.
“Could we find a loophole? Maybe find our way back through the bonds?”
Sparky: “Will Kimi wait for us that long?”
He won’t. I know it. He might try to give us time but he won’t be able to sit back and let GV2 rampage for long. It’s why he’s perfect for the job of stopping her.
“I could have fallen at any point. I still could, even without GV2.”
Sparky: “Doubtful.”
“How can you say that? You’re already being corrupted just sticking around with me.”
Sparky: “I accept reality. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything good out there. I’m not a pessimist.”
Ugh.
Sparky: “There’s also the fact that I’ve chosen our males very carefully.”
“Excuse me?” I scoff at the lunacy of that statement.
Sparky: “We never have to lift a finger to our enemies. This life will be our easiest yet after our struggles.”
“You’re joking,” I lay back in disbelief.
She bonded us to the most vicious, vengeful, and flat-out psychotic people just to make sure we didn’t get our hands dirty. It’s diabolical!
Damn, kudos to her!
I shake that thought off and keep reading.
Minor mender abilities include healing wounds physically as well as emotionally. Not a blanking of emotions but allowing some horrifying truth of the past to be seen in a calmer light, easier to accept and move on from. What the fuck? I got cheated!
They can naturally heal themselves without much thought and no repercussions. It says that my ability to come back from the dead is due to Sparky’s presence. If she’s removed then I can die like any regular Human. Scilla notes here that she hasn’t successfully pulled this off because the light seems to be sentient. Sparky has a good laugh about it.
At the medium level, they can remove curses. Again, I got cheated! Mal’s curse should be cake according to this stupid thing. Is this even real at this point? Or am I getting trolled?
It states that the guiding light is more powerful in this level-up. It can find hexes, curses, and see a mage’s manipulation before it happens. The first two are true at least. No idea about the third.
Now we’re in the heavy hitter's section. Fuck me that’s a lot.
Both the light and the mender are leveled up here.
Bringing the dead back to life. Done it.
Creating flesh to cover wounds. Did that too. I couldn’t leave somebody’s loved one reburied with no skin.
Creating any organic tissue or destroying it like a virus. GV2.
Enhancing illnesses or making them disappear entirely. I can’t imagine making someone even more sick but GV2 made a run of it.
So much more, my mind is spinning. Anything having to do with the body can be controlled, manipulated, or destroyed. Plant life can grow or die but stones aren’t affected. I wonder why that’s added in?
It goes into great detail about what happens when a spark dies. All of the bonded mates become corrupted husks of who they were. Immortality is no longer an option.
The mender thrives on suffering instead of happiness. Like some kind of emotional vampire getting fed on people’s tears. It’s horrifying, especially since I had a front-row seat to it and know exactly what it’s talking about.
Even though the mender becomes weak in body, their powers grow exponentially. It says that they could destroy whole towns without much thought put into it as long as they have a steady ‘food’ source. They can also ‘eat’ the guiding light of other menders for sustenance and power boosts.
Sparky has nothing to say as we read that section.
The next one describes bonds and how they can be manipulated at a mender’s whim. Even fallen menders can mess with bonds. The guiding light is gone but that power remains. I shudder at the thought.
I close the book and take a moment to breathe. It was a lot. I now know why Mal was afraid to read about his own heritage. It’s a few truths and hopes with soul-crushing disappointment.
A look out the window says evening has come. I’m feeling tired but it’s a manageable level. I wonder if everyone is downstairs waiting for me to walk down there and faint at their feet.
I hear a door open and close, bringing my attention to the connecting door of the bathroom. Maybe Mitri is in his room. I want to show him this anyway.
I go through the bathroom, set the book by the sink, and knock on the door, trying to be polite so I don’t get shot.
The door opens and I gape at the sight that greets me.
Mitri is naked. This is the first time I’ve seen him without clothes and it’s shocking. He doesn’t seem embarrassed about it and that boggles my mind. He’s standing as casually as he would if he was in his suit.
