Fractured by N.O Darling

Chapter 333 ** Harper's POV ** After class, we wait for Dillon by the door. He rounds the corner a few moments later and I smile. I'll never get bored with seeing his eyes light up whenever he notices"Hey, are we ready to do this?" he asks as he approaches.

"Yes, although I'm not sure what exactly it is we are doing? I admit.

"I think she will confirm us as bonds, which means we get the rest of the day to ourselves," Dillon grins.

"Do we really get the rest of the day off? We have not even had a full day yet," Archie laughs.

"Yeah, they prioritise bond group's needs. When they are first identified, they can take tto... bond. They also allow us toff during our females heat. I've seen groups lock themselves away for a whole week during their female He talks about bonding and heat cycles so easily and I like that he is comfortable with it, but to me, it's such an embarrassing subject. I remember being shipped off to stay with my family as a child. Usually, it was just for a couple of days and then soon after my return, my mum would announce she was pregnant. At the tI didn't know what was happening, but last year we learned a few days. I'm not looking forward to that happening to me.

We arrive at the grand hall, where Sahe is waiting for us with a friendly smile.

"Good morning, thank you all for coming. I will try not to take too much tfrom your studies. I am sorry that I gave you a fright yesterday. That was not my intention and should have explained things better. I will correct that mistake today, but first I need to know if any of you have bonded yet?" she says, getting straight to it.

"No, not yet," I shake my head.

"That's fine, so what happened yesterday was the tether between the two of you was interfering with my reading of Demi. This does happen from tto time, especially if I'm a little distracted. When that happe or hand to indicate for them to be removed from my space. Only a touch to the shoulder identifies a bond link. Until you have bonded, I think it is wise that you don't accompanyon any more readings. Please don't feel pressured to bond until you are ready. There are things we can work "That makes sense. Maybe the staff should make sure the students are aware of the difference between a shoulder touch vs a touch elsewhere," Dillon nods.

"Yes, I have already spoken to the headmaster about clarifying this. Now what I need from the three of you for now is quite simple and can be done outside of class hours. Harper needs to learn to navigate the a learns h move around. In her younger years, a seers bonds are her guides. As she learns to master her gift you will. needed in familiar places, but your primary role will always be guardians of the seer," Sage explains.

"Cool," Archie grins, puffing out his chest with pride.

be I look at Dillon, who stands a little straighter. I had been worried they'd be annoyed that they had this role without asking for it like their choices had been taken from them, but my bonds seem honoured, which is "Tell me, Harper, how many bonds do you have?" Sage asks.

I bite my bottom lip and glance at my two bonds.

"Three," I admit, blowing out a breath.

"Wait, what? Who is the third?" Archie asks.

"Please don't say Finley," Dillon groans, and I stay silent. I'm not ready to admit it either.

"Interesting," Sage smiles. "What connection did you have with your third bond before you saw the tether?" she asks.

"Nothing really. The first tI saw him he spoke to me, the second tI saw the tether." "Sometimes we can see them with just a look, sometimes itakes a touch, others it might need tto form a friendship first. That doesn't mean the connection is any stronger or weaker, it is just how it works for us," she explains.

I had identified Dillon and Finley with a look, but it had been different with Archie. I had known him long before my seer gifts manifested.

Sage explains our assignment for the next week, which is to learn the layout of the academy, including all staff areas. The only places off limits to us are personal rooms, which are not needed anyway, as long a We leave our one-hour session with Sage and head outside for our twenty- minute morning break. The atmosphere betweenand my bonds is tense. I can tell they want to ask about my third bond again, which is understandable. He is going to be a part of their lives too, but if I admit it out loud, things will change, and I'm not ready for that.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about a third bond. I didn't want to destroy what the three of us have. I'm not ready to accept him yet. I don't trust him the way I trust you two, and I want to bond with you both before we "I understand, and I'm happy to wait," Archie says, taking my hand in his. "I'm not ready for things to change yet, either. Especially not if it's who I think it is. Take all the tyou need.

I'm happy with the three of us the way we are," Dillon says, taking my other hand.

"Thank you," I breathe, glad we are on the spage.

The next class I

have is history, whilst both Dillon and Archie have combat. I haven't decided on my career yet, so bam enrolled fargeneral studies until my other gifts manifest. Both of my guys are taking the military path, so th training and they even have sclasses together. The guys walkto my class and then tellthey will cback after my class so we can go for lunch together.

I hate having a class alone, but when I walk in and see the familiar face of Demi, I smile and rush to take empty seat beside her.