Page 49 of The Silent
And that was that. There was clearly more to the story, but Leo wasn’t going to get it out of her no matter how cheerful and up-front shefoundhim.
But the conversation about convention gave him an idea. “I want to ask you a question. Please know that, despite having three new sisters in my house with whom I talk frequently, I am ignorant of most Irinamagic.”
She smiled at the corner of her mouth. “What makes you think we’d answer your questions if you asked,scribe?”
“Nothing.” He raised his hands. “Obviously it’s none of my concern.” He glanced at Kyra. “Except whenitis.”
Ginny’s eyes narrowed. “What’swrong?”
The reminder of Kyra’s mortality felt like a punch to his solar plexus. “How old are you,sister?”
“Ah,” Ginny said. “I think the more important question is, how oldisshe?”
“Too old. And she fears… She doesn’t know how long she has. I know itfrightensher.”
“With good reason,” Ginny said. “Ifkareshtaare anything like Grigori, they don’t have that much longer than humans without help from the Fallen. They don’t age like humans do, but one day they’ll just snuff out. Like they’ve got an expiration date or something. I’ve seen it happen. A Grigori fell to dust in front of my eyes without me lifting a finger. Weirdest thing Ieversaw.”
He stood—wanting to rage, to hit something—but then he sat again. There was nothing he could do to prevent it. Kyra was clearly not open to mating with him solely to save her life, even though Leo was willing. For some reason, he’d thought they’d have some warning. To hear Ginny say Kyra’s life could be extinguished like a candle flame filled him with fear andanger.
“Will she know?” Leoasked.
“I don’t have any idea. Maybe ask Sura or Niran? If you love her, why don’tyoujust—?”
“She’s not willing,” he said. “Not right now. She’s probably right. It’s too early. She knows we mate for life, and she’s not willing… I mean, we’ve known each other for three years, but we’veonlyjust—”
“She’s not sure of her feelings,” Ginny said. “Or yours.” She nodded. “I canrespectthat.”
“Canyou?”
“Yes.” Ginny tapped an ash off her cigarette into a small brass ashtray. “It’s better than rushing into something to save her life and then being miserable foreternity.”
“I don’t want her miserable. I don’t want her trapped,” Leo said. “But I do want heralive.”
She tapped her finger on her knee. “I don’t think your feelings are in question,arethey?”
No. The rage-inducing thought of losing Kyra was enough to make Leo near-certain Kyra was hisreshon. He didn’t care that she wasn’t Irina. Ava wasn’t technically Irina either. The Creator wouldn’t continue to set them in each other’s path if they weren’t. His touch wouldn’t give her so much comfort and his voice wouldn’t be soclear.
His heart wouldn’t feel raw at the thought of her death if she wasn’t meant to behislife.
“I don’t want her coming to me out of obligation or fear,” he said, his voice rough. “Is there anything youcando?”
Ginny pursed her lips. “I could sing some magic for her. It wouldn’t be anything long term, but it would give her a boost. Give you twosometime.”
“Can you teach her the spells to useherself?”
Her eyes wentwide. “What?”
“She’s powerless, Ginny. The Irina teach thekareshtato shield their minds, but everything else? They’re on their own. They havenothing.”
“Leo, you’re asking me to give Irina magic to Grigorisisters.”
“I’m asking you to trustKyra,” he said through gritted teeth. “Are they our alliesornot?”
“You tell me.” Ginny’s voice was brittle. “You tell me if they’re ourallies,Leo.”
“I can’t believe you’re asking that.Youknow—”
“I know what?” Ginny stubbed out her cigarette in the grass. “I know… They say the right things. They have sympathetic stories. I’m open to listening. I’m open to believing they couldbemore.”
