Page 104 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

He should have run far, far away.

Only someone lacking any true intelligence wouldn’t do so. No one hurts The Bonding Games Champion and gets away with it. And now, being one of her Bonds, part of this amazing family I’ve found myself in, no one hurts me and gets away with it, either.

Scotty’s voice drops to a lethal murmur as he leans down to level his lips with Aider’s ear, knuckles white. “Did you really think you could get away with it? You were already going to die the most painful death for what you’ve done to Alby for eight years, but then, you had to take it a step further and try to kill him—him, my blood brother, and the motherfucking woman I want to marry!” One armoury stick is returned to his shoulder blade now, and he holds the other in one hand, while the end of the four-foot chain is gripped tightly in the other. Marginally, but enough for more purple to crowd Aider’s face, he pulls that chain further.

Scotty’s shaking, and I hear Ezla’s beautiful, cruel notes through the bond then, pulling a gasp from the depths of me at what feels like a true breath of fresh air: I can feel you. I can feel both of you. I am so proud. I am with the rest of your brothers, my Bonds, and we have captured Player 84. He is ever so kindly taking us to you with Aider’s help through their bond. We are coming. We will end this together.

My eyes widen, and relief works through me, pure happiness finding me even now at the thought of this chapter of my life finally coming to an end. Sharing the look with Scotty, he smiles at me, his own eyes brightening for a moment.

Until Aider starts writhing like a parasite again.

“Now,” Scotty continues, tone darkening even further than before, “you’ll pay for that as well. And I’ll bring her your worthless fucking head.”

Aider’s about to pass out, so Scotty loosens the chain just enough for him to drag in an ugly bag of oxygen—then another, and another, each inhale harsh against my ears. And as he gasps for breath, I can’t help but think that he truly, honestly, just looks . . . worthless. Pathetic, as he likes to call me. And I just . . . I can’t believe how much this . . . little person, this insignificant disease, has managed to wreck my life. I can’t believe he stole so much from me. Can’t believe there was no reason for it.

That last thought is what has me rasping out despite my attempt to make it come out firm and commanding, “Why?”

His slow grin full of blood is vile. “Because I wanted to. I had a monster in me, and I needed to feed it. You were just there.”

Lip trembling, I work to prevent that tremor from spreading, and I straighten my spine, fists clenching. But I can’t help it, and the tears form and spill over before I can stop them.

I knew there was never a reason, and I’m not sure if the confirmation makes things better or worse. It just . . . it hurts. Everything hurts.

Until all of that is zapped away by the same velvet and sin it always is.

“I am so glad we could make it to the party in time. Shall we begin with the fun part now?”

32

SCOTTY

Alby whimpers as Ezla grips his nape and spins him around, crashing their mouths together. He seems to forget all about his devastating pain, the seas of which had soaked the bond through, thoroughly consumed by our Bonded in a heartbeat.

“You are so perfect, so pretty . . . so brave,” Ezla purrs between kisses, and for the love of god, now is not the motherfucking time for my cock to be getting hard as I watch her work and seduce. She’s not at all shy with displaying her possessiveness for the world to see, and the masses are going to have a fucking field day with this one. “All mine.”

Aider snarls, wiggling about like the disgusting worm he is in my unwavering grasp. “That’s a fucking joke—”

Ezla looks exceptionally incensed as she’s forced to pull away from my brother. Keeping a firm hold of Alby by his neck, my Bonded levels an expression sent from the most gruesome pits of hell on Aider. Yet she doesn’t even deign to speak to him, barking at me, “Why is this insect still speaking? You must remove the tongue first.”

A strangled sound is all that makes it out of Aider this time. He’s also losing a lot of blood, especially from his shoulders where my brother first stabbed him, and I’m not sure exactly how long he’ll be with us, how long we’ll get to draw his punishment out.

It’s going to be fucking disgusting, but I’m not about to resist Ezla’s order. Aider and his Bonded—one of whom is squirming about the same as his leader in Tate’s thick arms—and the Game Master, or anyone who fucking treats my family like crap, actually, are the only people I’d be truly fucking happy to slaughter as brutally as my woman does. It’s not my style, but it’s what they damn well deserve. I don’t care if that sounds sick—I’m not afraid to dole out justice where it’s due. “Of course, Love—”

“No.”

Cooper steps forwards, but before Ezla can chew up his head with her razor-sharp teeth, he continues, “Let me do it.”

Do not be silly, Cooper. You are averse to violence—

Not for you. Never in the name of vengeance for you, Ezla.

She eyes him, mismatched gaze narrowed, but she doesn’t respond to that. No doubt, she’s read his emotions and thoughts as I have through the open bond and come to the conclusion that no part of him is lying right now.

And not in the name of vengeance for my brothers, either, he adds with a meaningful look around the rest of our group.

“Off with his tongue!” Tiger announces abruptly.

Everyone freezes, and I’m just waiting for the crickets to start chirping.