“Yes, I know how the Aethari and Nethren stemmed from Medeans. The Aethari sought the Source of Magic and were changed by it, while the Nethren sought the Source of Technology and were equally changed. It made you inimical to each other. Your bite can kill an Aethari.”
“Yes, that much is true. I imagine their bite can kill us as well.” Vor leaned back in his wooden chair.
“And you don't feel emotions. You said that was true as well.”
“We feel emotions, just not as many as you do, and probably not in the same way. We are tempered by reason. If something doesn't make sense, we don't abide it.”
“You said you don't feel the softer emotions.”
“They don't make sense to us.” Vor frowned. “But they're starting to make sense to me. Or rather, I'm beginning to see that sense doesn't have to apply to everything. I think being forced to live so close to the Source of Technology has made us this way.But I am proof that my people can change. I'm already feeling more than I ever have, and that's all because of you, Lena.”
“You mean, it's because of my sister.” Lena leaned back and met Vor's gaze belligerently.
Vor cocked his head, something odd occurring to him. “Are you jealous that I believed she was mine first?”
“What?!” Lena shrieked. “Why would I be jealous?”
“I don't know. You shouldn't be. It was a mistake. All I had to go on were images that Source gave me. Your sister looks like you. I saw her with her Aethari man and assumed Source wanted me to fight for her. But I was wrong. It wanted me to find you. It makes sense now. Your sister isn't the woman who can help me lead my people to the surface. It's you, Lena. I see it so clearly now. She's a warrior, but you are a healer.”
“No, I'm not. I'm a . . .”
Vor went still. She'd been about to tell him something personal, and he was desperate to know what it was. “Yes? What are you? Please tell me.”
“I'm not a healer.”
With disappointment, he let it go. “I didn't mean that you heal people in the traditional sense, but rather that you change people for the better through compassion and guidance. You are that woman, Lena. You are full of the emotions we lack. Only you can see who we are meant to be and become a bridge between us and your world.”
“I'm not your bridge.”
“Not yet.”
“I don't understand what you want from me.” She leaned back and crossed her arms.
“I think you do. But don't worry about that now. Just know that you won't be harmed here.”
“You forced me to watch you undress!”
“Did I? I forced you to stay in the room with me, yes. But you could have closed your eyes or simply looked away. You looked at me because you wanted to. You like looking at me.”
“No, I don't. I was just curious about your metal parts.”
Vor chuckled. “Is that right? My cock isn't metal, but you seemed extremely curious about it.”
“How dare you say that word to me!” Lena surged to her feet. “I thought you weren't going to treat me like a whore?”
“A whore? I never said that word.”
“Fine, you said you didn't want to speak to me like I was just a woman you wanted to . . . you know.”
Vor's eyes went wide. “Fuck? Do you dislike that word too?”
“It's crass. As you are. A gentleman would never use those words with a lady. But then, a gentleman would never abduct a woman either.”
“I am a soldier, not a gentleman. I don't believe any of my people are gentle.” He stood up and went around the table to stand before her. “But you make me want to be. At least, with you. So, if you don't like those words, tell me what to say instead.”
“What?” Lena whispered.
Vor motioned at her chair. “Please, sit down, Lena. I will try to be a gentleman for you. But you need to show me how.”