He’s a lot more muscular than I thought. His suits hide a lot apparently. His chest has a light dusting of blond hair that darkens as it descends to a happy trail. How did I not know this was beneath all of the straight-laced homicidally polite manners?
He has several small bands of silver on each finger, a bracer on one wrist with intricate designs, and three bracelets on the other. There’s another silver cuff over each bicep and one around his leg, just above his left knee. The man likes silver.
“Join me,” he stands to the side and holds the door while I try to regain my composure. I am a lucky bitch.
His closet is open like he was choosing another outfit. Maybe I’m not supposed to see him naked. Who knows with Mitri? V and Peace are lying on the nightstand, hunks of rock without their host’s body.
When they become like that does that mean they're in Mitri? Or stuck as lumps?
What a depressing thought.
He closes the door behind me and walks into the closet. I watch his butt as he walks away and blow out a breath. Is it hot in here or is it just him?
I sit on the bed near the nightstand and stare at the two rocks trapped in their holsters. I’m afraid to touch them. What if physical contact with anything having to do with them drains them? Just because I feel ok doesn’t mean they do and I’m terrified to ask.
What if touching Mitri has the same effect?
This was a mistake. I’ll tell him tomorrow. When he’s fully dressed and I can look him in the eyes.
I stand and see him watching me from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest and still unashamedly naked.
“It’s getting late and I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I try to keep my eyes above the waist as I walk back towards the bathroom, trying not to look like I’m hurrying.
A hand grips the nape of my neck and holds me still with an ease that’s a little scary.
“You have made better excuses,” he whispers in my ear. I can feel him pressed against my back and I swallow hard.
“I’m afraid.” The words blurt out without my permission and he makes a thoughtful sound.
“Of?”
I chew my lip as I debate on what to say. An arm wraps around my waist, bringing me into full contact with him.
“Do you need a lesson, dorogoya?”
“No,” I drop my head and mumble, “How are they?”
Vendetta: “Fine.”
Peacemaker: “Feeling good as new.”
“I was asking Kostya because the two of you lie like lumps,” I angrily gesture back toward the nightstand where the rocks sit.
Peacemaker: “Rude.”
I scoff and try to keep walking but his arm tightens around me before I can make a thought into action.
“Kostya, please,” I say softly. “Me being here might drain them again.”
“Will it?” He asks mildly as if he doesn’t care at all.
“Don’t be a dick, I know you’re worried.”
“I am not actually. We have faced more dire odds than this.”
“Macho bullshit,” I mutter as he licks a path up my neck that makes my knees threaten to give out.
“What has brought you to me, dorogoya?”
I blow out an irritated breath and shake my head, mainly to dislodge his distracting lips so I can focus.
“I… have questions,” I stifle a laugh as I say it, and his mouth pauses.
“Go on.”
“How can you incapacitate an immortal?” I wince as I blurt it out but Plan F.U. has a lot of unclear areas that I need to figure out.
“Death incapacitates,” he answers so readily I’m confused. It isn’t like him to answer something that could affect him in any way.
“For how long? It takes me days. Even longer if parts are missing. How long would it take a real immortal?”
His head tilts, seduction forgotten as he focuses on the conversation. I’m a little disappointed.
“That would depend on the age,” he says silkily and my eyes narrow. He sounds like he’s about to do his subtle interrogation crap. “How long has this immortal been alive?”
There it is. Is it wrong that I’m hoping I can hold him off for a long time answering that one so I can laugh about it later?
“A hundred.”
“Is that all?” He sounds like he’s smiling.
“If you don’t know…” I trail off with a smirk.
“Are you positive this person is immortal?”
“No, but I looked it up on my phone and it says they are.”
“Hmm.”
“The interwebs never lie, Kostya. It’s a fact now.”
Peace seems to be choking on a laugh and V is grumbling something in Russian.
“Show me this information.”
“I closed the site and got locked out of my phone. I forgot my password again.”
Vendetta: “We all know who she speaks of, just answer her and stop flirting.”
“You are no fun, V,” I let out a laugh, and Mitri’s arms tighten around me.
