Soul Bound

by K. G. Reuss

  “You look like you’re having an existential crisis right now,” Nev said, breaking into my thoughts.

  “I-I am. Nevron,” I choked out, locking eyes with him.

  The typical playful look on his face was gone, a seriousness washing over it that twisted my insides more. His entire life was at stake. Literally. His entire race. His family. Friends. Everything. People were going to die if I didn’t step up. I was the war. It was all because of me. Power. Greed. Control.

  “Ever—”

  I shoved him aside, rushed to the bathroom, and heaved into the toilet. He was at my side in moments, holding my hair out of the way, his other hand rubbing my back.

  “Shit,” I breathed out, coming up for air before I heaved again. “Mierda.”

  “Easy,” Nev murmured. “It’s OK.”

  “I-It’s n-not OK, Nev. It’s not.”

  He reached over and dampened a washcloth before he wiped my face down with it a moment later. The toilet flushed in the background as his brows crinkled in concentration.

  “Talk to me. What’s wrong.”

  “It just hit me,” I whispered. “A few months ago, I was breaking up with my cheating boyfriend and thinking about which colleges I needed to apply to. I was imagining picking a major. Leaving Nina, my best friend, or maybe getting into the same college. I was daydreaming about graduation. Parties. Prom. Falling in love.” My voice cracked. “But now I’m this monster who has the power to destroy everything.”

  “Hey,” Nev soothed, reaching out and wrapping his arms around me. “None of that. You know damn well you’re here to save, not destroy.” He hugged me tighter. “I believe in you, Ever. You’re not doing this alone.”

  “What if they hurt you, Nev? What if you die for this?” I pulled away and stared up at him.

  He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and gave me a sad smile. “Then it’s a damn good thing I made friends with the Mancer, huh?”

  “What if I can’t get to you? What if I can’t figure out how to bring people back? I-I don’t even know how the hell that works!” I gasped for air, my heart racing.

  “Everly, hey.” Nev cradled my face in his hands. “We’ll figure it out, sweetheart. We will. I promise.”

  “Really? How can you be so sure?” I searched his eyes for any bit of hope I could cling to.

  “Because I’ve never believed in someone so much in my entire life as I do in you. I can’t explain it. I’m drawn to you.”

  “You are?”

  “I knew you were here before I even saw you,” he murmured. “I’ve had this pull to you for ages.”

  “Like Shadow.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. But I don’t lurk in your closet.”

  I scoffed at his words before speaking. “Do you think that’s weird? That you’ve felt that?”

  “I do.” He nodded, releasing my face. “But I’m not an ordinary vampire, Ever.”

  “I’ve noticed. You still haven’t answered me about that.” My heart felt almost normal again. I had a suspicion Nev’s intent was to calm me by distracting me.

  “I suppose I could.” He shrugged. “Do you really want to know?”

  “Does a bear shit in the woods?”

  “What? Animal feces, Torres?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It means yes.”

  “Being brought up Nattie has had some effects on you.” He chuckled.

  I quirked my lips up into a small smile.

  He grew quiet for a moment before speaking again. “I have some psychic abilities. My father says I get them from my mother. She was a rarity among our people. A gifted psychic, or so I’ve heard.”

  “Can you make predictions?”

  He shrugged. “In a way. Not to be a cocky prick, but sometimes I know things without knowing how or why I know them. I can use some telepathy and telekinesis.”

  “You can read minds?”

  “I haven’t really delved much into it. I assume with practice I could do quite well. But that requires me breaking into the heads of others, and I don’t know, that seems a bit intrusive to me.”

  “A vampire with a conscience. How novel.”

  He smirked. “I’m not the evil bastard everyone thinks I am, Ever. I know I’d never hurt you. Intentionally, at least.”

  “I believe you.” I squeezed his hand, causing him to smile.

  “Good. Because when it comes down to it, you’re the one I’m aiming to impress.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course. Who else can I befriend who can bring me back from the dead?” he teased, his eyes lighting up.

