Page 116 of Fate

Mama wrapped her arms about her next. “If you must.”

Which made her sound a little more like herself.

“Next time will just be us,” Firen promised. “And we can talk about... all this.” Her smile was rather grim, and she didn’t dare glance at Lucian. They were private folk, like Mama had said. Maybe he wouldn’t like the idea of his family business being discussed while he wasn’t there to defend it.

Mama hummed. Patted her arm and gave Lucian one more glance. “Right. Tomorrow, then.”

Firen made to say something else, but Mama was already gathering her things and heading for the door.

And she let her go. Back to Da and his comfort and his reassurances. That Firen would be all right because she had Lucian. That he could not help where he came from, anymore than they could.

The house felt suddenly empty in a way that had felt new and exciting only the day before. It would again, once she’d taken afew breaths and rubbed at her forehead, willing the pressure that had formed there to dim.

Only for her fingers to be replaced by Lucian’s as he looked her over, his thumbs at her temples as he pressed lightly, but firmly.

It had no business feeling as good as it did, and she could not quite help the little hum she gave in approval.

“Your mother is very kind,” he offered, which soothed her just as well as his touch did.

“I like her,” Firen agreed. “I think I’ll keep her.”

His laugh was just a bit of air rather than sound. “Wouldn’t that be nice? To exchange troublesome family so you could pick and choose the ones you liked best?”

Firen thought ever so briefly of Eris, then felt horribly guilty for it. She was her sister. She loved her. Then why must it be so... so difficult?

She heard her mother just as well as if she was still in the room with them, patient yet ever so slightly exasperated that it needed saying at all.

Because they needed each other. Perhaps they did not see how, did not understand why, but there was a reason they were put together in a family, to exasperate and quarrel, and still love one another afterwards.

If she thought of it that way, she supposed it was a strange sort of precursor to her relationship with Lucian.

Squabbling. Saying the wrong thing.

Loving in the aftermath.

She wasn’t sure she’d be as good at the forgiving part if Eris hadn’t tested her.

She wouldn’t give up on Lucian, and she wouldn’t give up on her sister. Even if the less flattering parts of herself insisted, it would be easier.

“You could draw up the paperwork for it,” Firen teased back, easing against him and letting him hold her. “Family exchange. No questions asked.”

He brushed his lips against the top of her head, and she was certain he was smiling. “I pity those foolish enough to take on mine. Perhaps I would give just a bit of warning. On a tag, maybe. That Father could wear when someone comes to claim him.”

It was a morose sort of vision. People waiting to be picked. Their flaws written out for onlookers to consider.

And inevitably, to move along.

“I’m glad we’re stuck together,” Firen admitted, a lump in her throat. “Even if we have to wait a very long time to like one another, I’m glad someone else gets to do the picking. I think it would be a very tiresome thing, having to pick one’s family as well as one’s mate.”

His hand came to the back of her head, combing through the delicate hairs he found there as he urged her head back so she would look at him. “Others do. Did you know? They’ve no bond to tell them who to mate with. They choose a partner and live away from the ones they were born to.”

Firen swallowed. “Are they happy? Doing that?”

Lucian skimmed his thumb against her bottom lip. “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

He was going to kiss her. He was going to tease her with his mouth, was going to pull her into him until she was warmed all over. Until she was the one that took his hand and brought him up into their bed. Until she was the one pulling at his clothes and insisting that Vandran did not own him, not as she did, and he had responsibilities to her first.

She did not ask if he was happy. There wasn’t a need. Not with the bond nestled so gently into her chest it was like a friend.Like he was so deeply a part of her, she could not believe she’d ever resented him. Wanted someone else. Something else.

---