Twisted Bonds by Karah Mina

Author:Karah Mina [Mina, Karah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

Later in the day, I slink through the corridors, my paws whispering silent promises to the ancient stone floors, when the clanging of steel and the thud of fists against leather draws me near. Sunder is in the training room, a dance of sweat and muscle, his black hair whipping like an angry storm as he battles unseen foes.

He’s been down here for hours already. I’m surprised he’s still going, but I shouldn’t be. He’s nothing if not single-minded. And he’s torn now between warring paths. On the one hand, I know he wants revenge against Cor’than for all he’s done, so asking him for help is basically a non-starter for him. But stopping Yurghen is more important. He knows that. I know he’ll put his pride aside. He just needs time to adjust. So for now, all I can do is help him work out his frustrations any way I can offer.

With the stealth only a feline can muster, I spring into the fray, leaping at Sunder with claws sheathed. The moment I connect, I shift. We’re sparring, a whirlwind of moves that blur the line between play and fight.

“Bobble,” Sunder pants, his chestnut eyes flashing a mix of annoyance and respect as he parries another blow from the spear I grabbed from the floor. “You’ve really got to learn to shift in clothes. This is distracting.”

“A benefit for me, then,” I purr back, the sound odd in my fae voice as I dart behind him. He grunts, amusement lacing the sound, and we continue our exhausting tango until his movements grow sluggish, the tension bleeding from his frame like ink from a quill. As we slow, I back away, letting my taunting smile slide away.

Blunt is best with Sunder. “You’ve been wound too tight or too long, big guy. What can I do to help? The weight of everything is strangling you.”

He scowls, wiping the sweat from his brow with a forearm marked by swirling tattoos. “We need to talk about Cor’than,” I say softly, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over my chest.

Sunder’s jaw clenches, the resistance evident in the set of his shoulders. “There’s nothing to discuss. It’s a fool’s errand.”

“Or it’s the very thing that could tilt the scales,” I counter, keeping my tone light, yet firm. “A chance.”

“Bobble, sometimes I wonder if your head is filled with fluff,” he retorts, but there’s no heat behind his words, only the weariness of a warrior too long at war.

“Maybe,” I concede with a grin, “but fluffy or not, even you can’t deny it's worth consideration.”

He sighs, the sound echoing off the stone walls, heavy with the weight of centuries. “I’ll think on it,” he finally concedes, his eyes meeting mine in a silent promise.

“Good boy,” I tease, clapping him on the shoulder. His eyes dart to mine with murder in them, but then he does something I’ve never seen him do before. He outright grins–grins - at me.

I bite my bottom lip as I return the smile, dancing in delight at the sight.

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