  I chuckled with him. “Aren’t you already dead?”

  “Ah, sweet Everly. There’s so much I need to teach you.”

  “I want you to. Just don’t betray me, Nev,” I said after a quiet moment, our eyes locked.

  He leaned in, his warm breath on my face. “I’d never dream of it, Ever.”

  Eighteen

  Raiden

  “Where’s Ever?” Jared asked as we assembled in the gardens later that evening.

  Everyone turned out as planned. Everyone but Ever.

  “She wasn’t in her room,” Amanda offered. “I knocked for like five minutes. Nothing. Eric went in and said she wasn’t there.”

  Eric nodded. “Her room was empty. I assumed she was down here, maybe helping out.”

  I frowned. She’d left over two hours ago. The pull for her wasn’t there, so I knew she wasn’t in trouble.

  “Did anyone check to see if she’s with Blackburn or Ambrose?” Adam asked delicately, avoiding eye contact with me.

  Ever knew the rules. It was against Conexus’s rules to associate outside the group. She could be punished for doing it without permission.

  And I’d be the one forced to punish her.

  “I, uh, saw her walk in the direction of Blackburn’s dorm,” Mason cut in softly. He winced as he gave up the information. “I mean, she could’ve been going anywhere, so maybe I shouldn’t say anything.”

  “It’s cool. I’m sure Ever wouldn’t be chatting up Blackburn. She’s aware of the rules,” Damien broke in as he sat at the table.

  I nodded tightly. But this was Ever. If there was one thing I knew about her, it was rules be damned.

  “Maybe she’s with Harper and Abby,” Sloane said. “I know I tried when I got brought in.”

  I sighed and rubbed my eyes.

  “She’s probably screwing Nevron.” Amara smirked at me, a dark glint in her eyes.

  I knew pissing me off was her end goal.

  “Didn’t she tell you she wanted him?” She quirked an eyebrow at me.

  “She’ll be here.” I blew out a breath and forced a smile onto my face before settling into my seat. I could’ve called upon her using the Conexus link, but I really needed her to keep her promise to me. But it seemed that clinging to the shred of hope I had might be my downfall.

  We all chatted, holding off on eating as we waited for her. Then the clap of the front door closing sounded out. I listened as footsteps approached. A moment later, Ever walked into the gardens, her cheeks rosy, her green eyes bright.

  “You’re late, Torres. Food’s getting cold,” Damien grunted.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled, looking around.

  The only empty seat was the one next to me on the side. I sat at the head of the table always.

  “Sit,” I said softly, nodding to the chair reserved for her.

  She glanced around again before settling down.

  I cleared my throat. “I want to welcome Mason and Ever to our ranks. For now, you’ll be third class elite until you’ve proven yourself over the course of several missions—”

  “Being the Mancer and taking over the world only affords me bottom of the barrel ranking?” Ever broke in.

  Tension reared its ugly head as everyone waited for our face off.

  “Do you want to be first class elite?” I asked, looking at her.

  A scowl adorned her pretty face as she stared back at me, defian
t as always.

  “Because I was under the impression this wasn’t what you wanted at all—”

  “What I want is my life back,” she snapped, her hands twisting into fists.

  The wind picked up. Eric glanced at Ever then at me. It seemed all her anger which had been threatening the edge was finally at a bubbling point.

  “Easy, man. We don’t know how her powers have changed after the bond,” Eric called out in my mind.

  Damien joined in before I could answer, “You’re going to get your ass kicked. Keep it up.”

  I shook my head, pushing my friends’ voices out.

  “Everly, this is your life. There is no back now. Only forward.”

  She rolled her eyes at me. “How motivational.”

  My jaw hurt from clenching my teeth so tightly. She was as frustrating as she was beautiful. I knew her anger at the situation did the talking, and for that, I ached.

  “We have a lot of work to do in regard to discovering what our combined powers are now—” I started again, but Ever cut me off.

