Chapter 12

Rhuyin

I knew I was looking at the blond Mageia with something just short of wonder on my face.

The sheer power I'd felt when I took Luke's hand had been frightening and exhilarating in equal measure. In all the Mageia I had previously matched with, none of them had generated a response as powerful as what I had just felt with Luke. Even with Deliah, who had probably been the strongest response I'd had before Luke, it had been nothing like this.

"You sure you're okay?" Luke asked, shaking his hand as if it still pained him.

I nodded, rubbing my own still-tingling fingers.

"Was that—" Luke asked, pausing as if he was leaving a question unasked.

"Sure felt like it," I said. "I thought I felt something odd when you brushed by me at the Touchpoint. Did you—Did you match with anyone else at the Touchpoint?"

I held my breath slightly, waiting for Luke's response.

"Yeah, I guess I matched with a couple of different people, I think. Toward the end there, I was— well, I guess, I was, um, a little overwhelmed," Luke said, ducking his head and avoiding my gaze.

I felt a pang of disappointment when he told me he had matched with other Somas. I'd been in this kind of situation before, and there seemed to be a lot more going on than just being overwhelmed, but I didn't want to push the younger man.

"I get that. The Touchpoints can be a lot, especially for someone new." I ruthlessly squashed the hope budding inside me. Luke had matched with other Somas. Of course he had. He seemed like an amazing guy. I still couldn't get over the fact that not only had Luke identified I had a hearing problem with so few clues, he had also heard about sign language and wanted to learn more.

"Have you ever seen a reaction like we had?" Luke asked quizzically.

I paused and thought for a moment before I shook his head.

"Not really. It's usually much less… exuberant," I chuckled. I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up about pairing with Luke, but couldn't help but add "Some people think that the strength of the response is an indicator of how strong a pair will be."

"If the response reflects the power of the pair, makes you kind of wonder what kind of pair we'd make," Luke responded, grinning shyly.

I swallowed, but ruthlessly squashed the hope that was trying to take root in my chest. Luke was just being kind. Regardless of the strength of the response, no one with other options would want to Bond with someone with my hearing problems, at least, not once they understood their options.

"I'll bring you back to the auditorium so you can meet the Somas you matched with. Mageia need Somas who can protect them from any danger, not someone who's— who's crippled in some way," I managed before I turned away and started to lead the younger man down the hallway, thankful I didn't have to see the look on Luke's face as he worked to school his own expression. I didn't need anyone's pity.

I felt a remarkably strong hand grip my wrist and jerk me to a stop. I turned around, a hum of magic vibrating my body down to my bones.

"Number one, I can take care of myself. I don't need anyone to take care of me," Luke said, his eyes as hard as I had yet seen. "Number two, I thought the Mageia made the choice in Illyria?"

I looked down at the slender fingers gripping him. The younger man was so strong, and I realized suddenly that Luke and I were about the same height.

"They do," I agreed cautiously.

"Then maybe you should give me a chance to make up my own mind," Luke said, raising an eyebrow. "Instead of assuming."

"I-" I began, but whatever I had been about to say was drowned out by the sound of an explosion that even I could hear.