Chapter 19

Luke

The next day found me accidentally waking Hel and Elex from a tangle of bedclothes and naked limbs as I tried to find the bathing room. Even I could smell the scent of sex in the air.

"Ew! Ew! I did not need to see that!" I yelled in mock disgust as Elex flashed his ass as he scrambled out of the bed to find some clean clothes.

"That's what you get for perving on sleeping people," he growled at me as he pulled his pants on.

"I'm not the one who's sleeping the day away. Get your butts in gear."

Elex shot an accusing glare at Hel.

"Blame Hel. He's the one that made us go back to bed."

Hel had pulled his pants on and just grinned at Elex, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "Soma tax."

Getting settled in the Pavilion took a lot longer than I expected. Elex had insisted I stay with him the first night. By "him" I mean "them," as Hel refused to leave us alone. I'd lain down on the couch and fallen asleep while they were still arguing about who was going to sleep where.

I laughed at the pair and wandered back out to the living room. I had a crick in my neck from sleeping on the too-short couch the night before, but I'd woken to the sound of Elex and Hel laughing and whispering quietly in the bedroom, a sound I listened to for a long time. The sound of my brother and his Soma laughing and talking quietly made something in my chest warm. During our years in the Legion Elex had been a fierce protector, long after I didn't need him to be. He would grudgingly accept my love as his brother, but he rarely let me try to protect him. It made me happy to know that he had someone else in his corner, too.

Hel showed me my own room, which was indeed right next door, and after a quick shower and change of clothes, he had given us both a tour of the building. The Tower Pavilion was only two stories high, but it held several sublevels that ran below the earth, something my magic seemed to love.

"Our Earth Mageia worked for over twenty years to create this complex," Hel had explained as we took an elevator to one of the sublevels. "We still have work going on, but it's been severely curtailed due to the war. Many of the Mageia that choose not to fight in the war directly work with our infrastructure teams to help maintain the city."

My room was small, but neat and clean. It held a bed, a closet for clothing and a door to a private bathroom off to one side.

"This is amazing," I said, running my hands along the earthen walls. I could feel my power stretching, just itching to be used in response to the echoes of power I felt. "I can feel the resonance of the Mageia who built this room. It's the same kind of work that was in your base in Heraklion, right?"

Hel nodded.

"Once I started sending Mageia back to Illyria, leadership decided I needed a more secure base of operations. An Earth Mageia came out and created that complex in about a month. Then we had to run water, sewage, all the things you never really think about."

I smiled and remembered Elex marveling over how Hel had had hot water in Heraklion. Illyrians might not think about those things, but it had made an impression on us.

The dichotomy of Alexandria and Illyrian society couldn't be more stark in my opinion. Illyrian society was much more advanced technologically. The ongoing restriction of learning and knowledge was having severe effects on Alexandria's economy. They relied so heavily on magic and the power of Mageians that they had neglected to continue pursuing other sources of development. Electronics were rare. Hell, some homes didn't even have indoor plumbing. Illyria was a modern miracle in comparison.

The wing we had been assigned had a kitchen and a nice common area with large, comfy seats centered around a vid screen. We found Deliah there upon our return from our tour, sifting through papers spread out before her. Tik was curled up on one of the couches, sound asleep.

"Hey!" She jumped up and gave us all hugs. The tall fire Mageia looked great. She was wearing a pair of loose cotton pants and a t-shirt that was very similar to what I'd found in the room.

"You guys settling in?"

Elex and I nodded.

"Hel's been showing us around," I nodded at Elex's Bonded.

"Good! Man, some of this stuff is insane!" She gestured at the papers. "Wait til you see, Luke! They have printed books! All kinds of info is available on the laptop. It's… a little overwhelming. I don't know where to start reading first!"

I smiled at her eagerness. As a child I had had access to the Library of Alexandria, but only because I was a member of the royal household. Thinking of the library made me remember Master Tarek, and I wondered for a moment how he had fared. I hadn't heard anything about his fate after I had helped him escape. I hoped he had survived my father's hunt.

"We were really worried about you. You okay?"

I nodded absently. "Long story."

She seemed to accept this answer at face value.

"There's a ton of food in the kitchen. Turns out Tik is actually a pretty good cook. He made a bunch of sandwiches, if you want some."

Our walking tour of the city had left us with healthy appetites. We descended on the kitchen and loaded up plates with food before moving to one of the seating areas to eat. I took a bite of the sandwich and was suddenly aware of just how long it had been since I had eaten anything.

"Your people are pretty amazing, Hel," Deliah said to Helios between bites.

Hel shrugged self-deprecatingly.

"It's not entirely altruistic. We hope that many of you will help in the war effort."

Deliah nodded excitedly.

"I've been talking to Dagan about it! I want to help. He said there is some kind of accelerated training they do with pairs that Bond, then we can join the Illyrian armies."

