“Watch your mouth,” Andreas warned him. “He’s family.”
“And look at what he did.”
“Can we all calm down?” I cut across them, worried about an impending fight. “Binding is a gift.”
“One that you can reject, breaking your bond,” Archer pointed out. “I assume that’ll be your plan once you’ve secured a position in Elysia. It’s better to keep him on side until you can be with the rest of us again.”
The room grew thick with tension as eyes fell on me. My skin prickled, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. Gray wasn’t the easiest God to get along with, and he’d given himself a reputation that saw him shunned. Pinning my colours to him could tip the welcome committee into an angry mob, but I wasn’t about to lie to placate them.
“I don’t intend to break the bond,” I explained.
“You can’t be serious,” Archer said. His aura crept out in wisps around his hands. “I’ve shown you what he’s capable of.”
“And Grayson showed me his memories.”
Archer reached out towards me, but I took a step away. I didn’t want to have an argument in front of the rest of the Gods. I’d made my decision and Archer wasn’t going to persuade me otherwise.
“He’s manipulating you.” Archer caught my hand.
“I suggest you let her go.” Andreas moved from the corner of the room until he was beside me. “It’s their decision to make.”
“You can’t be that blind,” Archer continued, and I winced when his fingers tightened around mine, pressing them together. “He’s proven that all he’ll do is lie.”
“I said, let her go.” A thick red tendril of aura appeared from behind me. It was darker—bloodier—than Erik’s and perfect for a God of war.
When Archer didn’t release me, Andreas’ aura wrapped around his middle and picked him up before placing him on the other side of the room. A tame movement that caught me off guard, but I was grateful that the house didn’t need repairs. Archer didn’t say another word before he left the house, fury etched across his features.
I wiggled my fingers and cautiously turned on the spot to face Andreas. Tipping my head back, I met his eye. There was nothing gentle about his character.
“Thank you,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
“I protect my family,” he told me firmly.
“I’m not—"
“Sloan has spoken highly of you.”
“She’s been very welcoming.”
Andreas smiled proudly. “She’s very good at judging character. If you don’t include her husband.”
I raised an eyebrow at his comment. “They’re bound.”
“He’s not good enough for her, and fate will not convince me otherwise.”
Andreas had to be the only God who warmed to Gray over Erik, but I hoped that meant we would get on better than I imagined.
“So, you plan to honour your bond?” Marcel asked, lounging back in his seat. “I thought it was bad enough when Dionne started dating Bexley. Ow!”
Dionne slapped the back of his head and I stifled my laughter by biting the insides of my cheeks.
“I’m just asking,” Marcel muttered, rubbing the spot. “Bound to an elite. There’s no way they’re going to kill you now.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” I replied. “Hunter’s not exactly the most trustworthy or merciful God.”
Laughter broke out in the room, and I startled, realising I probably should have kept those thoughts to myself. A filter would aid in keeping me alive. And that was the plan.
“You really are one of us,” Tobias said softly. “The less you trust the elite, the safer you will be.”
