“I assume you all know about the responsibilities,” Jade said, “but I have to go through it, anyway. I need to know you understand what you’re getting yourselves into.” She placed the tablet on the table. The screen glowed in different shades of blue. “Everything we say from now will be recorded. It will be your contract with MedAct.”
They all nodded.
“Very well. Let’s begin.” She turned to Celise. “Please place your hand on the tablet.”
A gentle light came from the screen as she touched it. She pulled away a few seconds later, when the light disappeared. She gazed at Wind. Sadness lingered in his beautiful aluminum, shiny eyes. It made her hold her breath. She couldn’t get away from the feeling that she was forcing him into this. He didn’t want her. She understood why, but it didn’t lessen the ache in her chest.
Jade took a deep breath. “I, Doctor Jade Silva, hereby open the contract between Diane Wright and Celise Campbell regarding the cyborg Wind, who was created and awakened by MedAct fifteen years ago. Wind is bound to Diane Wright, but Diane is dying, and therefore, Wind needs a new bound one. Both Diane Wright and Wind agrees to that Celise Campbell takes Diane’s place.” The doctor looked at Celise. “There’s no way out of this contract. Only death can release you from it. Mistreating Wind in any way is punishable, and you’ll be supervised the first two years during your time with him. Do you understand?”
Celise took an unsteady breath. “I understand.”
“Good. Now confirm you desire this.”
She touched the tablet again, this time with a shaky hand. “I, Celise Campbell confirm that I want to become Wind’s new bound one. I’ll take care of him and cherish him the way a bound one should.” She gazed at Wind again.
His face was tense, his eyes set on her as he held Diane’s hand in his with a grim expression. He was about to lose the most important person in his life, and she could barely imagine what he was going through.
“Diane, your turn.” Jade handed her the tablet.
There were tears in Diane’s eyes as she placed her hand on the tablet. Her voice shook when she spoke. “I, Diane Wright, agree to—” She remained silent for a while. Her reluctance was written all over her face. “I, Diane Wright, agree to that Celise Campbell becomes Wind’s new—” She looked at Celise with a horror-filled gaze.
There was nothing Celise could say or do to make Diane feel better, but she could give her a smile filled with promises. She’d already promised Wind would be safe, that he’d be taken care of, and that he’d always be loved. It was a promise stronger than any contract MedAct could ever write.
“I’m sorry.” Diane relaxed and dried her tears. She straightened her back. “I accept Celise Campbell as Wind’s new bound one.” She pulled her hand from the tablet.
“You too, Wind,” Jade said.
He nodded and took a deep breath before he let go of Diane’s hand and reached for the tablet. He froze with his hand on it, just staring at it for a while.
Celise didn’t miss the confusion that suddenly radiated from his eyes, but when he leaned forward and groaned as if in pain, she tensed. Worry filled every part of her body.
Something wasn’t right.
“I know it hurts,” Jade said, “but the pain you feel now will subside as soon as you confirm the contract. Don’t prolong it.”
Celise wanted to tell him to stop, that he didn’t have to do this, that he could stay with Diane. She didn’t want to see him like this. She didn’t want to be the cause of his pain.
“I, Wind … bound to Diane Wright—” He groaned again, unable to go on. He shook his head as if he was trying to get rid of the pain.
Diane looked terrified. She held her hands over her mouth as tears ran down her cheeks. “Wind …” She reached for him.
The doctor raised her hand. “Don’t.”
Diane froze, and with resignation in her eyes, pulled back.
“Finish, Wind,” Jade ordered.
His voice quivered. “I accept … I … accept Celise … as my new … bound one.”
Before Celise could relax, Wind let out a gut-wrenching cry. He threw himself off the sofa, writhing on the floor. He curled in a fetal position with his hands against his chest. His body trembled, his throat and face turned bright red as a thin coat of sweat broke out on his skin.
