I shook my head in response then saw Elex shoot me a glance. It was my turn to apologize for excluding them.
“Luke was asking if anyone had questioned Naya about why she had been in the basement.”
Hel shook his head.
“Not to my knowledge. She actually lost quite a bit of blood and had to have surgery on that leg. I’ve been healing her daily, but I can only push her body’s ability to heal so far. Patience is not a virtue of the young.”
He smiled slightly, only for Elex to reach over in a gesture I had only seen him do with Luke and punched his Bonded in the shoulder.
“You’re not old,” he insisted.
“Was that supposed to sting?” Hel asked with the lift of an eyebrow. “Because if it was supposed to, I can moan and writhe around on the floor for a bit.”
“Do I need tomakeit sting?” Elex responded, his voice full of menace. He was trying so hard to look fierce but even I could see that a grin was winning out over the scowl. His Bonded wrapped his arm around his upper shoulder and whispered in his ear.
“No, but I’d definitely like the writhing and moaning…”
Elex clapped his hand over Hel’s mouth, his face bright red as he glared at his brother and me.
Ugh.Ew. Sometimes lip reading was a curse.
Luke grinned wryly at me and blushed. They’d been loud enough he hadn’t needed to read lips to hear what Helios had said.
“We’ll see you guys later,” Luke said, grabbing my hand and hustling us down the hall before Elex could come up with another reason to join us, then grinned at me as we wandered out into the sunshine. I loved my brother, but his doubt of Rhu’s ability to protect me was beginning to grate on my nerves. Not that Ineededprotection, of course.
The weather was unseasonably mild, so we had decided to walk instead of taking the bus.
“Do you think he’ll ever come to accept me?” I asked.
“Yes. Elex just has a very hard time trusting people.
We arrived at the library, and I hesitated before opening the door. Luke had practically lived in the great Library of Alexandria. I wasn’t sure Illyria could compete with that, but I hoped it was something he would like.
We entered the main hall. The building was three stories tall with an arched dome of stained glass overhead. To the left of the entry there were rows and rows of computers that were available for anyone to use. To the right were small groupings of comfortable looking chairs, tables and couches. Books lined the walls and took up most of the second and third floor.
Luke was turning in circles, taking in the sight of kids wandering around an area with books set out just for them. Some young people were huddled over a computer in one of the side rooms and seemed to be holding a spirited debate over the relative merits of one class of fighter over another.
“I know it’s not the Library of Alexandria,” I began as he continued to stare. What the hell had I been thinking? He’s been to the greatest library in the known world. This was not going to impress him.
“We can go—”
My words were cut off as he threw his arms around me and crushed our mouths together. He swallowed my yelp of surprise.
“This. Is. Amazing,” he said. “Your people are so…sofreewith their knowledge! So open and accepting. It just…it’s mind boggling.”
I grinned and pulled him in for another kiss.
“So are you.”
***
The next few days were a blur. I spent long hours in Luke’s company, getting to know the man I had, somehow, unknowingly Bonded with. Getting to know Luke meant getting to know his brother, Helios, and all the other Mageia who had come from Heraklion with them.
We had gathered in one of the common areas as I worked to teach them some signs. Allard and Tik had joined Luke, Hel and me for the lesson. I had felt a little awkward at first, but it helped that Dag was always around with Deliah. At Luke’s request, we had begun giving sign language lessons almost immediately. They were all doing well with their lessons, but my Bonded surprised me with his aptitude.
My Bonded.
I paused as the thought occurred to me. Those were two words I had given up hope of ever being able to say.
