Chapter 22

Luke

The next several days had been a whirlwind of activity. We worked with tutors to become educated on Illyrian society. We worked out issues between factions and started everyone in a basic education program. Most of the Mageians education had ended when they had been sent to the Legion, except for in areas of magic and combat.

I sat at breakfast with my brother, Hel, Deliah and Tik about a week after we had arrived in the city. We often seemed to find ourselves bonding over food, and the more I came to know about my brother's Bonded, the more I liked him.

Deliah was with us, like normal. I had avoided asking about Rhuyin, but Deliah had brought him up anyway when I'd asked how Dagan was doing.

"Still trying to figure out where Rhu is. Dagan said Rhu is making himself very scarce," she said between mouthfuls. "He figures he's spending all his time with someone. He's hoping it's his new Bonded."

The sound of a bell began ringing and it took me a moment to realize that it was coming from the cell phone I had stuck in the jacket Lottie had given me.

"Are you going to answer that?" Deliah asked pointedly as the phone continued to ring.

I sighed, because I was pretty sure I knew who it would be. I'd been dodging his calls for days, somehow uncomfortable with Captain Kopanos. I knew he wanted me to meet with the other Somas I had matched with, but every time I thought of a certain green-eyed Soma, I couldn't seem to follow through. But he was gone now, he was Bonded with someone else. I opened the phone reluctantly and answered it the way I'd seen Helios answer his.

"Hello?"

"Is this Prince Lucien?"

I sighed. Dammit.

"It's just Luke, but yes. How can I help you, Captain?"

"Your highness, I have the four Somas you matched with at the Touchpoint, and they've been patiently awaiting the opportunity to meet with you."

I groaned inwardly. I was exhausted, but this was why we were here. I hadn't slept well since I arrived in Illyria. Images of a certain green-eyed Soma haunted my dreams.

"I just got up, Captain. Can you give me a little time to shower and get cleaned up? Then I'd be happy to meet with your Somas." I forced myself to pack away thoughts of Rhuyin. He had found his match. Now it was time for me to find mine.

We arranged a time and agreed to meet in the main lobby of the Pavilion.

Hel smiled at me sympathetically as I hung up.

"I told you my people are anxious to match every single Mageia they can."

"I get it. It's just…something about that guy sets my teeth on edge." I glanced at my brother. I wouldn't say it out loud, but the captain reminded me of Maalik.

"You don't have to meet with him," Elex said immediately, his eyes narrowing. "I'll tell him to fuck off."

"I don't need you to do that. I can take care of myself," I said, more sharply than I intended, if the looks I got from Hel and Deliah were anything to go by.

"Sorry. I—I haven't been sleeping well. If I'm going to be able to make my appointment, I need to go get cleaned up now." I said as I took my plate to the kitchen. I stopped and went to turn, then something struck me.

"Hey, whatever happened with Polemos?" I asked Elex. "With the explosion and all the craziness afterward, everything you never really said."

A strange look crossed Elex's face, one I couldn't identify. Which was odd in and of itself, because I knew my brother better than anyone.

"It's a long story, too," he said, echoing my response to Deliah. "How about we meet up after your meeting with the Somas? We should have time to talk then."

I nodded, and I saw Hel bring his arm up and lay it across my brother's shoulders in a protective fashion. What had happened at that meeting? I saw Elex visibly force himself to relax into his Soma's embrace. Bond or no, Hel was going to have a hard time getting through the barriers around his heart.

I left the three talking and made my way back to my room. The facilities were spartan, but they did the job. Within a few minutes I was in the shower.

The hot water felt amazing. Though I'd gotten my shield up in time to protect us from the blast at the Pavilion, my body had still taken a beating. My leg still ached, and the Illyrian medic who examined it said he thought I might have had a hairline fracture. The scratch had mostly healed, but I never did find out where all the blood had come from that had covered Rhu's hands. It seemed like far too much to have come from such a small scratch.

As I stood under the water, letting the heat pound into sore muscles, I couldn't keep myself from thinking about Rhuyin. I'd only spent a short time in his company but I couldn't seem to get him out of my mind.

I remembered how his dark hair would fall forward across his face, shading his eyes. Which was a pity, because they were such a beautiful green and the way they had changed while we talked had captivated me. His hands were so graceful as he used them to communicate; sometimes they were slow, sometimes quick as he began signing about something he was passionate about. His body had been long and lean, muscles defined in all the right places. I remembered his laugh, and the way his lips had pursed in thought.

