J.  Bree

The Bonds that Tie #6

Unbroken Bonds

Anna Stewart

I watch as one by one, the god-bonds awaken, the vessels falling unconscious under our enemy's attack. Eyes rolling back into their heads until they turn black. the voids wiping out the human life until we're standing around our Bonded as a living, breathing shield, filled with the souls of the dead, a gift of power from our Bonded. There's 

Gryphon's hand isn't cupping the side of my neck like it usually is.

He's gripping my throat the same way that he would when we're alone, when he's whispering filthy demands and observations into my ear as his hips drive his cock into my body.

"I would never harm you. I couldn't even if I wanted to. You're 

"Soothsayer. It's been an age, or maybe even three, since I last saw you. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't run into you in this lifetime. I'd rather deal with the shadow boys than 

A very inappropriate giggle tries to burst out of my lips at the very idea of someone calling North and Nox 'shadow boys'. I know that if I look at either of them right now, I will lose the fight and dissolve into a fit of laughter. 

"I don't even have to guess or hear your voice to know which one you are. You two always did come in pairs, as much tied to each other as you are to the Eternal. What stroke of insane luck did you all have to arrive together? Or was it some sort of black magic you've found and won't share? How does it feel to be the luckiest sons of bitches to ever cycle?"

I have no idea what any of that means, but Nox's bond clearly does. 

It cocks its head in that same way they all have. "Patience and unerring devotion is all it took. The rest of you have spent too long fighting amongst yourselves and not enough time looking for what you really need. The Eternal is mine. I return for my Bonded."

"That is the difference between this time and last. This time, we're going to survive this. All of us. I'm not going to kill the vessel. I'm going to use it to keep you forever."

"We return for the Eternal. We return because it calls out to us. The thought of a lonely existence for my Bonded is unthinkable. While the Eternal returns, so shall we."

"There is no use being here unless we're together. There is no me without you."

"I waited for you. We all waited for this lifetime, for these vessels... and for you. You are as vital to me as the bond within you. Without question, I see that clearly now."

It's nothing I haven't seen a hundred times before and touched and tasted and worshiped in my own way, but it's still a sight to see.

Gryphon always has been too perfect for words. 

"As long as I'm your favorite, no," Grhypon mumbles again under his breath, pulling me back into a kiss as his hand frame my face gently. 

It's still a miracle to me that she loves me as much as I love her, that we both see something in one another that is so unique and precious that it's worth fighting for no matter how many sore stomachs and days I might have to sleep away to get us there. 

When he looks at me, I feel the same way I had back when we'd first met in that perfectly put-together bathroom. Like he's obsessed with me. Like he's waited all eternity for us to be together again, like we're two celestial beings in orbit, jus waiting to finally collide. 

Gabe says, chuckling under his breath, "Do you think we'll ever get used to the way they speak? What are we going to do once we've gotten rid of all the threats and we just have these angry, murderous god-bonds living inside us? What are we going to use to distract them?"

We turn down the small path towards our house, which is further away from the rest of the Sanctuary and its inhabitants, and Atlas slides his palm down my back until he gets a handful of my ass. "I think we can distract them in other ways."

I scoff back at him. "So a giant orgy, twenty-four-seven, to stop them from ending the world? That doesn't sound exhausting at all."

Gabe's chuckles turn into full-blown belly laughs. "I'm willing to give it a go if you are, Bonded. I think that sort of makes us superheroes in this situation."

 selfless," I throw back at him, shaking my head at both of them. 

I bump into Nox as he makes his way down to his bedroom. He has a frown on his face and a distracted look in his eyes, so I'm prepared to walk on past him with nothing more than a smile. He surprises me though, when he catches me in his arms and pulls me in close, pressing me into his chest until I’m fighting to breathe. 

It’s still a wondrous thing to me that he touches me like this.

Nox and I haven't just found neutral ground, we’ve found a space for just the two of us that I might even call love. I mean, I know that 

 love him. And I know that, as much as he's capable of that feeling, he has it for me, and that's enough. It’s more than I ever hoped for, more than I ever thought I would get to share with him.

A hundred lifetimes with these men wouldn't be enough. 

A thousand lifetimes with all of them together would only be the beginning of what I need from them.

Even as the situation around us becomes dire, I already know that I would choose this life of ours. This never- ending cycle of birth and rebirth, death and destruction, pain and horror over and over again. I would because it would mean knowing them, knowing the devotion and love that they have given me, knowing the devotion and love that I pour back into them.

The soul bonding had solidified my obsession with her and though I know my own past actions with her had been poisoned by my past, now all I can see is the perfection of her, all of the ways that this woman owns me and the ways that I own her as well.

The girl in my arms who I was so sure would be the catalyst for our destruction has become anything but that. She's the reason we're all pulling together, the reason we all want more for ourselves and the community. Simply by existing, she has made everything better.

This wasn’t my favorite end to the series. It kind of felt rushed after everything we have been through in the previous five books. Especially when the fourth and fifth book starting seeing those signs of repetition that I guess could have been avoided in my opinion. I just didn’t feel the threat like there was earlier on that get easily neutralized. Just didn’t get up there for me for a conclusion after all the time you invest into it. Maybe if I reread it it’ll be better so I guess we’ll leave it with a we’ll see. 

Priscilla Stanfield

3.75/5⭐️ • 3/5🌶️

This wasn’t my favorite end to the series. It kind of felt rushed after everything we have been through in the previous five books. Especially when the fourth and fifth book starting seeing those signs of repetition that I guess could have been avoided in my opinion. I just didn’t feel the threat like there was earlier on that get easily neutralized. Just didn’t get up there for me for a conclusion after all the time you invest into it. Maybe if I reread it it’ll be better so I guess we’ll leave it with a we’ll see. 

I absolutely loved this entire series. The character growth from each person was incredible. You could really see the bonded group come together and grow as a unit. I loved all the different powers and all the different links and histories that tied them all together. All the major questions I had throughout were answered and the end felt complete. I am sad to be out of this world. What will I do when I run out of J Bree books to read?? 

Erin Cawthorn

This finale was underwhelming to say the least. The last 2 books could have been one with how slow the plot moved. Also justice for G and A because clearly the author only cared enough to write about G, N and N in interesting moments. Little character growth for anyone. Not the worst but just failed to deliver.

Tied up loose ends beautifully. With such an amazing, intense series, I appreciated that, but I also felt like this book was ALL about tying up loose ends, so it didn't have the excitement and thrill the rest did. Loved this series so much though.

Katie Avila

Faith Kitowski

i am so sad that this is the last book. i have no idea what to do with my life now. i literally love them so much. this series caused me so much anxiety but it was so worth it. it’s definitely up there in my top series now. thank you j. bree for writing this masterpiece series

Overall, I enjoyed this series. My favorite aspect was definitely the characters, I thought they had their own personalities and the differing sense of humor was there. However, I’d say my least favorite aspect was the pacing. The story felt all over the place after book 4. Also there was a ton of repetitive language in this, like it’s very obvious. I would recommend this, and I think it’s still a fun series! ✨

Lyndsy Argento

Enna Burton

My primary feeling upon finishing this is relief that the series is over. This did not need to be 6 books, it’s very clear the author just wanted one book for each character. The absolute refusal to build out the world in any way really left the “big” moments to fall completely flat with almost no stakes. Even at the end we still don’t really know why the god-bonds want her bonded dead - or at least not a good reason. Also never are told what they are, why they existed, how they came to be and died out, none of it. It’s so frustrating because with a stronger editor and really fleshing out the background, these books could have been good, but now I’m just glad they’re in my rear view mirror. 

Unbroken Bonds The Bonds that Tie #6