Free Bonds That Break (The Havoc Chronicles Book 3) by Brant Williams

superpowers. I should get some slack for not knowing exactly how everything was supposed to work.
    While I walked down, Rhys continued speaking. “We can only assume that some unknown factor or power has either diluted or tainted the current binding. We have no way of knowing for sure what that might be.”
    “What about the other Havocs she is the Binder for?” asked Onaona. “Do we know if those bindings are stable?”
    “As far as we know,” said Rhys. “There doesn’t seem to be any problems with the binding for Osadyn that she and I did back in May. I’m assuming that there haven’t been any problems with the binding for Pravicus that she originally inherited or we would have had word by now.” He looked over at Nakai for confirmation and she nodded in agreement.
    “As for Margil, I want to point out that Madison did the first ever solo-binding.” He glanced over and gave me a quick wink before continuing. “At the time of the binding the seal looked to be strong and intact, but then again, so did Thuanar’s when we went there last spring. Given recent events, it would be prudent to send a watcher there to observe.”
    “But that still doesn’t tell us why the binding is weakening on just Thuanar,” said Yvette.
    “We do have one theory,” said Rhys. “Scottie, do you want to explain?”
    Dad rose to his feet, looking like he had done this a hundred times before. Which, given how long he had been a Berserker, was probably pretty close to the truth.
    “Like Rhys just said, we have no way of knowing anything for sure. At this point everything is pure speculation, but we do have some guesses. When Madison first became a Berserker, it was more-or-less in the normal way. She was attached to no other Havocs at that point. That binding was passed on as has been done hundreds of times throughout history. When Eric and Kara died, Madison received that ability from them, but Margil was already free. There was no binding to corrupt. Same with Osadyn – already free. But when Aata and Christine were killed, the binding was not broken, so it gave Madison the power over Thuanar and his binding.
    “We think that since Madison was the Binder and Berserker for multiple Havocs, the existing binding somehow corrupted when it was passed onto her.”
    “But can she fix it?” asked Dagmar.
    Rhys shrugged. “That’s the big question, isn’t it? I personally think she can based on seeing her bind Osadyn and Margil. If she could bind them, it seems reasonable to think that she could rebind Thuanar. But we can’t know for sure until we try.”
    “And that is what we have come here to discuss,” said Nakai.
    “What’s left to discuss?” asked Julie from her seat next to Shing. “Sending her to re-bind Thuanar is the inevitable next step, isn’t it?”
    Nakai looked distinctly disgruntled at Julie’s comment. “We need to get all the facts out and weigh our options–”
    “I agree with Julie,” said Jacinda. “This isn’t the time to talk this issue to death. For all we know that binding could break at any time. We need bold and decisive action. Now.”
    Several Berserkers and Binders began voicing their agreement at once.
    “Now hold on,” said Nakai. She raised her voice to be heard above the others. “We can’t just circumvent procedures that have served us for centuries.”
    “Why not?” asked Yul, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
    “Let’s put it to a vote,” said Miguel. A chorus of shouted agreement followed his suggestion.
    Nakai looked around the room taking in the overwhelming support for an immediate vote. She sighed. “Very well,” she said. “Despite my strong objection to such hasty measures, we will vote. Everyone take out your electronic voting devices.”
    “No way,” said Jacinda. “I never did trust those things. Besides, I don’t think we should over-complicate it. Let’s do this old school.” She stood up and looked around the room. “Hands up,” she said. “Who