Celise and Diane both flew from their seats. “Wind!” they yelled at the same time.
Jade raised her hand again, commanding attention. “Don’t go near him! He’ll accidently hurt you if you do. He’s not able to control his reactions right now.”
Seeing Wind like this made it difficult for Celise to stand by and do nothing. The way he twisted on the floor told her he could break bones with his strength. When he grabbed the table leg and squeezed, the wood cracked. It sent chills down her spine. Cyborgs were strong, a lot stronger than humans, and he’d just proven that.
“You said his pain would go away once he agreed to the contract!” Diane yelled at Jade.
“I lied.”
Disbelief shone in her eyes. “What? Why?”
“Because it would’ve made him hesitate. He would’ve chosen to die with you. His bond is fighting against his decision. It’s trying to stop him, but if he gets through this, one huge obstacle will be behind you all.”
“What do you mean if?” Anger surged through Celise. She couldn’t believe Jade hadn’t been honest.
“There’s a slight chance his bond won’t accept his decision, that it’s unable to make the transfer.”
She gasped. “What will happen then?”
Jade remained silent, but her chest heaved as if she’d taken a breath.
The sound of cracking wood filled the room again when Wind squeezed the poor table leg even more. Celise winced, unable to escape the feeling as if something had cracked inside her, too.
“He’ll die,” Jade said.
Diane burst into hysterical sobs.
Celise reacted instantly. She ran up to Diane and wrapped her arms around Wind’s bound one as she cried against her shoulder.
Celise wanted nothing more but run up to Wind too, hold him, and tell him everything would be all right. He just had to hang on for a little bit longer, and it’d be over soon, but when she looked at him, she saw no improvement. Fear skittered down her spine.
He screamed and tremored, and finally snapped the table leg off. The table swayed but didn’t fall over. The other three held it up.
“You should’ve told us,” Celise snapped.
“Then you would’ve never gone through with this, and Wind would’ve died anyway when Diane—” Jade paused. “You don’t have to worry, Diane. Neither do you, Celise. It’s rare that a cyborg dies at this stage. During all the years I’ve been working at MedAct, it has only happened twice.”
Diane didn’t say anything. She tried to dry her eyes, but the tears kept coming.
“How often do you do this?” Celise asked. “How often does a cyborg change his bound one?”
“It happens more often than you think. Humans don’t live as long as cyborgs do, as you know, so at least a few times each year. None of them want to become a Fighter, so they agree to switch their bound one before it’s too late. But sometimes, the bound ones dies unexpectedly, and those who survive, join the Fighters.”
Eventually, Wind stopped screaming, but his pain was still obvious. He kept shaking and groaning with ragged breaths. His eyes were closed, and he seemed swept away in his own mind.
“It’s over soon.” Jade’s voice was gentle, comforting.
No one spoke as the minutes passed, and after what felt like an eternity, Wind finally exhaled and relaxed. Sweat covered his body, exhaustion radiated from him, but his breathing slowly calmed.
Diane was instantly at his side. She wrapped her arms around him as more tears ran down her cheeks. Equal parts joy and worry shone on her face.
Celise remained where she stood. Wind wasn’t hers yet, even if she officially was his bound one now.
She tried to convince herself it was the right thing to do, taking over the bond. Without her, Wind would, one way or another, die but when she saw the pain it caused them, she couldn’t help but think twice. Trying to tell herself she was saving him became more and more difficult to believe.
Wind lay still in Diane’s arms. His eyes were closed, his mouth slightly open, and he seemed completely drained. He remained like that for a while as he regained his strength.
Then he opened his eyes and met her gaze.
Celise held her breath.
His eyes were bright and intense. There was a determination she’d never seen before, and there was also something new. Something she’d never expected to see in his eyes.
Interest.
And it was directed at her …
CHAPTER 8
“How are you feeling?” Diane asked Wind when they’d reseated themselves. She held his hand in hers as if she was trying to comfort him, but he didn’t seem to notice.
