I felt a warm rush of power in the air as Luke summoned his power. Without warning Elex’s hand came down on his brother’s.
“Not. Now,” he growled out through gritted teeth.
“I can’t just—” Luke began, but a sharp shake of his head cut my Bonded off.
“I’ll handle it,” he said.
I watched in fascination as Elex leaned back against Hel’s knees, his eyes going slightly unfocused. He kept his hands behind his back as if they were bound, which also hid the rings of power that glowed around his arms. To the best of my knowledge the rings only appeared around Tesseris Mageia when they used their powers. Other Mageia’s power was invisible to the rest of the world.
I could sense the surge of Fire that burst through the air as the guard administering the punishment brought the whip down on the boy’s back. The ends of the whip snapped off from the handle of the whip, the tail going flying into the crowd surrounding the gallows. The guard looked at the weapon in surprise, a small tail of smoke rising from the broken weapon, then threw the pommel to the ground and stalked off.
I saw Elex give Luke a small smile that he returned with a sigh. The crowd lurched forward and we slowly left the sight of the boy still sagging in the bonds of the stocks.
“We have to change this,” Luke growled.
“We will,” Elex responded, his teeth grinding in frustration. “But we have to complete our mission.”
Luke nodded in response, blowing out a quick breath. I tightened one hand around his ankle and he glanced down at me. With the mask on, the similarity to Elex was even more pronounced than normal. Both of them had brilliant blue eyes that changed with their moods. Right now, Luke’s were a dark and threatening blue, like the ocean during a storm. It may have been my imagination, but even through the rumble of the wagon over the cobblestones I thought I felt the earth quake.
Chapter 32
Elex
When the black painted facade of the House of Eros came into view, I thought I was going to vomit.
My memories of what had been done to both Luke and I within its walls boiled within my brain. I tried desperately to push them down and back into the box I kept them in within my brain. I could not think about them now. Iwouldnot think about them now.
“You okay?” I heard Hel whisper.
I nodded but couldn’t help a shiver of revulsion as the wagon came to a stop in front of the House.
“Are you going to be able to handle this?” he asked, his face grim.
“I’m fine.” I snapped.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Lie.But it’s okay, kitty kat. You are not alone this time,” he said, hand a warm presence in my own.
I took a deep breath. He was right. I wasn’t drugged. I wasn’t alone. I had my family. I had my Bonded. I would never be alone again.
I returned his squeeze with one of my own.
“I’ll be okay,” I said finally.
A boy came out and held the horses as we climbed down from the wagon top where we had been paraded throughout the city. When my feet touched ground I felt a tremble of power through the earth and glanced at Luke. His face was as blank as my own, but I saw Rhuyin hold his hand a little longer than necessary as he helped him down from the ladder. Neither of us were alone anymore.
We were led into the House. Unlike the first time we had been there we entered through the front door. At the entrance stood a face I remembered all too well. Master Hestus. Beside him stood several men and women, courtesans of his House.
“Ah! Master Bacillus! You honor me,” he said, bowing his head as we fanned out around our guide.
“The honor is mine, Master Hestus!” Master B responded as he bowed deeply. “It is the pleasure of myself and myoikogéneiato share our knowledge of the pleasures of the flesh with you and your household.”
“Please introduce me to your family,” Hestus said, his order only thinly disguised.
“This is Sylvi, whom I believe you know well, Master Hestus,” Master B began, and I saw with start that there was a slight flush spreading across Hestus’ face.
“We—are acquainted. It is my pleasure to welcome you to my home once more, Lady Sylvi,” Hestus oozed.
