My eyes clash with Kingston’s bright blue ones. They give nothing away as he regards me steadily, but he would have felt my bond lock in place with someone from his bloodline.
Each of us knew this day would come. The story of flash bonds is passed down from generation to generation. A partner the fates have determined was a perfect match for you. It locks into place the moment you set eyes on one another. It’s an explosion in your soul that anchors you to this person who is supposed to unearth all your hidden potential. Although I was familiar with the stories my Papa and Dedushka touted proudly, there was still skepticism within me.
I’ve never needed anyone, and believing that to become my most powerful, I’ll need abonded,sets me on edge. These men before me will lay down their lives for me as I will them, but trusting anyone else outside of my men and the ones in this room doesn’t sit well with me.
“Da,” I answer, pulling my eyes from Kingston.
“Keeping us in suspense, Kirovsky?” Tiernan teases.
I ignore them for the moment as I undress. I place my gloves on the table and hang my robe and mask up on the peg behind me.
They’re all so eager to know about the woman the fates have chosen for me, while I want to do nothing more than run from it. We all crave the extra power. We’d be foolish not to because we can do a great deal with it. The boost to my power isn’t what I have a problem with.
For a man who doesn’t fear much, there is now a beautiful little fox who terrifies me.
Kingston tilts his head, his empty eyes still studying me. “Too good for my sister,Bogeyman?”
“Shit,” Ignacio says.
“Cressida is perfect. That’s the problem. These bonds are supposed to be convenient marriages solely to gain all our powers. Nothing more,” I tell Kingston truthfully.
Honesty keeps the trust strong.
Kingston’s eyes finally flash with amusement, and I grit my teeth. “What’s wrong? Is the big bad Pakhanafraid of falling in love?”
Fucking Englishman.
I scoff, fixing the cuffs of my shirt and pulling the arms of my suit jacket down. “Love. Such weakness.”
Instead of being pissed at me for the implication that I will never love his sister, he just laughs softly and shakes his head. “Pity you believe that. It’ll be fun watching you realize differently. Cressida knows her place in our world, but she’s a force all her own.”
“Lovely,” I deadpan. “Shall we get down to business? We need to plan this out so you can inform Cressida of her duty.”
The smile slides from his face to be replaced with a grimace, and I hide the curling of my lips behind my hand.
“Is the big bad leader of The Firm terrified of one tiny woman?” I mock.
The others laugh as Kingston lifts his middle finger in the air.
“We will announce our engagement at the masquerade your family hosts. There will be enough families in attendance for the news of the alliance between us to spread. We should expect pushback. These unions are never popular among others.”
Kingston shrugs. “Because they don’t understand that these marriages were written in the stars thousands of years ago.”
“Fanciful fuck,” the Irishman taunts.
“I just don’t fight fate as much as you fuckers,” Kingston replies with a smirk.
His tune may change when he’s the one hit with his flash bond. The way that shot of electricity shoots through the bloodstream is an addictive high that’s dangerous. It’s a hint of the power we’ll receive once fully bonded. It’s a tease that leaves a craving on your tongue. Many men have killed for another hit of something so potent.
“We’ll see if you still feel the same when it’s your turn, Jackal,” I reply.
Cressida Blackwell is a convenience. A way to gain all my powers as long as she’s accepting of our union. Kingston assures me she understands her place in the mafia world. That’s something I will hold him to. Otherwise, our alliance in this organization will no longer be as friendly as it has been.
I’m curious to see how my powers will manifest.
Speed? Strength? Vision? All of them? Or will they grow into something else altogether?
Anticipation licks up my spine, and my fingertips tingle at the thought of all that I’ll have when I’m fully bonded.
