Sammy’s crying now.“But if you don’t, you’ll die.And if you don’t bond one of these humans, you might have to go to war to find one.”He swipes at his face, and then he throws his arms around Gordon—they go about one thirtieth of the way around one coil.“Then you could get someone mean or someone who makes you feel sad.”
When Gordon drops his head, he presses it against Sammy’s side, and I realize that something strange has happened.That earth blessed loves my brother—it’s not the same as the way I love Azar, but it’s just as strong.
And when Gordon bonds another human—it’s going to hurt, both of them.If he were my child...I don’t know what I’d do.Gordon’s Azar’s strongest lieutenant.He’s going to be in danger.He just is.If Sammy’s bonded to him, my tiny little brother’ll be thrown into danger, too.
I didn’t choose to put them here, in the epicenter of the danger around the blessed, but I haven’t been able to extricate them.I could now, possibly.I could have them dropped off near where I was being kept, and they might be taken to Dad.But there’s also a large chance that they’ll be interrogated and poked and prodded.The US military is out of control, and they might force them to weaponize what they know about the blessed to try and harm them.
That would damage Coral, Sammy, and Jade beyond words.
If I were their mother, I would know what to do.If I were their mother, I’d naturally make the right decision, but I’m not.I’m just a sister, and I’ve already chosen a painful path for myself.I would never allow them to follow me down this road.
Never.
I’ve done everything I’ve done to try and keep them safe.I’m starting to feel like, in this world, no one can keep anyone else safe, not ever.
“I wish Gordon could bond Sammy,” I whisper.“I really do, but he’s too small.”
Sammy’s head whips my way, and I realize that even from two dozen yards away, he somehow heard me.He beams then, and he presses his hand against Gordon’s head.I can feel it—the sucking feeling I felt when Axel bonded me, only it’s not coming from Gordon.
It’s coming from Sammy.
Gordon’s eyes fly open and then he stiffens.That’s when I realize that Sammy bondedhim.“Liz said it’s okay!”Sammy’s beaming.Beaming.“See?”He waves at me.“I’mnottoo small.”
His beautiful baby-boy blond hair shimmers and then turns dark brown, shining like fresh-turned, loamy earth.I feel sick to my stomach.My barely-seven-year-old brother just bonded a blessed.Before I can even react, I hear Jade, all the way across the platform, standing beside Asteria.“Did you see that?Liz let Sammy bond Gordon!”
You said you’d like to bond a strike blessed.Asteria arches one eye-ridge.Did you already have one in mind?
I open my mouth to tell Jade not to even think about it, but it’s too late.My little sister, the oldest Chadwick other than me, presses her hand against Asteria’s leg, and she does the same damn thing as Sammy, bondingher.Just like Mom’s hair months ago, Jade’s hair almost shivers as it becomes a bright, sparkling silver.
Beside me, Coral’s eyes are wider than saucers.“Oh, shoot.That was rule one, two,andthree, right down the drain.You’re about to kill someone, aren’t you?”
I wish she didn’t look quite so happy about it.
13
Liz
Azar doesn’t even understand why I’m upset.I thought the small onescouldn’tbond yet.I thought that was the reason you didn’t want them bonding blessed, but look!They did, and they bonded powerful ones that we like.Right?
“I didn’t want them bonding blessed because they’re too small to be at risk like that.I can’t have them riding the dragons intowars, Azar.”I shake my head and resume pacing, gripping and releasing the swords in my hands rhythmically like it might somehow ease my anger and frustration.
You’re mad at Gordon?Azar still seems confused.He tells me Sammy bondedhim.
Jade bonded me as well,Asteria says.
“I know that!”I stop pacing and flex my hands around the hilts of the swords as tightly as possible.“I just—I need to kill something right now.”
For some reason, that makes Coral laugh.
I amsonot a good motherly figure.
We’re about to slaughter some animals we prepared for the blessed who bonded tonight,Asteria says.Maybe you could help?—
“You think I want to slaughter defenseless animals?”I scream at the top of my lungs, throwing my head back and letting all my frustration, my rage, and my helplessness out.
Azar joins me, bellowing his loudest up into the sky.
That feels nice,Azar says.Do you feel better too?