"Where is Dagan?" I asked, hoping I might be able to find out about Rhuyin.

She grinned at me.

She straightened her shirt nervously, something I'd seen her do before when she was embarrassed or nervous about something, but she smiled when she responded.

"Thank you! He's out running some errands. He's so—amazing. Perfect! We've been together all day. I wanted to tell you guys something."

Her words caught everyone's attention.

"Dagan and I have decided to get Bonded."

"Congratulations!" Hel said, moving to give Deliah a hug.

"Thank you!"

Elex and I looked at each other with the same skeptical concern.

"Del, are you sure this is what you want? You don't have to Bond with anyone." Elex said protectively.

"Yeah, no one's going to force you to do anything you don't want to do," I responded. "If you think you have to do this because you owe someone something…"

"No!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. "No, it's nothing like that!"

She sat back down and Hel sat beside her. She closed her eyes, obviously considering her words carefully.

"I understand how you guys feel. Hell, before I met Dagan I would have responded the same way. But Dag… he's like a missing part of myself. It's like I've been—been missing a leg all my life, and finally found it! Just not anything as mundane as a limb."

She grinned at me.

"I can't imagine being separated from him. There's no doubt in my mind that he is my match."

Elex and I exchanged glances, and I shrugged slightly. Deliah was a grown woman and could make her own decisions.

"Then, congratulations, I guess!" Elex said smiling. "This is the whole reason we came here, after all."

"We're so happy for you!" I followed.

Her smile grew.

"So where is the lucky guy?" I asked.

"He's out looking for a friend of his who went missing. He's worried about him because he hasn't been in the best mental state lately."

"Friend? Do you mean Rhuyin?" I mumbled in alarm, my mouth full of food, then realized that Dagan probably had lots of other friends, not just Rhu. To my consternation, though, she nodded.

"You met him? Do you know where he is? Dag's worried about him. Rhu has matched with a bunch of Mageia in the past, but they haven't chosen him, just because of his hearing challenges. Dag said he matched with someone when we arrived, even though he wasn't supposed to be involved in the Touchpoint."

I squirmed a little uncomfortably, since I must have been one of the people he'd matched with. Was that why Rhu had disappeared? Because he wasn't supposed to match with a Mageia? Or because he'd found someone else?

"I can't believe they'd disqualify him from Touchpoints just because of his hearing," she continued. "From what Dag said, he is a pretty lethal warrior. Dag didn't tell me who the girl was, but he said he is really hoping they will work out."

I almost choked. Girl? Was Rhu bi? I'd gotten major omofylofilos vibes from him. I chewed and swallowed, trying to be happy for the Soma. There'd been something so sweet about him, a quiet strength and resilience that I envied.

"He didn't come home last night, so Dag is pretty sure they're together. I doubt we'll be seeing much of him until after his Bonding ceremony."

Deliah gave me a knowing wink and I felt an unreasonable stab of jealousy and anger that I had to squash. I had literally just met the man. I certainly didn't have any claim on him. I should be happy that he had found his match, especially after waiting so long to find them. I remembered the Mageia I had seen at the hospital. Maybe he'd found his match there? It was probably the reason he hadn't stayed until I woke up. I wondered briefly if it might have been one of the medics we'd seen.

I couldn't help feeling a little curious, though, as to what the reaction we had experienced when we'd touched had meant. Okay, a lot curious. And disappointed. I had at least wanted the chance to talk to him again after the explosion, but it looked like he had made his choice.

"So when is your Bonding ceremony?" Hel asked.

She straightened her shirt nervously again.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you guys about. We want to hold it tonight."

I felt my eyebrows rise into my hairline.

"Isn't that kind of fast?" I asked.

She and Hel both shook their heads.

"From what I've heard, when you find your Bonded, you usually just know. I don't think we are the only ones who want to get Bonded right away, either."

"Really? Others of our group?"

She nodded and named a couple of Mageia that had been at Heraklion with us. I didn't know any of them well except Deliah.

"So how does the Bonding ceremony work?" I asked Hel.

"Generally, the pair who want to Bond join with their friends and family. There is the recitation of an invocation to Hecate. The Mageia creates a shield around the pair using whatever their Primary power is. This raises the magic between the pair. They repeat the recitation a total of three times. At the end of the third recitation, the pair emerge as Bonded."

"I would very much like you three to be at the ceremony this afternoon as my—as my family," she said shyly.

Our gazes locked in shock.

"Really?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"We'd be honored," Elex said, and I nodded in agreement, a knot forming in my throat.

We'd formed a kind of found family with the other Mageia in Heraklion. Having that relationship be acknowledged in such a joyous occasion made my eyes sting with happy tears. Elex and I weren't alone anymore.