  “Who’ll be my trainer? Do I get to keep Nev?”

  “No, you will not be trained by the vampire,” I said in a low voice. “I will be training you. We’re bonded. It only makes sense—”

  “No offense, General, but that didn’t work out so great for us last time, remember?” Her eyes wavered with sadness, but it was the tone in her voice which made me want to wrap my arms around her and tell her how close I was to making everything better and known to her if she’d just give me a damn chance.

  Her eyes darted to Amara who glared back at her.

  “This bitch tried killing me over it.” Ever pointed an accusing finger in Amara’s direction.

  “Screw you, slut! You were cheating with my fiancé!” Amara shouted, her body vibrating with rage.

  “The hell I was! I didn’t even know you two were together. Guess that shows how much he thought about you while he was holding me!”

  “Shit,” Damien hissed as Ever rose to her feet to meet Amara’s stance.

  “Everly. Amara. Enough,” I growled.

  “Go to hell, Hawthorne,” Ever snapped, her black hair whipping in the wind which had picked up more.

  The table settings rattled on the table, sending some of the food onto the white tablecloth Amanda had placed on the table earlier. Sloane shot me a scared look while Adam and Jared both got to their feet, getting ready in case we had a fight on our hands.

  “Ever, come on,” Eric called out. “Calm down—”

  “Just because I didn’t kick your ass earlier, doesn’t mean I still won’t,” Ever snapped at Eric. “You lied to me too!”

  He frowned as he climbed to his feet. In fact, everyone was on their feet, waiting to stop whatever hell Ever decided to unleash.

  “You’re a nobody. The only thing you’re good at is being a whore,” Amara shouted. “Touch Eric, and I’ll save you the trouble of trying to kill yourself again.”

  “Oh yeah?” Ever challenged, leaning forward. “Bring it, you werewolf bitch.”

  Ever flexed just the slightest. I was on her in a moment as Eric grabbed Amara.

  “No,” I commanded, holding her arm. “Not here, Everly. Not now.”

  “It’s so cute you’ll defend her after what she did to me,” she snarled back at me, her green eyes narrowed.

  I shook my head. “It’s not like that. I’m not defending her.”

  “Then why are you stopping me? She deserves to get her ass kicked after what she did—”

  “I’m protecting you because it’s my job,” I murmured.

  Thankfully, everyone had busied themselves with calming Amara down or trying to clean up the bits that had become a mess in the wind. I flicked my wrist and cast a privacy charm around me and Ever.

  “The fact you just referred to me as your job is disgusting. I don’t need you—”

  “You’re so much more than that, and you know it, Everly,” I growled. “I know you don’t want any of this, but the fact remains, we belong to one another. Always have. Always will. Despite your anger and hurt, you do need me like I need you. You can’t just unleash your anger on other members.”

  “Or what? I’ll get sent to Xanan?” She tugged her arm out of my hold. “Then send me because I’m the monster you created, Raiden. This is your fault!”

  “How is it my fault?” I demanded. “I’m only trying to protect you!”

  “You brought me into this. You knew I didn’t want it. You promised me, Raiden.” Tears welled in her eyes as she glared up at me, her small body quivering. “You don’t even realize what sort of situation you’ve put me in.”

  “I promised to keep you safe, sweetheart. This is me doing that.”

  “By what? Putting me in my own personal hell?” Her voice cracked, making a torrent of agony rush through me at her next words. “Do you know what it’ll be like to watch you marry someone else?”

  “I’d never put you through that pain, Everly. You know me better than that—”

  “Do I?” she challenged, her bottom lip trembling. “What about Nev?”

  “What the hell does Blackburn have to do with this?” I demanded, my agony turning to anger.

  “You know what he has to do with it,” she snapped back. “You told him you should kill him. That you would kill him! What kind of monster does that to innocent people?”

  I ground my teeth as I stared back at her. It took me a moment to compose myself before I spoke. “Regardless of your sudden interest in that vamp garbage, you need to realize who the bad guy is here. Trust me when I say it isn’t me.”

