Kissed Cyborg (Bound by Her Book 3)

by Nellie C. Lind

  “Let’s keep him out of this,” Nightmare said.

  “Let’s not,” Celise said, and every gaze turned toward her.

  “What do you mean?” Blaze asked.

  “I’m Shade’s doctor, as you know. Shade’s bond was damaged when Nightmare tried to remove it. He’s stable now, but sooner or later, the damage won’t be repairable. If his bond isn’t fixed, or removed, within a year or two … he’ll die.”

  Guilt filled Nightmare’s gaze. “Does he know?”

  “No. There’s no reason to worry him, not yet.”

  “And his bound one?”

  “No.”

  Another silence filled the room, but Silver didn’t miss all the brain power working.

  “Let’s do this,” Sense finally said. “Let’s create the female cyborg.”

  Phoenix nodded in agreement. “There’s no point to overthink things. We need to try.”

  Silver grinned as one nod after another happened. No matter what happened, this was their last chance. If they failed, there would be no more Fighters. MedAct would take care of them, and not in a good way.

  There was a place where Fighters who chose not to bind themselves were brought, but they’d searched for that place for a long time to try to free the Fighters who’d ended up there.

  Unfortunately, there wasn’t any indication a place like that actually existed.

  No name, no location.

  Only a shadow and a rumor, and yet, unbound Fighters did disappear. They’d lost many over the years. Two had disappeared during the year he’d been with Nightmare.

  Whatever MedAct did with those Fighters, Silver doubted was good, but it was a risk they were all willing to take.

  It was written on all their faces. He saw it even in Celise’s and Wind’s eyes.

  They were willing to put everything on the line for what they believed in.

  Celise was a gentle person, but he didn’t miss her underlying anger. Her disappointment with MedAct was obvious.

  Silver straightened his back. “I’m ready for our final fight. It’s all, or nothing.”

  One smile after another spread through the room.

  They were all in.

  CHAPTER 14

  The drive back to Glaswell was a silent one. All she heard was the sounds the car wheels made against the pavement.

  Wind drove. Celise sat next to him, and Faye and Silver were in the back.

  Faye barely dared to look at her cyborg.

  He’d been avoiding her since this morning. She’d awakened in his room, alone, hoping he’d return, but he never did, so she’d gone back to her room, only to find Celise there.

  The doctor informed her about their plan, and an hour later, they were on their way back.

  It was amazing to be going home, and a weird feeling of freedom filled her as well. She didn’t need to be under the same roof as the Fighters anymore, walking around tense, never knowing what would happen.

  Faye missed Sense and Phoenix. They were good buddies, but she wouldn’t miss Nightmare or Edge. She was glad the leader had taken care of Edge and wasn’t going to let him roam free. After all, there was something seriously wrong with him.

  It was scary to know that most of the Fighters were locked up. It showed how many of them had suffered severe damage when their bound ones had died.

  She was still tense. The thought of going to her … no, their home alone with Silver made her shiver, but she couldn’t tell if it was from pleasure or worry, but thankfully, they weren’t going there first.

  They’d all stop by Shade and Phoebe’s place first.

  “I’m not sure this is such a good idea,” Faye said.

  “They need to know. It’s the only way,” Celise said.

  “I know, but I’m not sure bringing Silver there is the best thing.”

  Her cyborg clapped her knee. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll behave.” He grinned but it didn’t reach his anger-filled eyes.

  She snorted. “Your word is just as trustworthy as the cat’s promise not to chase the mouse.”

  His grin melded into a glare. “I would never do anything to jeopardize this.”

  “I don’t think you would,” the doctor said, “but Shade won’t be happy to see you, and I don’t blame him.”

  “Well, we can’t leave Silver anywhere.” Wind turned the car onto another road. “He’s bound to you now, Faye. Besides, I don’t think you want to leave her side. Am I right, Silver?”