Before I knew it, I found myself stroking my cock to memories of the Soma, just like I had every day since I met him. The sad way he had looked when he said he was tired of being rejected. His smile. His laugh.

It was remembering that laugh and the mischievous glint in his eye that pushed me over the edge and I found myself spilling against the shower wall as I struggled to catch my breath.

Fuck. I had to put the guy out of my mind, but it was so damned hard. No pun intended. I hadn't been this attracted to anyone, not even Prince Adrian.

I rinsed off quickly and stepped out of the shower. I pulled on the clothes I'd selected and walked out to the sleeping area, only to find my brother sitting in a chair next to the bed.

"Hey," I said, working the towel through my hair.

"Hey," he responded absently.

"What's wrong?"

Elex looked up at me.

"Who said anything was wrong?" he demanded.

"Well, you've got a gorgeous guy out there who wants to spend all his time with you, and you're hanging out in my bedroom. That, to me, says there is something wrong."

I sat on the bed across from him while he picked at a ragged nail absently. A bead of blood welled up as he yanked mindlessly at the cuticle.

"What is it?"

He sighed.

"It's just…it feels too good to be true," he huffed finally. "Him. This. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"—and it's not dropping," I finished. "And the anticipation is driving you crazy."

He shrugged and I sighed.

"How fucked up are our lives that we can't just accept that sometimes good things might happen to us?"

"Experience has taught us…" he began.

"No good deed goes unpunished," I finished and chuckled as a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Elex's Rule number two-thousand five hundred and sixty?"

He nodded absently. I reached out and laid my hand on top of his, stopping him from drawing more blood.

"It's not perfect. We haven't seen it all yet, but no society is perfect. There will be evil people. Greedy people. People whose lives are guided by self-interest. What Illyria has going for it is that it has people who believe that they should help other people because it's the right thing to do, not because they get something out of it. Or because someone is threatening them. They want to do what's right, not just what's expedient. People like Hel. Like Betts. Like Lottie."

"Like—" he began, but was cut off when my cell phone rang.

"Shit…" I looked at the time. "I'm late."

"We'll walk you down. Hel is going to show me some park that's nearby."

Bolstered by the presence of my brother and his Soma we made our way down to the Pavilion lobby. Captain Kopanos walked into the lobby just as Hel and Elex walked out. I had a dim memory of meeting him at the Touchpoint. He was trailed by four Somas who looked vaguely familiar who I assume I must have also met at the Touchpoint. His face took on a strange expression as Elex and Hel continued past him, he wrinkled his nose almost seemed as though he smelled something unpleasant.

The captain approached me, his hand out. I took it automatically and there was a sharp crack as lightning sparked between us.

"Shit!" I swore, shaking my hand. It was the strongest response I'd had to any Soma other than Rhuyin. Unlike the connection I'd felt with Rhu, though, this actually hurt! There was a whiff of some sour, bitter smell that made me gag and I looked at my hand where several blisters were already popping up.

"Well," the captain said, rubbing his hand, a sly, calculating look on his face. as he rubbed his hand. I noticed almost absently that he was missing the last knuckle on the little finger on his right hand. "That…was unexpected."

Despite his words, he didn't actually seem to be that surprised, just calculating. I looked at the man in confusion, the other Somas gaping in surprise as well.

"I didn't think that shit was supposed to hurt," I groused, shaking my hand.

One of the Somas stepped forward and held his hand out formally.

"I'm a medic. May I?"

I cautiously held my hand out to him, afraid of having a recurrence of the painful shock. He took my hand, and I felt a slight tingling and a comfortable warmth spread through my hand. When I looked again, the blisters were gone, leaving only a slight redness.

"We try to keep our matches of a similar age to maximize the length of the Bond," Captain Kopanos continued. "Polemos doesn't seem to understand the benefit a Soma with some experience could offer to a younger Mageia."

Or maybe he knew how much influence an older Soma might have on a newly Bonded Mageia, I thought. I just nodded absently at the captain, moving away from him. I noticed the other Somas shift uncomfortably at his words. Something about the man just repulsed me. The medic who had healed my hand looked…confused. He kept sniffing the air, as if he smelled something strange, but wasn't sure what. Maybe it was whatever smell Kopanos brought with him? Spark or no, there was no way I could see myself agreeing to Bond with him. Hell, I didn't even want to be in the same room with him.

One of the Somas cleared his throat and it seemed to recall Kopanos to his duty. He stepped aside and introduced his four charges, starting with the young medic.