The day flew by, and we met at the appointed hour in the auditorium. Hel, Elex, Allard and I arrived together. Deliah was obviously not the only one who was intent on Bonding quickly. A dozen other Mageia had decided to Bond with a Soma they had matched with, which surprised the hell out of me.

I don't know what I was expecting, but I certainly hadn't anticipated so many of our fellow Mageia to feel the same certainty that Deliah had experienced. Maybe I would feel differently once I met my own Soma. My thoughts flashed to Rhuyin and I ruthlessly shoved them down. Part of me was hoping to see him here.

I ducked behind Helios as I saw the captain who had been at the hospital. His name was Kopanos, and he kept calling me because he wanted me to meet with them "at my earliest convenience" to get to know the Somas he said I matched with. Each of his messages sounded more and more annoyed, and I really didn't want to have this conversation yet.

Glancing around the crowded auditorium floor, the breath caught in my throat as I spotted Rhuyin standing with Deliah and Dagan. His tall frame stood out next to Dagan's, his dark hair an unusually rumpled mess, a tall blonde girl standing next to him.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to remember the words Deliah had said about him finding his match. He had apparently made his choice, and I needed to focus on my family.

"Ladies and gentlemen! If I could have your attention, please!"

I turned and saw Lottie Galanis on the stage.

"If we could please have our Soma and Mageia pairs join us in front of the stage with their families, we can go ahead and get started."

I waved at Deliah from our spot near the front. Elex and I had tried to hang out in the back of the crowd, but the other had Mageia pushed us forward.

Lottie directed the pairs to clasp hands. An officiant walked up and down the line of pairs, stopping at each to tie a symbolic piece of silk around the clasped wrists.

"Mageia, please raise your shields."

Across the auditorium shields popped up around the pairs. To my Mageian eyes they were a wild cacophony of color. Gold, silver, green and scarlet for earth. Blue, white and black for air. Scarlet, orange and gold for fire. Blue in a multitude of shades with white and gray for water. Mageia could make their magic invisible, which is how we had survived in the Legion, but it was visible in its natural state. It was proof of the ease these Mageia felt in their new homes that they felt comfortable making their shields visible.

Hel had told Elex, who told me, that the shields used in the Bonding ceremonies were just that: ceremonial. They didn't actually protect against anything, they were more like an artistic design, which was why his friend, Orion, had been killed when they had been undergoing the Bonding ceremony. Orion had lost control of his shield and the fire had burned Helios severely.

They began speaking in unison, and I listened intently to the words.

Hecate

Goddess of the Moon

Goddess of Justice

Maiden, Mother, and Crone

Queen of Shadows

Hear our prayer.

Grant us your blessing

Goddess of that which is,

Which was,

And is yet to come.

Goddess of the night

Goddess of power

Goddess of spirit

Bind our souls together.

Let us be a light in the darkness.

Let us be your hand of justice.

Let us be comfort to all.

Help us guide the lost.

Help us punish the wicked.

Help us mend the broken.

As we unite to fulfill your wishes

As Children of Hecate

After the first recitation, the room seemed to pulse with the power of the assembled Mageia. After the second recitation I noticed the shields of the Mageian partners were changing colors. Red bleeding into gold, gold into green, green to blue, and blue to white.

"The ceremony is unlocking the Mageian ability to access the other elements," I heard Hel whisper to Elex. I saw a small, sad smile play at the corner of his mouth, and I was wondering if he was thinking of the Mageia he had lost.

"Hush, children," Allard scolded fondly, placing a hand on the shoulders of myself and my brother. I grinned at him insouciantly.

The third recitation began, and I saw Elex step a little way from us and reach out and take Hel's hand in his, squeezing it slightly. The Soma seemed to shake himself and shot a fond glance at my brother.

Allard smiled at both of them, something like pride shone on his face before looking at me.

"Do you have a problem, Legionnaire?" he asked with mock severity, squeezing my shoulder again. I grinned back at him.

"No, sir," I laughed.

The figures in the shields had become more distinct. Deliah stood across from Dagan and I was entranced by the change in her.

Her fire shield had deepened and changed. Blue, black and white were now threading amongst the gold and scarlet. Her eyes seemed to flash and drip sparks of power as they completed the final recitation.

The look of pure joy on her face and Dagan's was mirrored amongst all the participants, and I couldn't help a glance at Rhuyin. I found gorgeous emerald eyes staring back at me. Fuck! I looked away quickly, feeling my face burn with embarrassment, but I couldn't help but feel there had been an element of despair in his gaze.

The final words faded away and Lottie once more stepped up to the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to present our newest Bonded!"

The shields dropped across the room as if snuffed out, and the room erupted in cheers, applause and shouts and we all descended on the happy pairs to congratulate them. Hel had told us there would be a celebration after the ceremony, and I heard cacophonous music start up from somewhere.

By the time I looked for him again, Rhuyin was long gone.