Page 98 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

Fuck’s sake!

There wasn’t another option! he insists vehemently.

You—

Do not argue, Ezla interrupts harshly. I think you are forgetting it is in my head that you are doing so. It is very loud. I must concentrate.

Guilt and concern crowd me instantly. Fuck, sorry, Love. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t even think about that—

Me too! I’m sorry, Ezzy! I didn’t mean to mess this up already either—

The bond abruptly slams shut.

I stop dead in my tracks.

Heart in my throat, blood rushes through my ears in an overpowering rush all at once.

Ezla?! I call out for her. EZLA?!

No answer.

Fuck, fuck, fuck . . .

Spinning around, I break into a sprint without hesitation, backtracking—

Apologies. I needed concentration. I have just had a lovely interaction with Player 60.

An image of a mess of mushed-up organs, pools of blood, and ruby-red Avri mixed in with it all comes through. At the same time, that familiar robotic voice—the only sound other than the countdown when it reaches fifteen minutes to be allowed into this contraption—announces, “Player 60: Eliminated.”

I can’t even process the human remains as Ezla’s sudden return has me almost falling flat on my face when I come to an abrupt stop in the middle of the taalk hall. A frantic, discordant ruckus batters the bond from all sides in a heartbeat.

What the fuck, Vengeance?! I thought something had happened to you! Fucking started running like a madman!

Ezzy?! Ezzy, you’re okay?! I don’t know how to get to you!

Ezla! Oh god, I thought you’d—I thought you’d gone again!

Breathing pattern all over the place from the panic, I press a palm over my jack-hammering heart. Jesus Christ . . . Jesus fucking Christ, Love. Please give us a warning next time. Are you okay? No injuries?

Havoc, don’t do that to me. The rumbling voice almost seems to crack, even in Tate’s thoughts. Then he adds with an out-of-place bolt of arousal, But look at my fucking girl go. That’s so goddamn hot, Havoc—you got ‘em good.

To all of us, Ezla replies calmly, that gory sight now gone from my mind, I am perfectly well. It is insulting that you would think otherwise.

Love, we know you can handle yourself in a fight. But none of us have forgotten what Joseph’s been able to do over the weeks, especially with such easy access to you with his Avri in your face.

I was not in any pain.

That doesn’t fucking mean we shouldn’t worry! Cooper seethes. You were gone for days, no presence! Did we feel any pain from you? No. Were you fucking gone, with us wondering if we’d ever see your damn eyes again, hear your voice?! Yes, you fucking were, Vengeance! And yes we did! And it was torture! At least bloody warn us before you disappear on us—

I do not answer to you! Ezla explodes. I do what I wish! I will not be put in another cage—

That isn’t what I’m trying to do, Ezla! I’m not stopping you from doing anything, just asking for a simple fucking warning so we all know you’re okay before you close off the bond—

Both of you, stop arguing! Right now! I absolutely lose my shit. We’ll speak about this later. Now is not the time. We don’t have time for arguments when we only have an hour to get to the middle of this maze.

You are angry with me, Ezla observes. And yes, she’s got the bond back open, but she suppresses her emotions as she speaks, causing a flood of both pain and rage to come forth from my brothers, though the rage is mostly only from Cooper, with the rest from Tate, not aimed at Ezla but at the fact that he can’t feel her.

Sighing heavily, I turn around once more to head back to where I’d got to previously. I’m . . . upset with you, Ezla. Indignation flares through the bond either accidentally or sent by her on purpose to fire at me, but I need to say this. We’re together now; we’re in an established relationship. As I’ve said before, that does change things. We’re not asking for much, Love, simply better communication and compromise when needed to fit our group as a whole.