Chapter 25

Rhuyin

A few days after Hel confirmed our status, Elex, Luke and I were eating breakfast in the Mageian wing when Tik wandered in. He looked nervous, but that seemed to be a permanent feature for him. I don't think I'd ever seen the kid at ease.

"Does anyone know where the temporary administration area is?" Tik asked hesitantly. "I've got to deliver this application paperwork today."

Everyone had assumed Tik was eighteen when he arrived in Nymphaeum because the Legions never sent anyone younger than that to the Machi, so he had automatically been included in the first Touchpoint.

When Lottie found out he was only sixteen she had flat out refused to allow him to pursue or be pursued by any of the Somas at the Touchpoint.

"They are too old for you. If they are really a match for you, they will still be there in two years," she'd said sagely, ignoring Tik's pleas. It had taken a lot of reassurance to convince Tik that he could still be useful in Illyria, even if he wasn't Bonded yet.

"Is that your application for the Stonecutter's Guild apprenticeship?" Luke asked.

Tik nodded, and I let out a small sigh of relief. Tik was a good kid, but he didn't belong in military training, in my opinion. He was too damn young.

"We're headed to the library. That's on the way," I said. "Why don't you come with us? I can point it out to you."

Luke smiled at me like I'd given the kid gold. I hadn't done anything special, in my opinion, but I felt his gratitude flash through the bond. I liked Tik; he was a good kid.

"I'm meeting Hel at the infirmary, so I'll walk with you," Elex said and I bit back a sigh. He had done absolutely everything in his power to keep Luke and I from being alone together, but I bit back any comment I might have made. I didn't want to make things hard on Luke with his family.

Ten minutes later we were in passing the Tower headed toward the exit that would lead us to the library. As we came around the corner someone in a wheelchair sped across our path, a familiar head of brown hair tangled across a sweaty face as she pushed the wheels of her chair.

She was dressed in a plain t-shirt and hospital leggings that were several sizes too big for her. As she shifted to look down the opposite hall I realized why: the leg she had injured was in a cast up to mid-thigh.

"Naya?"

She whipped her head toward me as she careened down the hall. The distraction cost her as she swerved to miss someone coming around the corner. With a vibration I could feel through my boots, I felt her try to stop the speeding wheelchair, but the heavy cast threw her off balance and she tumbled sideways, falling mostly out of the upturned chair.

We rushed toward her, but an angry looking Helios appeared from the corner she had veered around, his most disapproving doctor face on.

"Aw, shit," she said, sighing as she glared at him defiantly. "You're going to send me back to the infirmary, aren't you? I have to see someone!"

"I thought we talked about this Naya?" he said, obviously struggling to be patient. "If your leg is going to heal properly you are going to need at least another day or two of healings before you can put weight on it."

"I'm not putting weight on it! I'm in a fucking wheelchair!"

"You're putting weight on it right now," he pointed out. Sure enough, she had struggled to her feet while he spoke, and her foot was grazing the ground gently as she hobbled to try and get back in the chair. Surprised by the comment, she seemed to lose her balance, windmilling her arms to try to stay upright.

Tik rushed to help the girl and reached out to steady her. His hands touched her arm, and the smell of ozone burst through the room as they both jumped back, simultaneous looks of astonishment on their faces.

Everyone froze as the two faced each other.

Naya began to recover first.

"Hi," she said, waving shyly at the young man. "I'm Naya."

"Um, hi," Tik gulped. "I'm Tik. Pontiki."

"Mouse? That's so cute!" she cooed. "I love mice!"

The two gazed into each other's eyes for long moments and I swear there were little birds flying around their heads singing love songs or something from the way they looked at each other. Hel finally cleared his throat, making both of them jump.

"You…think you could give me a hand getting out—" she stopped suddenly as Hel raised an eyebrow. "Fine…getting back to my room in the infirmary?"

"Uh, sure!" The young Mageia replied eagerly.

"Tik?" Luke called.

He turned and looked back at his friend.

"Don't forget about your application."

Tik looked around frantically a moment before realizing the application was still in his hand. Then his face fell, as he realized he couldn't turn it in and take Naya back to her hospital room.

Hel seemed to sigh.

"Tell you what, Tik. If you promise to bring Naya right back, she can be your guide to the temporary administration area."