"This is Demos Karthenopolis, Marcus Corsica, Dax Karzai and Justin Khopesh," he said, introducing them each in turn. We shook hands and the same look of hope and eagerness rose in their eyes that I'd seen at the Touchpoint. I once more felt the same tingling sensation that indicated we could be a match and I felt my throat tighten, panic threatening to take over.

"Gentlemen, this is Lucien Alexus the first, Prince of Alexandria."

I sighed as he used my old title. He was getting on my nerves with the titles.

"Captain, seriously, it's just Luke. It's a pleasure to meet you all," I said, forcing my public smile on my face as I greeted the men, who all seemed right around my age. Their faces were aglow with the same hope and anticipation that had made me so uncomfortable at the Touchpoint. I forced the smile to remain on my lips even as I felt my heart begin to race faster.

Kopanos led us to a conference room, pointing out the offices off to either side.

"Your Highness, my plan is to give you the opportunity to spend time with each of the younger Somas, one at a time," he said, slightly emphasizing the word younger. "The rest of us will wait out here until you are done. Hopefully, by the end of our meetings, you will have made a decision on who you wish to Bond with."

"That quickly?" I said in surprise, more than a little uncomfortable at the speed. "That seems kind of…rushed."

Kopanos looked at me like a teacher with a particularly dense student.

"Well, there is a war on, after all. We are a little pressed for time."

I flushed in embarrassment. Of course. The whole point of all of this was to get us matched with Somas, to create Tesseris Mageia who could help battle the Alexandrians, so I nodded.

The Somas had already decided that I would meet with Demos first. We entered the office Kopanos indicated and stood awkwardly for a minute as the door shut behind us. There was a chair behind the desk, and two in front of it. I wasn't sure where I was supposed to sit.

"Take a seat," Demos said, gesturing to one of the two chairs. I sat, grateful that I hadn't had to sit behind the desk. My father's use of his desk had made me despise them.

Demos had short brown hair and soft brown eyes. He was well muscled, but I hadn't yet seen a Soma who wasn't.

"So, what are we supposed to talk about?" I asked nervously, shifting uncomfortably, though the chairs were padded well enough.

His face broke into a grin.

"I was hoping you'd know."

We both laughed and that seemed to break the ice. We talked for almost an hour, but even after a relatively short time I knew that, while I liked Demos well enough and thought he could be a good friend, there was no real attraction to him. I wouldn't mind working with him, but he definitely didn't seem to generate the kind of connection Deliah had described she had with Dagan. Or what I'd felt with Rhuyin. I mentally kicked myself. I had to stop thinking about him.

When I walked out of my meeting with Justin, the last of the younger Somas, I was surprised to find the room empty of the other candidates. Only Kopanos remained.

"Thoughts, Your Highness?" he asked as we came out.

"They all seem very nice, but…" my voice trailed off, not sure how to continue.

"Don't worry," Justin said, patting my shoulder. "I feel the same, and I'm sure the others do, too. You seem like a great person, Luke, but we all want that special connection. I'm sure we'd work well together in the future, but I don't think we're a match, either."

I smiled in appreciation that he was letting me off the hook so easily. A real smile, this time.

"It doesn't bother you? I mean, with so few Mageia…"

"Well, you guys are changing that, right? I can only hope the change will continue. We have something we didn't have before. We have hope."

"Thanks. I just feel bad disappointing you four."

"No worries. Keep bringing home more Mageia. I know mine is out there, somewhere."

Justin left the room. I started to follow him, hoping that Kopanos might take the hint, but he cleared his throat.

"Follow me," he ordered peremptorily. I held in a sigh, but followed him, not wishing to offend the man. He seemed to hold a position of some authority in Illyria, and I really didn't want to cause a problem.

He entered the office and immediately settled himself behind the desk across from where I had been sitting, instead of in a chair next to me like the others had. I felt my eyes narrow. He acted as if it was his rightful place, and looked at me from across the desk as I took my seat.

"It has been a long day already, so I am going to cut right to the chase, Lucien. I have a great deal of experience, Your Highness, both military and political."

"It's Luke," I snapped, finally losing my patience with him. "Please use my chosen name."

He leaned forward on the desk, steepling his hands in front of him, his eyes narrowed at my words, but he continued talking almost as if I hadn't spoken.

"Names have power in Illyria, Lucien. My family name can give you something none of those pups can. I can teach you how to walk the halls of power within Illyria. I have been involved in Illyrian politics my entire life. I know who the real players are, and the obols they have to play with."

