Page 28 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

Then jumps in sheer panic when Ezla goes rigid.

“Love,” I start, undiluted fear slathering the word, spine snapping straight, fingers digging into her flesh as if I could stop it before it happens—

My Bonded’s face breaks into the most beautiful, most absolutely fucking devastating smile that I’ve only seen the likes of once before when my brothers and I beat her in training before the Halfway Ball.

I freeze, the alarm in me halting in its tracks. “What— You’re okay? I thought—I thought your fa— Joseph—” My eyes skip over the softly glowing blackish-crimson energy in her eye and skin. “You’re not in any pain?” The pad of my thumb comes up to her face to brush over her thick scar, and my heart races at top speed as my attention remains glued to her grinning face.

“No. I have just figured out the solution to all our problems.”

11

ALBY

Tate’s glaring holes into Scotty’s head from across the dining table.

Awkwardly, I pick up my toast smothered in avocado.

But I shouldn’t have taken a bite, because I immediately choke on it when Tate growls, “Someone hand me that breakfast knife. Scotty’s decided it’s his time to die.”

“Woah! No, Tater Tot! That is not how we treat our family members, my guy!” Tiger shrieks from his other side and shoots to his feet at the same time as him, his bright blue eyes popping right out of his face.

My best friend and brother has thankfully been much more himself after our time with our Bonded the other day, and I think that’s really helped all of us shift back into normalcy and lift our moods somewhat. But what’s really helped with raising spirits is the fact that Scotty’s just told us Ezla has figured out a way out of this awful situation, though she wouldn’t tell him what that way was, so there’s equal parts anxiousness mixed in there.

And a raging jealousy from Tate since Scotty might’ve let slip what other, uh . . . activities happened in his bedroom yesterday.

None of us even knew Ezla was here—we’d all gone straight to our soundproof rooms after dinner to get ready for bed, exhausted from the day’s training—and I’m a little disappointed myself that she only visited Scotty and not the rest of us. But I also completely understand it:

I think Scotty might’ve taken the hardest hit with this situation, considering he feels like the safety and happiness of our Bonded group all comes down to him, and I know he’s been feeling like a complete failure—it’s been written all over him no matter how many times he’s told each one of us that he’s fine when we’ve checked in on him. So I’m actually happy, really, that she focused solely on him. And so, so relieved to see him without all the bruises he’s been sporting since Tate’s attack on him. I can tell he and Ezla needed that time together, and warmth expands in my chest at the results and the undeniable care she evidently has for him for her to have taken such a big risk to come and fix him up.

“He didn’t tell us Havoc was here!” Tate rages, balling his fists into solid rocks that I subtly shift my chair away from with wide eyes. “Fucking selfish prick! I thought we were supposed to share!” Next, he jabs a finger vibrating with fury at Scotty. “You’re trying to steal her from me!”

Scotty’s jaw clenches, then relaxes. I can see how hard he’s trying to stay calm. “No, Tate, I’m not. I would never try to take Ezla away from any man in this room.”

“Liar!”

Resting his elbow on the table, Scotty squeezes his eyes shut as he rubs at his temples. “Tate, please. I’m exhausted—”

“I don’t fucking care! I only care about my Havo—”

“TATE, SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!”

Almost fast enough to snap my neck, I whip my head Cooper’s way. Everyone stares at him in stunned silence as he says, wrathful glare searing into Tate, “Scotty is the one who’s always fucking trying to take care of everyone. We’ve all been exhausted, but he’s been bloody dead on his feet—partly because of you, might I add—and you’re giving him even more shit to deal with?” He scoffs. “And I thought I was an asshole.”

Wow . . . it’s rare for him to be the one to step in to break up a fight instead of one of the ones in it. Things really are different lately.

He continues, “We’re your fucking brothers now, Tate. Too bad if you don’t want us, because Havoc”—Tate’s stormy grey eyes narrow at anyone else calling our Bonded that—“is all of ours. You want her, you get the whole lot of us. You need to fucking learn to deal with that.”

Nostrils flaring, Tate rumbles lowly, “But he kept her from us. Why would he do that if he wasn’t trying to take her from me, from the rest of us?”

Cooper sighs. “He wasn’t keeping her from any of us. Ezla clearly came to him because he was in such bad condition, she knew he needed her. I know you’re aware of how big of a deal it is that our Bonded, the motherfucking Bonding Games Champion, came here to help him. And can you honestly be so heartless that you’re not happy for him to be doing better? Are you so selfish that you’d rather have Ezla all to yourself and leave the rest of us to suffer? You would have preferred for Scotty to slowly burn out until he’s—”

“No,” Tate mutters roughly, head dropping. He almost looks ashamed.

“Then apologise.”

Scotty’s hand drags down his face as he glances at Cooper sat beside him. “Cooper, it’s fine—”

“Apologise,” he repeats, deep brown eyes staring Tate down, unwavering.