Broken Bonds

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, rape, bullying, and sexual content. 

Gabe and Oli train every morning. Life seems normal, though pervasive anxiety leads students to move in groups. Oli arrives at TT class to find that the Tactical Team, or TacTeam, that captured her and returned her to her Bonds, will help her practice self-defense. Gabe cautions her to stay away from one of the TacTeam members: Kieran Black, Gryphon’s close ally.

Oli’s practice with Gabe has improved her skills. Oli flips another student, Hanna, who retaliates by using her Gift, which is against the rules. Hanna apologizes; she lost control. Oli sits out the rest of the class, feeling “a weird, Bond sort of pride” when Gabe defeats everyone in the class (196). Hanna apologizes again; Gryphon personally ensured that Zoey was removed from the class after mistreating Oli, so Hanna is worried about her own continued participation. Oli is uncertain what this means about her relationship with Gryphon.

An unsettled Oli is summoned to attend a political dinner with North. Oli resents being forced into a fancy dress and makeup; she plots to embarrass North. North ignores her as they travel to the dinner except to warn her that “if [she] really care[s] about the Gifted community,” she will be on her “best behavior” (199).