Read Online Hathor Legacy: Burn by Deborah A Bailey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Deborah A Bailey
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training. Our r elations with our families are not maintained because our connection to the Guardians takes precedence. That is how it must be for us, Jonathan. We must be apart from the 'ordinary,' as you call it. We have work to do and nothing must interfere with that." Dakar crossed his legs, still relaxed and still smiling that little half-smile.
"I'm in the way of Nadira's work? I don't see it that way."
"Did I imply that? Please forgive me, because that was not my intention. I only want to point out that by engaging with her, you are opening yourself up to things you may not be prepared for." Dakar leaned forward, grasping his hands before him. "She must never be in a position where she is forced to choose between you and the rest of us."
"Do you really think I'd do anything to hurt her?'
"Not intentionally, but you are not of Hathor. You can't poss ibly understand her position here. I know your emotions for her are very deep. I can sense that. But just know that if there is ever to be a choice, it will not go in your favor."
Jonathan's heart was thundering in his chest as he clamped his teeth together, forcing himself not to reply without thinking first. Offending this man would not help the situation, and neither would admitting that his mother had been born on Hathor.
But he couldn't admit any of it, not without risking the safety of his family. So, instead he had to sit here and take this nonsense without being able to tell Dakar what he thought about all of it.
"You underestimate me, sir."
Dakar leaned back against the cushions and winced as he rubbed his forehead. "Perhaps I do. But, you have no idea what will be expected of her. Maintaining an emotional bond with you could have a negative effect on her abilities. We can't risk that. The Elders told her that the other night at the Gathering."
"What Gathering? I don't know what you're talking about."
"It was for Guardians only," he said, as he pressed his fingers against his temple. "Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it, Mr. Keel."
"Then why did you?"
Dakar's smile faded a bit, and his lips became tight. "This has been an enlightening conversation. I'll see what they're doing out there."
Jon watched as Dakar rose and walked out of the room. A m oment later he heard voices, and laughter coming from out back. Heat spread up his neck and face, as he listened to them laughing together.
8 Coming Clean
During the transport ride back to Nadira's apartment she could feel the tension in Jonathan. It felt so uncomfortable that it was impo ssible to relax, and she fidgeted in her seat, unable to find a position where it didn't feel like she was being hit with his pings of emotion.
He'd only answered her in one-word replies since they'd left Dakar's home. Obviously their talk hadn't gone very well.
"Do you want to go to the plaza this evening? There's going to be a concert." She glanced over at him. "Remember you asked about it the other day?"
"Not tonight."
Well, he was up to two-word answers, at least. "We could go to the Entertainments District, then."
"Let's drop it."
"What did he say to you, Jon? Why don't you tell me?"
"I don't want to go into it."
"I want to go into it. What did he say?"
"He told me you met the Elders at a Gathering. That's where you went the other night, isn't it? You didn't meet Brant, did you?"
His emotions were barely under control, like hot water bu bbling. Jon had never been good at holding them in. "No, I didn't meet him. I was at the Gathering."
"You should've told me."
"I know. But I thought it would be easier not to."
"Easier for who?" He turned his face back to the window. "You've got responsibilities. I get it. But when you lie, it makes me wonder what else you're not telling me."
"I wanted to protect you."
"That's not your job when it comes to us. I can handle the truth."
Well, that was that. Through their connection, she sensed his emotions calming down a bit, but he was still
"I'm in the way of Nadira's work? I don't see it that way."
"Did I imply that? Please forgive me, because that was not my intention. I only want to point out that by engaging with her, you are opening yourself up to things you may not be prepared for." Dakar leaned forward, grasping his hands before him. "She must never be in a position where she is forced to choose between you and the rest of us."
"Do you really think I'd do anything to hurt her?'
"Not intentionally, but you are not of Hathor. You can't poss ibly understand her position here. I know your emotions for her are very deep. I can sense that. But just know that if there is ever to be a choice, it will not go in your favor."
Jonathan's heart was thundering in his chest as he clamped his teeth together, forcing himself not to reply without thinking first. Offending this man would not help the situation, and neither would admitting that his mother had been born on Hathor.
But he couldn't admit any of it, not without risking the safety of his family. So, instead he had to sit here and take this nonsense without being able to tell Dakar what he thought about all of it.
"You underestimate me, sir."
Dakar leaned back against the cushions and winced as he rubbed his forehead. "Perhaps I do. But, you have no idea what will be expected of her. Maintaining an emotional bond with you could have a negative effect on her abilities. We can't risk that. The Elders told her that the other night at the Gathering."
"What Gathering? I don't know what you're talking about."
"It was for Guardians only," he said, as he pressed his fingers against his temple. "Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it, Mr. Keel."
"Then why did you?"
Dakar's smile faded a bit, and his lips became tight. "This has been an enlightening conversation. I'll see what they're doing out there."
Jon watched as Dakar rose and walked out of the room. A m oment later he heard voices, and laughter coming from out back. Heat spread up his neck and face, as he listened to them laughing together.
8 Coming Clean
During the transport ride back to Nadira's apartment she could feel the tension in Jonathan. It felt so uncomfortable that it was impo ssible to relax, and she fidgeted in her seat, unable to find a position where it didn't feel like she was being hit with his pings of emotion.
He'd only answered her in one-word replies since they'd left Dakar's home. Obviously their talk hadn't gone very well.
"Do you want to go to the plaza this evening? There's going to be a concert." She glanced over at him. "Remember you asked about it the other day?"
"Not tonight."
Well, he was up to two-word answers, at least. "We could go to the Entertainments District, then."
"Let's drop it."
"What did he say to you, Jon? Why don't you tell me?"
"I don't want to go into it."
"I want to go into it. What did he say?"
"He told me you met the Elders at a Gathering. That's where you went the other night, isn't it? You didn't meet Brant, did you?"
His emotions were barely under control, like hot water bu bbling. Jon had never been good at holding them in. "No, I didn't meet him. I was at the Gathering."
"You should've told me."
"I know. But I thought it would be easier not to."
"Easier for who?" He turned his face back to the window. "You've got responsibilities. I get it. But when you lie, it makes me wonder what else you're not telling me."
"I wanted to protect you."
"That's not your job when it comes to us. I can handle the truth."
Well, that was that. Through their connection, she sensed his emotions calming down a bit, but he was still
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