Page 40 of The Rebel's Prize

He grunted softly and waved a hand in a vaguely apologetic gesture. "Sorry. It's just with Octarus and everything else going on, your water magic has been more top of mind."

"That may be. But you're forgetting the part where I helped look after you while you were recovering."

"Yes, but we had a bond then."

"We could have a bond again if you weren't being stubborn," she pointed out.

He shook his head. "No."

She sighed. "It would help you."

"Not in the long run."

"But—"

"No. It's not up for discussion."

"All right. But don't cut off your nose to spite your face. We can do this without a bond."

"Good. Go on, then."

Right. How exactly was she supposed to do this without a bond?

She tried to remember her days in the Academe, listening to Madame Simsa and her other teachers talk about earth magic, skimming through the memories till she found the one she wanted. She could almost hear Venable Levoit's voice deep down in one of the still rooms talking about energy sharing. For a moment, the memory and the sense of being back there were so strong that it brought a wave of homesickness she hadn't expected. The Academe was more than just a school for her—it was part of what she thought of as home. She'd spent hours and days there with her father way before she was old enough to attend the school as a student.

"Are you all right?" Lucien asked.

She started, realizing she had been quiet too long. Green eyes caught hers, and she nodded. "Everything's fine. Just lie back and close your eyes."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. A few days ago you threatened to stab me. "

"I was angry. Besides, I don't stab sick people."

He chuckled softly. "I guess I have to take your word for that."

"Yes you will." She felt as though she was balanced on a very thin thread. If he could trust her to do this much, then maybe it would be a first, tiny step to repairing what she'd broken between them. Rebuilding their friendship. She'd start with that before either of them had to grapple with the thornier issues of their future. "Close your eyes."

He shot her a last amused look, then obeyed, shifting slightly on the pillow. He was trying to look relaxed, but she could tell he wasn't.

She sat gingerly on the edge of the mattress, saw his jaw tighten a bit as he registered her weight beside him. Waiting for him to relax again, she then placed her right hand on his chest, the gesture instinctive. She'd made the same one countless times a day when he'd been sick in the temple, asleep and insensible to what was going on around him, unable to resist the urge to check that his heart was still beating.

It felt stronger now than it had back then, steady and reassuring, but she still waited, sinking into the rhythm of it, making sure it didn't falter, before she sent her magic down seeking a ley line. There wasn't one close by that she could find, just the vague echoes of something in the distance, but that was enough to latch on to and give her power a small boost.

She listened for the magic, hearing the familiar hum of hers around her. The chime of Lucien's power was so faint she could barely hear it, and she bit her lip. Some people showed no sign of magic unless they were using it, but his truth seeking was so strong that there was almost on echo of it around him, unless he consciously worked to hide it. Through the bond, it had been even more obvious, and the lack shook her more than she was expecting. At least he couldn't feel her reaction.

She drew in a calming breath and tried to focus simply on each heartbeat and the energy flowing through him, threading her own energy around his, bolstering it, to convince his body that everything was normal.

Lucien sighed softly, and something in his face relaxed. "That feels nice."

"Just rest," she replied softly. She sent another wave of energy through him and then withdrew her hand. "Just rest." Her hand trembled slightly, relief that she’d been able to help flooding her, and she curled it closed.

He opened his eyes. The green seemed brighter now, something lurking in their depths that made her skin tingle. "If you want me to rest, perhaps you shouldn't have just given me an energy boost."

"Not enough to keep you awake. Just enough to help you get back to where you were. We have to travel on in the morning." She started to slide toward the edge of the mattress.

"You need sleep, too."

"I'll go back to my room soon."

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