her three-day rite of ascension, then she could be in danger all over again. Third abilities were rare on Second Earth, and Greaves would not want anyone with that level of power aligned with Madame Endelle, simple as that.
A tremor went through him when he thought of her alone in her small condo. To his knowledge the place had a mediocre security system. Also, he didn’t think she had the ability to make mist , and she certainly had no skills with a sword or even a modest ability to defend herself.
He felt uneasy. He’d have to think about her situation. Maybe there was something he could do.
“Hey,” he said softly. “I plan on visiting Luken this morning. Want to come with?”
Havily nodded. “What time?”
Medichi shrugged. “Later. About eleven I think. Given what he’s been through, he’ll need to sleep for a few hours.”
“I would really like that.”
“Then I’ll see you at the clinic at eleven.”
“Perfect.”
Yes, she was.
He was beloved,
But I could not take him to my bed.
He brought the rays of the sun to the earth
And the stars were named for his exploits.
He was as gentle as a soft rain.
But the door of my house remained closed.
I was not for him.
I belonged to the tempest.
— Collected Poems, Beatrice of Fourth
CHAPTER 4
“She saved your life, brother.” Antony Medichi’s deep voice filled the small clinic room.
Havily stood in the doorway and suppressed a sigh. The Warriors of the Blood were one gorgeous lot.
Medichi leaned close to the bed, his elbow resting on the top of the mattress since Luken was sitting up all the way, the automatic bed raised to support him. Luken looked deathly pale, which was so unusual for the largest of the warriors. His complexion was normally a beautiful golden color. His thick blond hair, having been protected by the cadroen, hung in waves over his shoulders and down his chest. He was naked to the waist, a thin white sheet covering his thighs. He actually looked vulnerable, despite the massive size of his pecs, his arms, and his shoulders.
Thanks to the work of the healers, his skin had lost its fiery blistered appearance. Except for his pallor, he was amazingly recovered.
He caught sight of her and smiled, his blue eyes lighting up. “Havily. Come in. Please.”
“Hey,” Medichi called to her softly. “The dragon actually let you out of her lair?”
Havily laughed as she moved into the room. She loved both of these men so much, but she found herself biting back tears.
“Don’t you look pretty in your blue skirt,” Luken said.
“Thank you.” She drew close to the bed. He extended a hand and she took it. He squeezed gently, his obvious affection for her shining in his eyes. How many times had she wished she could feel more for him than she did?
“I don’t remember much about last night—only that you were there. How did you find me?”
“Well, I’m still not sure. I think I had a vision, or something. Although right now it’s kind of a blur.” A lump formed in her throat. “I’ve never been more frightened.”
“Both Medichi and Thorne say I owe my life to you, but what I want to know is how the hell I’m ever going to repay you.”
“I was just glad to be of use,” she said, but her voice had dropped almost to a whisper. “Tell me you’re feeling better.”
“A thousand percent. You know Horace. Man of miracles.”
All Havily could do was nod. Her mind had filled once again with the horror of the night before and finding him in the Superstitions so … burned. She wanted to ask about his wings but was afraid to bring the subject up. Luken loved to fly. She couldn’t imagine him living out his life on Second without his wings.
“You know, Hav, Medichi and I have been talking about the vision you had and we can’t help but wonder if there’s something more going on here. With you, I mean. All these years, we’ve all wondered why you needed a guardian to protect you.”
“I know.
A tremor went through him when he thought of her alone in her small condo. To his knowledge the place had a mediocre security system. Also, he didn’t think she had the ability to make mist , and she certainly had no skills with a sword or even a modest ability to defend herself.
He felt uneasy. He’d have to think about her situation. Maybe there was something he could do.
“Hey,” he said softly. “I plan on visiting Luken this morning. Want to come with?”
Havily nodded. “What time?”
Medichi shrugged. “Later. About eleven I think. Given what he’s been through, he’ll need to sleep for a few hours.”
“I would really like that.”
“Then I’ll see you at the clinic at eleven.”
“Perfect.”
Yes, she was.
He was beloved,
But I could not take him to my bed.
He brought the rays of the sun to the earth
And the stars were named for his exploits.
He was as gentle as a soft rain.
But the door of my house remained closed.
I was not for him.
I belonged to the tempest.
— Collected Poems, Beatrice of Fourth
CHAPTER 4
“She saved your life, brother.” Antony Medichi’s deep voice filled the small clinic room.
Havily stood in the doorway and suppressed a sigh. The Warriors of the Blood were one gorgeous lot.
Medichi leaned close to the bed, his elbow resting on the top of the mattress since Luken was sitting up all the way, the automatic bed raised to support him. Luken looked deathly pale, which was so unusual for the largest of the warriors. His complexion was normally a beautiful golden color. His thick blond hair, having been protected by the cadroen, hung in waves over his shoulders and down his chest. He was naked to the waist, a thin white sheet covering his thighs. He actually looked vulnerable, despite the massive size of his pecs, his arms, and his shoulders.
Thanks to the work of the healers, his skin had lost its fiery blistered appearance. Except for his pallor, he was amazingly recovered.
He caught sight of her and smiled, his blue eyes lighting up. “Havily. Come in. Please.”
“Hey,” Medichi called to her softly. “The dragon actually let you out of her lair?”
Havily laughed as she moved into the room. She loved both of these men so much, but she found herself biting back tears.
“Don’t you look pretty in your blue skirt,” Luken said.
“Thank you.” She drew close to the bed. He extended a hand and she took it. He squeezed gently, his obvious affection for her shining in his eyes. How many times had she wished she could feel more for him than she did?
“I don’t remember much about last night—only that you were there. How did you find me?”
“Well, I’m still not sure. I think I had a vision, or something. Although right now it’s kind of a blur.” A lump formed in her throat. “I’ve never been more frightened.”
“Both Medichi and Thorne say I owe my life to you, but what I want to know is how the hell I’m ever going to repay you.”
“I was just glad to be of use,” she said, but her voice had dropped almost to a whisper. “Tell me you’re feeling better.”
“A thousand percent. You know Horace. Man of miracles.”
All Havily could do was nod. Her mind had filled once again with the horror of the night before and finding him in the Superstitions so … burned. She wanted to ask about his wings but was afraid to bring the subject up. Luken loved to fly. She couldn’t imagine him living out his life on Second without his wings.
“You know, Hav, Medichi and I have been talking about the vision you had and we can’t help but wonder if there’s something more going on here. With you, I mean. All these years, we’ve all wondered why you needed a guardian to protect you.”
“I know.
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