  “Could have fooled me.” She shook her head at me before looking to where Amara was now seated and openly glaring us.

  Unable to hear our conversation, I was positive she was inventing more bullshit to fuel her hate machine. We needed to end this. Everyone else tried to look busy, but I knew my crew. They hated this drama, and Damien would lose his shit if he didn’t eat soon.

  “We can talk later—”

  “Go to hell, Raiden.”

  In a move that surprised me, she flicked her wrist as if she knew magic like the back of her hand. She broke down my privacy charm and turned on her heel. I knew everyone was watching us.

  “Where are you going?” I called out after her.

  “To see my vampire.”

  I didn’t try to stop her. I only stared as she stomped away, her black hair whipping behind her in the storm she created.

  Nineteen

  Everly

  “Everything OK?” Nev asked, moving aside for me as I stormed into his dorm. Anger coursed through me so thick my body shook.

  “¡Mierda!” I tugged at my mess of hair, my chest heaving as I tried to pull in air.

  “OK. Calm down. You seem to only swear in Spanish when you’re really pissed,” Nev said calmly, moving to stand in front of me. He stared down at me, his brows crinkled. “Talk to me. What happened?”

  “I let Amara get to me. I let my anger at all the crap going on with this whole Conexus thing get to me. I let out pretty much everything I’ve been dealing with and upset Raiden. No one understands how hard this is for me.” I wiped at my eyes.

  The story of the dinner with Conexus poured out of me as I stood with Nev.

  “Come on.” He sighed, leading me to his couch.

  I sat down with him and buried my face in his neck, clinging to him as I sobbed. He sat wordless, holding onto me and letting me bawl my eyes out. The fact that not too long ago I was terrified of the presence of vampires and now I was hugging one made everything seem so much more ridiculous and overwhelming.

  “What do I do now? I couldn’t control my anger. And I don’t want to disappoint you guys in Dyre. So much depends on my success.” I sniffled and pulled away from him, staring down at my hands.

  “You go back there and be the strong girl I know you are,” Nev answered, giving my hand a squeeze. “They aren’t going to kick you out, Ever. You’re the damn Mancer. T
hey want you on their side. Plus, I’m sure you’re not the first person to pitch a fit because of them hauling you into their ranks.” He reached out and thumbed my tears away, his blue eyes focused on mine. “You need to let whatever happened between you and Hawthorne go. He’s not yours anymore. Going to war with Amara is pointless. She’s going to marry him. Not you. You need to come to terms with that and do your job.”

  “Your comfort is out of this world,” I whispered in a hoarse voice, another tear slipping from my eye.

  “I know it seems harsh, but, Ever, lying to yourself over it and putting yourself through the pain of harboring feelings isn’t going to help.”

  I nodded glumly. I knew my feelings for Raiden were getting in the way.

  “You have a mission to accomplish. We need to know who Shadow is. That’s what you need to focus on, OK?”

  I shook my head and stared at the ceiling, torn between giving away Raiden’s secret and giving Nev the information he needed.

  “What will you do once you know who Shadow is?” I asked softly.

  “Find out which side he’s on. If he’s the enemy, I’ll kill him.”

  I blanched at his words.

  “He’ll need to die, Ever,” Nev said gently. “I know you care for him, but if he’s siding with the enemy, then he’s an enemy. There’s no other way around it.”

  “I know,” I answered in a choked voice. “But maybe I could change his mind.”

  Nev shrugged. “Maybe. But if it comes down to it, he’ll need to decide fast because we can’t afford him the time to mull it over. He could take our information back to the Order or whoever he works for.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” I whispered. “Please, Nev. Just… I don’t know…. how do I take my mind off it? Off everything? How do I stop these feelings for someone who’s with someone else?”

  Nev reached out and angled my face up at him. I looked into his blue eyes as his thumb made gentle movements on my jaw.

  “We could make out.”

  “Is that all you ever think about?” I scoffed.