The smiles that lit their faces as the two kids headed down the hall together made my throat tighten. So many Somas were still waiting for their matches. We had to find a way to get more Mageia into Illyria. The thought helped me finally make the connection I was missing concerning Naya.

You okay?Luke signed.

I nodded.

I just remembered where I had heard Naya's name before. Her father died by suicide last year. He was an instructor at the Academy. Her mother died when she was very young, I responded.

That is so sad,Luke answered. He looked down the hall thoughtfully. Did you ever find out why she was in the—

He paused, obviously trying to figure out the correct sign. He used his right hand to make a motion of walking downstairs.

I think you mean basement,I replied, showing him the sign by holding my left hand flat and circling my other hand beneath it. He repeated the question with the correct sign.

I shook my head in response then saw Elex shoot me a glance. It was my turn to apologize for excluding them.

"Luke was asking if anyone had questioned Naya about why she had been in the basement."

Hel shook his head.

"Not to my knowledge. She actually lost quite a bit of blood and had to have surgery on that leg. I've been healing her daily, but I can only push her body's ability to heal so far. Patience is not a virtue of the young."

He smiled slightly, only for Elex to reach over in a gesture I had only seen him do with Luke and punched his Bonded in the shoulder.

"You're not old," he insisted.

"Was that supposed to sting?" Hel asked with the lift of an eyebrow. "Because if it was supposed to, I can moan and writhe around on the floor for a bit."

"Do I need to make it sting?" Elex responded, his voice full of menace. He was trying so hard to look fierce but even I could see that a grin was winning out over the scowl. His Bonded wrapped his arm around his upper shoulder and whispered in his ear.

"No, but I'd definitely like the writhing and moaning…"

Elex clapped his hand over Hel's mouth, his face bright red as he glared at his brother and me.

Ugh. Ew. Sometimes lip reading was a curse.

Luke grinned wryly at me and blushed. They'd been loud enough he hadn't needed to read lips to hear what Helios had said.

"We'll see you guys later," Luke said, grabbing my hand and hustling us down the hall before Elex could come up with another reason to join us, then grinned at me as we wandered out into the sunshine. I loved my brother, but his doubt of Rhu's ability to protect me was beginning to grate on my nerves. Not that I needed protection, of course.

The weather was unseasonably mild, so we had decided to walk instead of taking the bus.

"Do you think he'll ever come to accept me?" I asked.

"Yes. Elex just has a very hard time trusting people.

We arrived at the library, and I hesitated before opening the door. Luke had practically lived in the great Library of Alexandria. I wasn't sure Illyria could compete with that, but I hoped it was something he would like.

We entered the main hall. The building was three stories tall with an arched dome of stained glass overhead. To the left of the entry there were rows and rows of computers that were available for anyone to use. To the right were small groupings of comfortable looking chairs, tables and couches. Books lined the walls and took up most of the second and third floor.

Luke was turning in circles, taking in the sight of kids wandering around an area with books set out just for them. Some young people were huddled over a computer in one of the side rooms and seemed to be holding a spirited debate over the relative merits of one class of fighter over another.

"I know it's not the Library of Alexandria," I began as he continued to stare. What the hell had I been thinking? He's been to the greatest library in the known world. This was not going to impress him.

"We can go—"

My words were cut off as he threw his arms around me and crushed our mouths together. He swallowed my yelp of surprise.

"This. Is. Amazing," he said. "Your people are so…so free with their knowledge! So open and accepting. It just…it's mind boggling."

I grinned and pulled him in for another kiss.

"So are you."

***

The next few days were a blur. I spent long hours in Luke's company, getting to know the man I had, somehow, unknowingly Bonded with. Getting to know Luke meant getting to know his brother, Helios, and all the other Mageia who had come from Heraklion with them.

We had gathered in one of the common areas as I worked to teach them some signs. Allard and Tik had joined Luke, Hel and me for the lesson. I had felt a little awkward at first, but it helped that Dag was always around with Deliah. At Luke's request, we had begun giving sign language lessons almost immediately. They were all doing well with their lessons, but my Bonded surprised me with his aptitude.

My Bonded.

I paused as the thought occurred to me. Those were two words I had given up hope of ever being able to say.

Luke looked at me and grinned, using his fingers to create the sign for Bonded: thumb and fingers making a circle and linking together. I swear, sometimes I felt like he was reading my mind.

"How did you know that sign?" I asked as Luke responded with a sign I was sure I hadn't taught him.

