A rumbling chuckle came out of Ilyas at her reaction.
“You know the words of home.” Her awed whisper and clouded eyes struck straight to my heart.
“There is much we can learn from each other, Folami. All we ask is that you are open with us. Allow us a chance. Then make your decision.”
My Bonded was a man of very few words but when he spoke, he did so with impactful intent.
Folami wordlessly nodded her head before turning her gaze to me once more. My body tingled under her stare, my heart rate increasing as my soul reached for hers.
“Okay, Lex,” she whispered with a timid smile that looked so out of place on the warrior yet so right at the same time.
“Thank you, Folami.”
“There’s a pack of crystals on the table for you,” she said before leaving, pointing to the table on the opposite end of the enormous bed. “They’re all we can spare, what with the mines destroyed, but it should tide you over until . . .” Folami trailed off awkwardly. “Yes, they should keep you alive for a while.”
With that, she turned on her heel and fled the room, the wind from her exit wafting her jasmine and honey scent toward us.
I breathed deeply, letting her smell settle my soul, even as it cried at her leaving. Humming in relative contentment, I slid back down to rest against Ilyas’ shoulder.
“Now comes the hard part,” he rumbled in my ear, his large hand gently stroking the hair off my brow.
I hummed in agreement. “She won’t be easily won, and if she feels like she is falling for us, she’ll simply blame it on the Bond.”
Ilyas grunted. “Her relationship with Peytor won’t help much, either.”
“You leave d’Aelius to me,” I said as a slow grin spread over my face. Ilyas barked a loud laugh at my expression, no doubt reading my intentions immediately.
“Just be careful, Lex. There is much at stake here, not just your life.”
I sobered at that, the lascivious grin fading completely as I snuggled closer to Ilyas.
“I know, Illyas. I know.”
We lapsed into momentary silence, each of us consumed by our thoughts as Ilyas’ fingers continued to weave through my hair.
How could I convince Folami that it wasn’t just the Bond that was pulling us together? That I was here in Lishahl for the right reasons?
“As soon as you’re well enough, we can join their army. Perhaps help train their Mages, as it seems that was an area where they lacked expertise,” Ilyas mused quietly, interrupting the rapidly metastasizing questions.
“How do you figure that? Torin has been the head of the rebellion for years.”
“Yes. But he’s a godling, just like Ellowyn. He doesn’t know what it’s like to draw from another person or to only have a small well of power. Think if we could train them as we train the cadets at the Academy . . .” he trailed off, letting me fill in the blanks.
“Tomorrow, we visit the training yard.” I yawned, relaxing further into Ilyas’ side as his ministrations lulled me back to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Folami
“Where should we hang this one, Mama?” Itanya’s sweet voice drifted lazily through my thoughts, tumbling over each other in earnest.
“Hmm?” I asked, pulling myself into the present with a herculean effort.
“My new picture. Where should we hang it?” There was no impatience, just an understanding that went far beyond that of her nine years. Itanya blinked her large eyes slowly, her gaze flicking over the tormented expression I couldn’t disguise.
I plastered a smile on my face, but it was as fake as it felt. The corners of my lips dropped as soon as I saw Itanya’s furrowed brow.
“Well, let me see it first,” I said, gesturing to the paper clutched in her hand. She blinked twice, clearing the clouds and questions from her eyes, before handing me the picture she’d just spent hours drawing.