  Faye gazed at Silver, and when he crossed his arms and looked away like an upset child, her heart clenched.

  Wind was right.

  Silver needed to be near her, but it was because of the bond. Even if his feelings were real, she still had a hard time believing in them.

  Sure, he’d defended her from Edge, and took care of her afterward, but he’d been cold and distant.

  Was he really in love with her the way every cyborg was with his bound one?

  All she saw was anger, and a glint of longing from time to time, but love? Not really.

  “Shade’s got time to prepare,” Celise said. “I’ve informed him and Phoebe that Silver’s coming with us.”

  Faye leaned closer to the doctor’s seat in front of her. “How did they react when you told them about the Fighters?”

  “Talking over the phone’s not a good idea. I only told them we’ve been in contact, and that we need to talk … and that Silver’s coming with us.”

  Faye inhaled. “I doubt that went well.”

  Celise cleared her throat. “I’m hoping for the best.”

  “Yeah, me too.” She glanced at Silver again, but he was still ignoring her.

  Ten minutes later, they passed through the gates to Glaswell without any issues. The guards let Silver through, too.

  He was registered as hers now.

  Celise had taken care of that before they’d left the Fighters headquarters. That way, he could even walk in to MedAct without any consequences. He just needed to sign the contract.

  He had a bound one now, after all.

  It was odd, driving through the gates with him by her side. Faye had tons of questions about what would happen. This was only the beginning.

  The real tests were yet to come.

  Seeing Phoebe and Shade’s driveaway sent chills through her, and when Wind parked the car, she held her breath for two seconds. “This is our last chance to change our minds.”

  Wind raised an eyebrow. “Do you really believe that’s the right thing to do?”

  “No.”

  “Then don’t suggest it.” He approached the door.

  The insult stung, but Celise’s cyborg was right. When she’d heard Shade’s time was limited, her heart had almost stopped.

  He was possessive of his Phoebe, and Faye liked teasing him about it, but they’d somehow managed to become friends, and the last thing she wanted was to see Phoebe devastated.

  She gave Silver a dark warning look. “Behave.”

  He only grinned, but his irritation was difficult to miss.

  Wind knocked on the door.

  Faye swallowed when she spotted Shade’s big dark frame blocking the entrance. The look in his shining eyes wasn’t promising. It meant he’d attack if he felt threatened. Anything to protect his Phoebe, and by the look of it, not much was needed to trigger him.

  Phoebe stood behind him, waiting for him to let her pass. Her cyborg was in defense mode and protecting her was his greatest priority.

  “Hello, Shade.” Celise smiled, but it had an obviously insecure edge.

  Shade’s glare didn’t leave Silver. “I can’t believe you brought that bastard with you.”

  “Nice to see you too.” Silver grinned.

  “I’ll explain everything. Let us in and let’s talk.” The doctor’s voice was calm.

  “He’s not coming in here.”

  Faye didn’t blame her friend’s cyborg.

  Before Shade had had the chance to leave MedAct, Silver had shot him with a dart in a
n attempt to kidnap him as the Fighters had stormed MedAct’s reception. Instead of taking him, they’d kidnapped Phoebe.

  “You have to let him in. We can’t leave him out here,” Wind said.

  Shade’s gaze shot to Faye. “He’s bound to you now?”

  She nodded. “Since yesterday.”

  “Good. That means you can control him.” He moved aside to let everyone enter.

  Faye frowned to herself.

  Control Silver? Was that even possible?

  Phoebe smiled at everyone as they went inside, but she shot an worried look at Silver. She studied him for seconds that felt like hours. “Don’t think you’re welcome here, but since Celise said she has something to tell us about you and the Fighters, I’ll let you stay, but if you do anything to hurt any of us, you’re out before you can even blink.”

  Silver raised his arms in surrender, but his grin was impossible to miss. “Don’t worry, sweet Phoebe. I’m not the slightest bit interested in you. I have a bound one now.” He smacked Faye’s bottom.