"I had asked Dagan to teach me some signs right after the Touchpoint," he responded shyly. "But I stopped trusting him when he told me Hel's name was this."

He made the alphabet symbol for the letter d and tapped his nose. I snorted and coughed, spilling coffee on the table.

"Um, you know that's the sign for ‘dick', right?" I asked, mopping up the mess.

"I do now," he responded with a grin. "Apparently it's also a fairly universal insult in your military. Hel knew exactly what it meant when I said hello to him a few days ago."

"You should have seen what Dagan called you!" Tik hooted.

To no one's surprise, the sign he had taught them was my name was more than a little obscene. What a wonderful thing it is to have friends…

Luke flipped the towel at Tik, who was cackling on the couch, but the younger Mageia just laughed and ducked. He and Naya were officially dating and it looked like they were on their way to becoming a Bonded pair.

The other Mageia from Heraklion had insisted on learning sign language as well, which surprised me. Even Elex, who still seemed ready to jump down my throat at the slightest misstep, spent time learning to sign so he could communicate. Helios was doing his best to play peacemaker between us, but I could tell Elex's overprotectiveness was getting on Luke's last nerve.

As if thinking about him had summoned him, Luke's brother entered the common area and stalked toward us. Luke must have seen me tense because he looked over his shoulder at his older brother and sighed, turning his back and studiously ignoring him.

"I need to talk to you," Elex said, eyes only on his brother.

"So, talk," Luke said, his face implacable as he sat across from me, Elex looming behind him. Luke had not yet forgiven his brother for his words the day he had met with the other Somas. Elex glanced at me, and I swear I felt the air between us heat. Since he was a Tesseris Mage, it was actually a possibility.

"Can we talk privately—"

"No." Luke cut him off. "Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of my Bonded."

I felt Luke's icy resolve through our bond. Elex's words had hurt him deeply. More deeply than I could have known they would. If I'd been aware of the potential damage, I never would have told him what had been said. I reached out and took his hand and he automatically linked our fingers. Tik seemed to shrink into himself and away from all of us at Elex's apparent anger. His reaction to Elex was new. The poor kid was always terrified of authority figures, but he worshiped the ground Elex walked on.

If looks could have killed, the one Elex gave me at Tik's response would have put me six feet under. Fortunately, though, Elex seemed to catch on to how he was scaring Tik, and he toned his anger down.

"Fine," he bit out. "We've been summoned to the War Leader's office."

***

As we took the elevator to the upper floors, I saw Elex's mouth move, but I couldn't tell what he was saying. I was holding Luke's hand, so I felt him respond, "Stop. You're being an ass. If you're going to talk, turn and face both of us so Rhu can read your lips."

Elex turned stiffly to face both of us, annoyance and embarrassment etching his face. Luke squeezed my hand and smirked at me. I didn't doubt he would forgive his brother…eventually. But he was definitely going to make him pay for being an ass.

"I said, I'm sorry we didn't have time to talk before this. I kept trying to find the right time, but things kept happening so quickly, it just never seemed to be the right time to tell you about—"

The doors of the elevator opened onto thickly carpeted halls. A man with curly white hair leaned against the desk speaking to an assistant seated at a computer. When he turned to look at us I realized he could be Elex's twin. I felt the shock that rang through Luke like a bell.

"Erix?"

The man turned and looked at us and I realized he was definitely related to Luke as well, and was stunned at the similarity between the three of them. Okay, so maybe he really was Elex's twin, but not quite identical. The hair was obviously different colors – mirror image white to black, but there was more. This brother stood in a tailored suit, his body heavier than Elex's. Still fit, but nowhere near as lean. Then my eyes brushed over the medals on his insignia and everything fell into place. Fuck my life.

Luke didn't even hesitate. He rushed forward, throwing his arms around the shorter man. Two guards that stood behind him tensed, but at a gesture from Erix they stepped back.

I couldn't read everything they were saying, but the joy on Luke's face was unmistakable.

"…how? I thought you'd died.."

"…long story, but we'll have to …"

With such a resemblance to them both, he was obviously their brother. Luke finally released him and stepped back, turning quickly to grab my hand as he introduced me.

"This is my Bonded, Rhuyin Katastrofis."

I saluted the man. War Leader. My Bonded's brother was the freakin' War Leader. And a Prince.

What. The. Hell.