Page 82 of The Silent
Leo glanced at Alyah, but he could see the singer was as fascinated as he was. He could feel Kyra’s consciousness leave her body, her soul resting like a banked fire in the center of her being. But her mind and power flew up and outward. He gripped her waist, and she leaned back into his chest, using his body as a cradle for her own. He felt her chest rise and fall. She was present and away, all at thesametime.
Within minutes, her breath was slow and even. Leo looked down and her expression was restful except for a thin line between her eyebrows. He reached around and slid his palms underherown.
Their hands met and their fingers knit together; Leo was unprepared for the jolt of power that hit hischest.
His eyes rolled back and his bodywentlimp.
He tasted the wind. Heard the rustling oftrees.
Voices came from thedistance.
He heard Kyra’s breath in time withhisown.
“…more than theothers…”
“She wasdangerous.”
“—had to bemoved.”
“Arindam will not be pleased when hehears—”
“He mustnothear.”
“…protect the others. Thechildren…”
A cacophony of thoughts entered his mind, a jumble of the Old Language and a dialect he’d never heard before. The rush overwhelmed him and his head swam. Thoughts beat at his mind. Voices came too fast.Tooloud.
Slemaa.
He sucked in a breath at the sharpcommand.
Domem.
It was Kyra’s voice in his mind. Her thoughts layered over the cacophony, untangling the threads like a weaver sortingherloom.
Domem.
He matched his breath to hers and found his thoughtsagain.
Four male voices.No,five.
Threewomen.
He couldn’t count thechildren.
Muffledlaughter.
“Leo.”
Kyra.
“Leo, letmego.”
Can’t.
“You can. Let me go. I need to return without you inmymind.”
Safe.