  She squeaked, and glared at him.

  His grin widened, but the underlying anger remained.

  No one but Silver seemed amused.

  Celise sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

  CHAPTER 15

  The looks in Shade and Phoebe’s eyes were exactly what Faye expected to see.

  Both sat on the couch with disbelief written all over their faces. They hadn’t said a word as Celise and Wind had explained the situation.

  The doctor had started with what’d happened after Diane’s death, and how the Fighters had come into the picture. She’d finished with showing them the information on the disc Nightmare had given her.

  Phoebe gasped, staring at the holographic image of a rotating faceless female cyborg. “Is that for real? This isn’t some kind of trick? There really is a female cyborg program?”

  Celise nodded. “I’ve checked into it. Everything is real.”

  Phoebe remained still. She blinked a few times then took a deep breath and leaned back. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Well, you’d better. We didn’t go after you and Shade for the fun of it,” Silver said.

  She shook her head. “I thought Nightmare and the Fighters were crazy. Everything he said sounded wrong.”

  “That’s because you’ve been taught a lie from the start,” Silver said. “And it doesn’t help that every cyborg out there believes it, too. They don’t learn the truth until they’re seconds from dying, but then it’s already too late. The only thing that can save them and us is that female cyborg program.”

  “I can confirm that,” Wind said. His expression was serious. “I felt the bond change after Diane’s death. I expected it to collapse and the collapse itself to kill me, but I didn’t. Instead, it transformed into a poison, and there’s no doubt it was designed to kill me. Without it, I would’ve been heartbroken by Diane’s death, but I would’ve lived.”

  Shade ran a hand through his long dark curls, frustration shining through him. “You’re the last one I expected to hear that from.”

  Wind nodded, the gravity never leaving his face. “I know. I also believed the Fighters were crazy, but after what I went through, there’s no doubt in my mind that the bond’s designed to control us and … kill us.”

  Shade stood and approached the doctor’s cyborg. “And that’s why I believe this, because I believe in you.”

  Wind smiled and visibly relaxed. “I figured you’d say that.”

  Phoebe stood as well. “Just like that?” She watched her cyborg.

  Shade grabbed her hand. “I’ll never forget what the Fighters did to us, but if Wind says they’re right, then I believe it.”

  Faye smiled.

  Shade and Wind had had a special relationship from the start. Shade had trusted Wind from the moment he and Diane had stepped from the elevator at MedAct. He’d instantly trusted him, and she was thankful for that.

  Shade turned to Silver. His eyes were cold. “But just because I believe Wind doesn’t mean any of you will be my friends.”

  Faye expected her cyborg to argue back, but he just studied Shade for a moment.

  “You know, Nightmare tried his signal on you because he was convinced it would work. Everything pointed to it. It was based on the information Alexander Fleming gave him many years ago. He wouldn’t have done it if he hadn’t been sure,” Silver said.

  Shade snorted. “You expect me to believe that?”

  “No, but it’s the truth.”

  The air sparked with invisible arrows the two cyborgs seemed to be shooting at each other.

  Faye stepped between them. “Guys, we really don’t have time for this. I know you’re both angry, but we need to bury those feelings if we want to succeed. Right now, we don’t have much that speaks in our favor, we only have each other.”

  The icy sparks went on for another whole minute, until Silver looked at her.

  He instantly calmed, but the underlying anger still seemed to be there.

  She held her breath, taking in his countenance. She felt tiny, which she physically was, compared to him, but he also made her feel insignificant on the inside.

  Was she crazy for trying to control a cyborg like Silver?

  Sure, he was charming and flirtatious, but he was also stubborn and impossible. He had a just as strong personality as she had, and it wasn’t promising. Would that one day destroy them?

  Faye opened her mouth to make them back down, but no words came. Her gaze was locked with his. She was unable to look away from his big and beautiful shining cyborg eyes. He made her pulse rise, and her heart skipped a beat. She swallowed. Hard.