Exhaustion shone in his shining eyes. “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” His usually gentle gaze shot to Jade and darkened. “You should’ve told me about the pain. I have the right to choose my own fate.”
“Yes, you do, and you chose Celise,” Jade answered. “What you felt now was nothing compared to what you would’ve felt if you’d survived Diane’s death without being bound to Celise.”
“You can’t know for sure it would’ve affected my decision,” he growled.
“All cyborgs who’ve been told have chosen death.”
Wind didn’t seem happy, and Celise didn’t blame him. She was angry as well, but Diane seemed mostly happy that Wind had survived.
“Can you tell us what you felt?” Celise asked.
Wind turned his gaze at her, and she winced when his anger didn’t subside. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was directed at her now. After all, it was her fault he’d experienced pain. She was the cause of it.
“Nothing new. The bond protested, but I’ve never felt it fight the way it did. The moment I said I accept you as my bound one, it went completely crazy.”
“But you feel no pain now when you said you accept me, right?”
Realization seemed to hit him. “No, I didn’t.” He exhaled. “Thank God.” His last words were merely a whisper.
“You won’t experience that again,” Jade said. “Your bond hasn’t accepted Celise yet, so this is far from over, but the pain you felt a few minutes ago will never go through your system again. That you survived proves your bond is willing to make the transfer. You have to work together to make it happen. All three of you.”
“What do you mean?” Diane asked.
“Throwing Wind at Celise won’t work. The bond must choose her willingly. You must give it a reason to want her.”
Wind frowned. “You mean, show the bond that Celise is better than Diane?”
Jade nodded. “Exactly.”
He reared back against the fabric of the couch. “But, she isn’t.”
Agony surged through Celise. She lowered her gaze and tried not to show how much it hurt.
“Oh, my God,” Wind said with horror in his eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that, Celise.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She avoided looking at him as the tension in the room grew.
Jade stood. “Well, as you see, you still have a lot to work with. Just like with the Fighters, Wind’s eyes have to flash three times. It’ll be difficult to get the first flash, but once it happens, it’ll be easier to get the second and the third.”
Celise dared to look at him. His gaze was set on her, and the underlying seriousness there made her hold her breath. He truly regretted what he’d said. He hadn’t meant it. It was written all over his face, and it eased her tension.
“And how do we achieve that?” Diane asked.
“There are several ways, but what’s most important is that you and Wind stop touching each other. If you do, it’ll become easier for his bond to make the transfer.”
Agony hit Celise in the chest again, and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from bursting into tears. She could almost feel Diane’s pain as her own when she saw the shock in her tired eyes. “Diane, I …”
Diane wiped away a tear and gave her a trembling but reassuring smile before turning to Jade. Resignation lingered in her expression. “I understand.”
“One way to get that first flash is to fool the bond,” Jade said.
“How?” Celise regretted not studying the bond. It would’ve helped them a lot if she’d known how to proceed without having to ask Jade every question.
“Make the bond think it touches Diane. You can do that by playing a kissing game.”
Wind jerked into a sitting position. He seemed to feel better, which Celise was thankful for, but the look on his face said he wasn’t interested in any kissing games.
“What kind of kissing game?” Diane asked.
“Tie a cloth around Wind’s eyes, and then take turns kissing him. That way, the bond can’t determine who’s kissing him. Once he’s aroused enough, you remove the cloth, and the bond should be more willing to comply. It might work the first time, it might work on the tenth time. It’s different for every cyborg. Remember that.”
Heat rushed to Celise’s face. The thought of kissing him, to actually do it without it being wrong made her hope the kissing game would take place.
Even if Wind didn’t seem thrilled, Diane was more difficult to read. She wasn’t crying anymore, her expression was calm, but Celise still had a hard time to determine what Diane thought about the doctor’s words.