I had to stop for a moment and remind myself that obols were the currency used in Illyria.

"My family is also an old and respected one. I have contacts and connections at every level within the city. My family knows everything that occurs within Illyria. Everything. I can give you the best advice and direction on how to get what you want. In return, I offer my services to develop your…skills. I know how to train young men in the art of politics, war and…the bedroom. Especially those who lack discipline."

His gaze raked me, simultaneously making me feel like I needed to straighten my shirt while also wanting to shower his filth off me. I'd seen that look on Maalik's face, and it had never boded well for me. Something in me knew that, should I agree to Bond with him in some moment of insanity, I would never be anything more than a puppet.

"Why weren't you in the Touchpoint, if you're that influential?" I asked, the feeling of revulsion washing through me again and making me speak more bluntly than I should. I had never been great at politics, and caused more than my share of diplomatic incidents, but there was nothing I wanted to learn from this man.

My question seemed to have hit home, because Kopanos grew visibly angry and cracked his hand on the top of the desk, making me jump despite myself, before struggling to regain control of his temper.

"That wet behind the ears Goddess-bedamned Polemos decreed an age range limit for Touchpoints," he hissed through clenched teeth. "It didn't matter if other, more experienced Somas had been waiting for years for an opportunity to Bond with a Mageia. His ruling was ‘No more than ten years age difference in attendees'. He said that if the Goddess wanted someone to Bond outside that range, She could damned well arrange it. Well, it looks like She has," he said, smiling icily at me.

The chill in his look sank into my bones. I had to remind myself I was no child, and that this man could not force me to do anything against my will. I was not powerless anymore.

Oblivious to my reaction, he stood and came around to the front of the desk, the move so reminiscent of my father that I shuddered and had to force myself not to lean away from him. He looked at me as if I were some kind of specimen he was preparing to dissect.

"I don't think I've witnessed a stronger match than what you and I just experienced. We would, undoubtedly, make an extremely strong Bonded pair, with the proper training on your part, of course. Your reaction to me was definitely stronger than the reaction you had with any of those…youngsters. I could see it when you shook their hands."

He flicked his fingers dismissively toward the door through which the other Somas had left, before continuing. He reached out to trail his fingers across my face, but I leaned out of his reach. Years of diplomacy forced me to try and find a way out of this situation.

"But the age difference—"

"I know I am a good deal older than you," he interrupted me. "But my age gives me certain…advantages, in political and military knowledge, as well as sexual relations. Most Bonded have a sexual relationship, as I'm sure even you are aware. I would not care if you chose to take lovers. I'm certainly going to do so, myself, because men are not to my… preference."

The way he said the word made me certain he was one of those cave dwellers who felt that sexual orientation was something that was chosen, instead of something you were born with. He tilted his head and continued in a condescending tone, completely oblivious to the offense he was giving.

"Though I've heard from my sources that you would be…tempting. You're pretty enough though, I might be able to imagine you were a girl, if you really had to have that. But one thing needs to be perfectly clear: I don't care if you're a prince in public, Your Highness, but in the field, and especially in the bedroom, I am King."

I stared at him in disbelief as he leaned forward from the desk as if to place a kiss on my lips.

"Umm, not only no, but hells no," I said as I pushed him away from me in revulsion, finally finding my voice. "Get the fuck away from me! My name is Luke. Not Lucien. Not Your Highness. It's Luke. And I wouldn't Bond with you if you were the last Soma in the world."

His eyes went wide in shock, and his face flushed with rage at the rejection.

"It would be…unwise…of you to turn me down without due consideration, Your Highness. I have a great deal of power in Illyria, and you have no idea what you are doing when it comes to Illyrian politics. You are going to be needing my help very soon, I assure you."

He leaned forward, his hot breath on my cheek and the sour smell of him enveloping me.

"I'd hate to see you without…resources…when it came time to help someone you loved. Someone like your half-brother, perhaps?"

Kopanos knew nothing about me or Elex if he thought threatening one of us would make the other submit. I loved my brother, and would do anything for him, but I also knew Elex would kick my ass if I gave in to a creep like Kopanos.

"Fuck you, asshole," I said through gritted teeth. "We'd both rather die than let a fucker like you control us."

Kopanos looked at me curiously, only mildly put out at my defiance.

