Chase looked at him from across the desk like the man was insane. “So she can bite my head off. No way. I’m not stupid. I don’t see what the point of this is,” Chase argued, clearly not feeling this little test.
Ives lifted his brow challenging him. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a quitter.”
Ding. Ding. Ding. Thanks Ives for pushing Chase’s manhood button. Of course he wasn’t going to back away from the test now. Turning in his chair toward me, he held out his hands. I didn’t move and kept my arms crossed. No one said I had to cooperate in this twisted game.
“Angel,” Chase growled.
This was stupid. My eyes were like little blue flames as they attached with his. There were tiny specks of gold breaking through the icy silver. “Fine,” I spat and laced my fingers with his, expecting nothing to happen, except many more irritation. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Or maybe I was being difficult because I was more afraid of what would happen.
The instant his skin touched mine, a cool wash of calm overcame me. I knew I should have been annoyed, but I couldn’t think past Chase touching me, watching me so intently with those silvery eyes. Maybe if I was made of stone, instead of the pile of mush he turned me into.
“Did I mention that I hate tests,” I said sulking, my eyes still captured in his.
Ives chuckled from behind his desk. “Success I presume.” He seemed to be enjoying this a little too much. It was kind of warped in my mind. He propped his elbows on the desk. “With that out of the way, let me ask you…have you noticed any additional attention Angel? Like making more friends or guys suddenly noticing you?”
“Errr, maybe,” I replied, thinking about Brody and a few others. I wasn’t sure I was going to like where this was heading.
“You know that Divisa ward off human contact, but Angel in your case, it seems you give off the opposite – you attract them.”
Chase straightened in his chair, ears perked and attention at full alert. “You’ve got to be shitting me. Is this some kind of cruel joke?”
“Afraid not,” Ives reassured with just a hint of a smile, knowing very well what was going through Chase’s head. “At least until the bond is fully complete. That is if you decide to complete. Until that time though, she will draw all manner of attention. It’s proven to be different for each link.”
Chase frowned.
“And to think I thought it was my sparkling personality,” I said dryly.
Ives grinned, shaking his head at me. “If I was twenty years younger, I just might have given Chase a run for his money.”
I felt Chase stiffen beside me.
Did he just make a pass at me? Stranger things have happened true, but this took the cake. I was starting to like Ives. At least he had good taste.
“But something tells me that he wouldn’t let you go without a fight. I’ve heard the rumors swirling about you Chase Winters. I don’t think I would like to die just yet.”
Oh just dandy.
His reputation preceded him.
“You mentioned that there were three kinds of bonds,” Chase said, moving things back to safer ground. I’d forgotten that little bit of info.
Ives nodded in affirmation. “Yes the triforce. We have already distinguished soulbond which is what you two have. There is also heartbond and bodybond.”
Interesting. I’d like to know how the others varied from ours, but Chase rattled off another question before I had a chance to ask.
“Is there a way to break the bond?” Chase asked, moving right on. I figured he didn’t even want to touch upon Ives harmless flirtation.
My heart rate went through the roof. Chase’s gaze slid to mine, and I knew he could sense my panic. This whole emotion sharing thing sucked big time.
“Death,” Ives said simply.
Well that put the atmosphere in a somber mood. My expression fell just as Chase’s phone rang. He excused himself and walked to the back of the room.
“I don’t know if I envy him or pity him,” Ives commented in a low voice.
“I can’t decide if I should be flattered or offended,” I retorted.
He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the ends. It was a pleasant sound. “I can see why he made such a vast sacrifice. Most of our kind don’t socialize with outsiders. Not to say it doesn’t happen, but it’s less complicated if we don’t. That said, I don’t know if there is another girl with the gall to stand up to Chase. He is enamored by you and you with him.” He lounged back in his chair, twirling a pencil between his fingers. “To truly keep the other safe, you must bind more than just your souls – soulbond isn’t enough. You need to complete the triforce – Heart. Body. Soul.”
“Heart, body, and soul?” I mumbled confused.