On the Wings of War: Soulbound V by Hailey Turner

“How will you even know if Rossiter is around?” Jono asked.

Patrick didn’t lift his head away from where he had it leaned against the window. “Same way I know when demons are around. My magic will tell me.”

“What does it feel like?”

“Like I need to gargle with alcohol to get the taste of hell out of my mouth. Why?”

“Just curious.”

If Patrick was shielded, Jono couldn’t tell when Patrick was using his magic unless he used the soulbond to tap a ley line. The connection between them wasn’t always open, but it was tighter than it had been last summer. Part of it was due to the torn open hole in Patrick’s soul and the deeply buried connection he had with Hannah. The soulbond had spread deeper into their souls to block that connection since Chicago, but Patrick hadn’t figured out how to sever his tie to Hannah yet.

Some days, Jono wasn’t sure Patrick even wanted to.

Patrick had a lot of guilt where his sister was concerned. Jono hadn’t raised the issue about the connection tying the twins together and what to do about it because that was a minefield he had no map for.

“So we’re just burning petrol whilst you”—Jono lifted a hand off the steering wheel and wiggled his fingers—“go abracadabra?”

Patrick smacked Jono in the shoulder, but he was laughing as he did so. “Fuck you, that’s not what I’m doing.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” Patrick’s mobile beeped with an incoming message. He lifted his hips to pull it from his pocket and check it. “Hey, is there a grocery store or butcher shop somewhere we can get a bone?”

Jono glanced at him, not sure what to make of that question. “A bone?”

“Yeah. Spencer reminded me I owe Fatima a bone.”

“Isn’t he on the plane? Shouldn’t he be sleeping?”

Patrick shrugged, typing away at the screen. “Who knows with him, but Fatima isn’t one I’d like to piss off.”

“His partner?”

“His psychopomp.”

Jono returned his attention to the road. “Ah.”

“Don’t worry, she’s harmless.” Patrick paused. “Mostly.”

“Mostly,” Jono repeated dryly.

Patrick lowered his mobile but didn’t put it back into his pocket. He reached up with his other hand to set a silence ward in the car, static buzzing Jono’s ears. “There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

“Sounds serious.”

“It’s about Spencer’s kind of magic. It’s within the family of necromancy.”

“You told me that already. I said I don’t mind.”

“He cleaves souls apart. I think he could maybe undo the soulbond if that’s something you wanted.”

Jono drew in a sharp breath, jerking his head to the side despite the traffic on the road. He stared at Patrick’s profile for a second before wrenching his gaze back around. “What the bloody fuck gave you the idea that’s something I want?”

“Because you didn’t have a choice—”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” Jono interrupted. “We’ve been over this. What’s done is done, and I don’t regret what ties us together.”

“I’m offering you a possible way out.”

“I don’t want it.” Jono swallowed, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “Unless you do?”

“No,” Patrick admitted, and the utter honesty in his scent put Jono at ease. “But it’s something I had to offer you, knowing what I know about Spencer and his magic. He’ll know about the soulbond the moment he sees us.”

“Then tell him to keep his gob shut, and we’ll be fine.”

Patrick cracked a smile, but it appeared strained when Jono glanced at him. “He knows how to keep a secret.”

“Good.” Jono reached over and settled his hand on top of Patrick’s, sliding their fingers together. “I don’t know how to make it more clear, Pat. You’re all I want, soulbond or not. I love you. That’s never going to change.”

Patrick lifted their linked hands so he could kiss the back of Jono’s. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. Jono could smell the tangle of emotion on him that settled into something pleased and relieved, and that was all that mattered.