"Hm. It seems my sources were not completely accurate about the depth of feeling you have for your brother, if you are so quick to turn down an offer of protection," he said, pausing as if I was somehow going to change my mind after all of his comments.

I only needed one word to answer him.

"No."

"How unfortunate," he said, staring into my eyes for several long moments before leaning forward again and whispering in my ear. "Mikros prinkipus."

I froze, and the words caused horror to seep into my bones. Mikros prinkipus. Little Prince. That was what Maalik and Aurelius had called me when he—when he—I squeezed my eyes closed, my mind going blank in a desperate bid to hold back the memories of a lifetime at their nonexistent mercy.

"Ah! I see that caught your attention," he said, his smile predatory.

Kopanos stretched his hand out to trail his fingers over my cheek and I winced as though they were daggers, but I was frozen in place, unable to avoid his touch. The Panicked Prince. The fear pounded through my veins, and I felt like I was going to vomit. I wanted to run, to fight back, but I was frozen inside the prison of my own mind. We'd learned to our detriment in the Legion that fighting back only made the punishment worse.

"You'll find that Bonding with me has many advantages and we will explore each one of them. I have known young men like you all my life. I will teach you respect, mikros prinkipus."

I felt a sudden rush of heat that warmed my chest and seemed to melt the cage of ice that held me in place. I felt the earth beneath us rock, and opened my eyes as a coffee cup fell from the desk to the floor and crashed to the ground. I heard a door open behind me, but ignored whoever had entered as whatever force that had held me immobile suddenly lifted and I was on my feet, a sudden warmth flooding through me and the feel of another heart beating in time with mine twinned my soul.

"I. Said. No." I growled.

Kopanos' eyes went wide as the earth rumbled under us and he stumbled. I felt a strong hand grip my shoulder and saw the reflection of a tall, black-haired Soma behind me. Rhuyin! I couldn't help the burst of joy that flashed through my heart at seeing him.

"I suggest you leave now, Captain. You ever touch a Mageian without their permission, or ever call me that name again, and I promise you: they will never find your body."

My voice carried the echo of thunder behind it as the ground shook.

"That's only if I leave anything left of you to bury," I heard Rhuyin's voice from behind me growl.

I wasn't sure if it was my threat or Rhuyin's, but something in what we said must have finally gotten through the older Somas ego, because he seemed to inhale sharply, and his eyes widened comically. Suddenly, he couldn't get away from us fast enough. After the door slammed shut behind him, I turned toward Rhuyin and his hand fell away slowly. His emerald eyes were dark, and I could almost feel the potential for violence vibrating off him. I glanced down and noticed that his nails had lengthened into sharp black claws. The back of his hands were covered in what looked to be black and red fur. Another sign he had found his Bonded, I realized.

Are you okay?he signed, his hands and voice both shaking slightly.

"He's an ass." I said as I dropped into the chair again, my knees suddenly weak as the adrenaline began to subside.

"True that."

Rhu moved to the seat across from me, careful not to touch me. He curled his hands into fists.

"How did you—" I began to say. How had he known where I was? How had he known that I needed help?

Rhu pointedly looked at the floor which I realized, belatedly, had developed hundreds of small cracks radiating out from where I had stood. They spread out for meters around us.

"Oh, shit." I sent my powers out and was astonished at the damage that had spread beneath us. I quickly set about repairing as much of it as I could. Fortunately it was mostly cosmetic, and quickly fixed. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw him staring intently at me, then he smiled.

"I had this— this feeling that I needed to be here," he said. I realized suddenly he wasn't wearing the uniform he had been wearing when I first met him. The jacket and tac pants had been replaced by jeans and a t-shirt. His hair was dripping water, soaking the shirt and making it cling to his body, transparent in places. His boots were on but untied. It looked like he had jumped directly from the shower into the clothes.

"Thank you," I whispered. I knew he was reading my lips, so I didn't have to make a lot of noise.

"No problem. You didn't really need me, anyway," he said, then looked away suddenly. He seemed almost embarrassed. "I'm sure your Bonded will be here any moment."

I looked at him in confusion. My Bonded? What the hell was he talking about?

"My what?" I asked dumbly.

"Bonded? You know, Soma. I saw you with him at the Bonding ceremony, but I never did catch the name of the lucky guy."

He smiled, but it was obviously a fake smile. There was something forced and ugly about his words, though he tried to play it off as levity as he shifted uncomfortably. He sounded oddly hoarse when he spoke and it took me a minute to process his words.

"Bonded? I'm—I'm not Bonded," I answered.