“Listen,” Jade said. “I understand what this sounds like, but you all must do everything in your power. You must work together, and that means trying every single thing you can come up with.”
Celise gulped. “You mean—”
Jade nodded. “Yes. A threesome is one of the things on the list. When I said you must do everything in your power, I meant everything. Literally. Do you understand?” Her eyes rested on each of them with a serious gaze.
Celise exchanged surprised glances with Diane and Wind. She’d expected this process to be difficult, but she’d never thought they’d have to take things that far. Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to.
“This is all about intimacy,” the doctor went on. “Wind must get used to your touch, Celise. His bond must accept your touch. Once it does, you should be able to sleep with him to make the first flash happen.”
She’d barely dared to imagine what it’d be like to have sex with Wind, and now, she’d soon be able to experience it for real. The thought of it made her body heat rise.
“Remember, this is a matter of life or death. You’ve no idea how much time you have to make the transfer. If you’re lucky, it will only take a few days, but we’ve had couples where it took months, so don’t waste your time. If the bond isn’t fully transferred, and Diane dies, Wind might die as well. You need those three flashes. Two are not enough, and one will take you nowhere.”
Jade’s voice was firm and her words hard to listen to, but she was right. Wind and Diane seemed to agree, even if discomfort lingered in their eyes.
“Celise, you’ll also move in with Diane and Wind today, or they move in with you.”
She winced and stared at the doctor. Celise opened her mouth, but no words came.
Jade turned to Diane and Wind. “You two, from now on, you only touch if it’s really necessary.”
Their expressions were tense, and Diane, who still held Wind’s hand in hers, slowly pulled away. Her fingers trembled. The pain written all over her face was unmistakable.
“One last thing,” Jade said, as if unaffected by Diane’s sorrow, and locked her gaze at Wind. “You might end up in a transition phase once your eyes flash for the first time. It doesn’t happen to all cyborgs who go through this, but some end up being bound to both women until the last flash happens.”
His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “How’s that even possible?”
�
��It’s possible because your bond to Diane won’t disappear until your bond to Celise is fully in place.”
He frowned. “Won’t that make it more difficult to become bound to Celise?”
“It will, so let’s hope your bond to Diane disappears with the first flash, but I’m telling you all, just in case. A comfort is, it’s rare, but it does happen.”
Wind sighed and nodded. “I understand. What will happen when my bond to Diane is gone? Will I forget her?”
“No. Your feelings for Diane will always be there. They are real. When Diane dies, you’ll feel the same pain everyone feels when they lose a loved one, but you won’t die with her.” She picked up her tablet and pushed on the digital buttons a few times. “The contract is now sealed. Wind, you’re now officially bound to Celise.”
He clenched his fists. “What if we don’t succeed?”
Jade’s hand froze over the device. Her expression expressionless. “Then you’ll die.”
CHAPTER 9
“Are you sure about this?” Wind looked at Celise, where she stood by the open front door, throwing her bag over her shoulder. Through the door, he noticed Jade driving away.
She gave him a gentle smile. “I’m sure. You don’t have to come with me to my place. I’ll just pick up a few things, and be back soon. I’m going to need some clothing, my toothbrush, and other things if I’m supposed to live here for a while. Besides, Diane needs you right now. This is your last chance to … to be together …”
“I’m bound to you now. I should go with you.” Saying those words made his bond protest, and all he wanted was to go back to Diane and forget this was happening. At least it didn’t make him feel sick to think or say he was bound to Celise anymore.
She stilled. “Only on paper.”
Wind didn’t reply. Instead, he looked toward the living room, where Diane sat, and just the thought of her warmed his heart.
“I can’t help but think I’m doing something wrong.” Celise’s voice was barely a whisper.
His gaze returned to Celise. “What do you mean?”
“You want nothing more but to be with Diane. I see the longing in your eyes, and here I am, taking you away from her.”
Loved Cyborg (Bound by Her Book 2) Page 4