"Bullshit!" Luke exims.


    "You''re lying," Theo uses.


    "You were all there, the seer did not identify me as one," Deacon shrugs as if it''s no big deal.


    "That was because themotion broke her trance before he was done," Luke protests..


    "I spoke with her afterwards and she said she was done, she only identified four bonds for Josie. Now let''s get finished here so we can all leave," Deacon orders, closing down any further conversation on it. The guys all look at him with suspicion, none of them fully believing this. Why would he kiss me like he did if he knew we weren''t bonds? Maybe it''s a fetish of his to kiss other men''s bonds rrisa''s bonds may be missing but she is still a bonded woman. I bring my fingers to my mouth. Remembering how it felt to kiss him. How can something that felt so right be so wrong? I know I should probably be angry or hurt, but all I feel is numbness. Anything I''d felt growing between myself and Deacon was wrong, it has to stop. He is my head teacher, nothing more. It''s time to focus on my actual bonds, even if I do hate one of them.


    "Are you ready to do this Axel?" Task, stering a smile on my face.


    "Yes," he nods, his shyness gone and reced with what seems like anger.


    "Good, because I''m ready to get out of here," I take my position beside Axel on the mat and he wastes no time grabbing my hand. The sh of lightes as expected, along with the ringing in my ears. This time is apanied by a dull ache in my head. Like Luke, Axel recovers quickly and I''m so grateful we didn''t have to through what we had with Mason with all of them. The headache I have doesn''t fade like the blindness and ringing ears did, it gets worse until I''m massaging my temples to try and relieve some pressure. James promises to update us with his final report once he''s had time to study the data and we are free to leave. We head straight to the dining hall to grab some food before it''s toote. Dot congrattes us all and is also shocked that Mr Collins wasn''t identified as one of my bonds. I don''t catch most of what she says though because my headache keeps intensifying and it bes hard to concentrate on anything. The guys all begin toin of headaches too and after Dot is unable to heal any of us we decide to head back to our apartment to sleep it off.


    When I wake up I''m in my new giant bed, fully clothed and I''m not alone. On my left Luke sleeps peacefully, his face rxed and his breathing soft. Theo is on my right a frown marring his handsome face, behind him is Mason. He is also frowning and his fist is clenched gripping the sheets, there''s a fine sheen of sweat across his brow. I almost snort, even in his sleep his grumpy. I carefully sit up, not wanting to wake them. Then I notice another body sleeping by my feet. Its Axel. He has a slight smile on his face and I can''t help but smile at him, he must be having a nice dream. I don''t remember getting back to the apartment, never mind how we all ended up in here. I see movement across the room out of the corner of my eye but when I look there''s nothing there. I shake


    my head, I must still be having some side effects from triggering The Spark yesterday. My dder screams at me in urgency and I asses how the hell I''m going to escape this bed without waking anyone. With some careful manoeuvring over Luke, I manage to sneak out of the bed and into the bathroom. I take care of business and have a quick shower, wrapped in a towel I peek out of the door and to my relief everyone is still sleeping. I creep as silently as possible into my walk- in wardrobe and route the boxes I''m still yet to unpack for some clothes. As I''m dressing I hear a whimpering from the bedroom, quickly throwing on a t-shirt I go to investigate. I see Luke rubbing at his eyes, Axel sits at the end of the bed looking confused and Theo is trying to gently wake Mason.


    "Mace, wake up, you''re having a nightmare," he says softly: Mason wakes with a start and bolts upright.


    "Why am I in here?" he asks.


    "I was just wondering the same thing," Axel says.


    "No idea," Luke adds.


    "Does anyone remember getting back to our apartment?" ask, gaining all their attention. They all go quiet in thought before either shaking their heads or saying no. “Werd, I remember having a headache that was getting worse and you all startedining of one too. We were the dining room and then next thing I know I woke up here with all of you,


    "I hope we didn''t do anything weird," Theo halfughs.


    "If we did I''m sure we will hear about it at breakfast," Luke sighs, "I''m going to make coffee, who wants some?"


    "Is it the human stuff?" I ask.


    "Of course," he gasps, pretending to be offended.


    "I''ll try it," Axel says. Mason walks out without a response and Theo declines coffee and follows Mason leaving me and Axel alone.


    "How are you feeling?" I ask him. Coming to sit beside him on the end of the bed. "Okay I guess," he shrugs.


    "Sorry we''ve not really had a chance to talk, I''m guessing you''ve heard all about me but I know nothing about you. Tell me about yourself," I smile.


    "There''s not much to tell," he shrugs and I can''t tell his shyness is holding him back.


    "Well, how old are you?"


    "18, the same as you,


    "Do you have any siblings?" I ask.


    ''Doesn''t everyone?" he snorts.


    "I don''t, but I''m different. Where Ie from the women only usually have one


    partner and there''s less pressure to have children," I exin.


    "This must be a big deal for you then, having four bonds. There is a high expectation to produce multiple children because our poption is so low, but I want you to know I would never force you to do that if you didn''t want to, he says, never making eye contact with me. I take his hand in mine.


    "Thank you, Axel, that means a lot,"


    "I know I might not be as confident as the others but I am honoured to be one of your bonds and I will take care of you, Josie. I promise. If you want me around that is, because I''d understand if you don''t want this and I won''t force myself on you. I''d never do anything you..."


    "I want you here Axel, I want to get to know you," I cut him off, reassuring him. My heart squeezes for him. I can''t help but wonder what he''s been through that''s made him this way. This feels like more than just being a little shy. Despite him being hench and a capable fighter I have this urge that I should wrap him in my arms and protect him from this world. I don''t know if this is some weird magic at y but I''m not sure longer in doubt about this whole bond thing. These four men are mine, even asshole Mason has a ce with me. One way or another we are bound together as lovers, friends or enemies.