Page 79 of The Silent
“Reshon,” he whispered, “means that you are mine and I am yours. That we were created for each other. This is love—because I love youso much—but it’s morethanlove.”
“What can be more than love?” Her heart felt like it might burst.Leo loved her too.He had been raised with love, so he must know the feeling she was talking about. He didn’t have herfracturedpast.
Helovedher.
Leo pressed his cheek to hers. “When we have time, when we are safe, I will show you what it means to bereshon. What I can tell you now is that it is a connection ordained by the Creator. It means my voice will always be the clearestforyou—”
“It always has been. From thebeginning.”
He smiled. “And my touch will always give youpeace.”
“Italreadydoes.”
Leo hauled Kyra into his lap and hugged her tightly. “You belong to me.” It wasn’t spoken in pride butinawe.
She smiled against his chest. “I wouldlikethat.”
“And I belong to you.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her. “You know that’s part of it,don’tyou?”
“What can I do for you?” she asked. “If I am yourreshon, what does that meanforyou?”
“Your touch will heal me,” Leo said. “When I am wounded, your touch will make me stronger.Yoursong…”
His expression went blank, and Kyra’sheartsank.
She asked, “It won’t be the same, will it? It won’t be the same as it would be if yourreshonwere Irina. Because I don’t know the samemagic.”
“It doesn’tmatter.”
“Itdoes.”
“Avawasable—”
“Ava was human. Or at least she was to the Irina. She has no ties to the Grigori world. No one would ever question her loyalty, Leo.” She rested her ear over his chest and listened to his heart beat. “They taught her magic, but it’s not the sameforme.”
He said nothing, because he knew she was right. It didn’t matter how much Leo loved her; he could not teach her the magic she needed to be what she wanted to be for him. She also knew he wouldn’t let her go. Their connection was unique. Shebelievedthat.
“I loveyou,Kyra.”
Would it beenough?
Leo set her on her pillow and put the tray on the low table beside them. They took turns feeding each other until they had eaten everything. Kyra couldn’t finish what Leo had brought her, but she smiled and fed himtherest.
“You are what they call abottomlesspit.”
He stretched out next to her. “There is a lot of metofuel.”
“Most Irin I’ve met aren’t as tall as you. Most Grigori are taller, but they’re not asstrong.”
“It’s probably simple genetics. Everyone in my family was tall. But my cousin and I…” He winked. “We may have written a few spells to give us an edge. I don’t know if they worked or if it’s just in ourblood.”
“So your parents were tallaswell?”
“I believe so. I didn’t know my mother, just a few things about her. She was a healer. Sometimes I think I have memories of her, but I don’t know if I’m really remembering or whether they’re memories others have told me. Both of Max’s parents were killed in the Rending. Our mothers were twin sisters. I think that’s why we look so muchalike.”
“Yourfather?”
“I did meet him when I was seven. He was a mystery. Everyone assumed he was dead for many years. And we were never close. I don’t think he was ever the same man after he lost my mother. Our grandfather is the one who raised us. He wrote our first spells.” Leo turned over to show the line of spells that ran down his back. “Until we went to the academy, he cared for us. And he was very tall. He was our mother’s father, so Max and I were all hehadleft.”