  She finally tore herself away, shaking her head.

  What was this? Was he somehow bewitching her?

  “I agree,” Celise said and glanced at Shade. “If you and Phoebe believe what we’re saying, we should move on.”

  Phoebe sighed and pulled her hand through her red hair. The stress was evident in her expression. “I’m not completely convinced. I’ll listen to you, but I just can’t see myself getting involved with the Fighters.”

  “You won’t have to,” Wind said, “but we figured you both deserve to know.”

  She smiled. “I appreciate that.”

  Wind and Celise exchanged gazes.

  Faye inhaled, instantly catching up. Would they tell them that Shade didn’t have long? Would they tell them that he’d die if the bond wasn’t removed?

  Fixing it was impossible, so the only option remaining was removing it.

  Celise gave Wind an almost invisible shake with her head.

  Faye relaxed. It was the right decision. Burdening Phoebe and Shade with it now would only cause them pain.

  After all, the solution was still far away.

  “So, what happens now?” Phoebe asked.

  “We’re going to create a female cyborg,” Celise said. Anticipation lingered in her eyes. “For that, we need equipment. I know where it is, but to get access to it, we need codes only Jade has.”

  Phoebe bit her lip. “That won’t be easy.”

  “No, but we have a plan. Before we left the Fighters’ headquarters, I registered Silver as Faye’s cyborg, meaning, in MedAct’s eyes, he’s no longer considered one of the Fighters. He can walk around without any issues now, but Jade still needs to come by and make him sign a contract.”

  Phoebe frowned. “I’m starting to see where this is going. Jade will have to come here, and while she’s busy with Silver, you’ll hack her computer and steal the codes.”

  Wind smiled. “Exactly.”

  “I’ll book a meeting with her once we’re done here,” Celise said.

  “Do you need us to be there?”

  Celise nodded. “It would help. The more to distract her, the better.”

  Phoebe sighed. “Fine.” She shoved her fingers through her hair again. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She sat on the edge of her couch. “I’ve seen all the evidence, and I’ve he
ard Wind’s story, but it’s still hard to comprehend.” Disbelief colored her features.

  “You just need time,” Faye said.

  Silence filled the room as Phoebe seemed to struggle with the whole situation. One second, she looked confused, wearing a frown, and in the next, she seemed relaxed, as if she’d slowly started to accept everything, only to go back the disbelief.

  Faye glanced at Silver. In a way, that was what she felt when it came to the handsome blond cyborg. She both wanted and didn’t want him in her life. But she still didn’t know which side was winning.

  CHAPTER 16

  With a lump in her throat, Faye opened the door to her home. Silver’s presence lingered over her like a shadow as he followed her inside. The world suddenly felt a lot smaller as the thick panel closed behind him.

  Alone.

  They were alone in her little house, and her heart beat like never before. Before they’d left Phoebe and Shade’s, Celise had asked if she wanted to sleep over at her and Wind’s instead, just in case.

  No one trusted Silver yet, and neither did she, but spending the night somewhere else wouldn’t make things better between them. She doubted he’d appreciate it, and in a way, she wanted to show him that she wanted to trust him.

  He was her cyborg, after all, and bound to her.

  The realization slapped her in the face.

  What in the world should she do with him?

  “Well, welcome home, I guess.” She threw out with her arms and swallowed when she met his gaze.

  Silver didn’t seem impressed. “This is where you live? It’s tiny.” He looked around in the living room, which was connected with the kitchen.

  On the other side of the room was a door, leading to the bedroom, bathroom, and wardrobe. The living room contained a couch, television, a table, and a bookshelf. Two huge landscape paintings decorated the walls.

  Faye frowned. “I don’t need much. Do you really think I want to clean and wash my life away?”

  His lips twitched, but the anger she’d seen in him the whole day didn’t subside. “I guess not.”