Page 45 of The Seeker
A shadow passed behind Meera’s intense gaze. “And then?”
Rhys took a deep breath. From her reaction the night he killed the Grigori soldier at her gate, he could guess what Meera’s opinion was going to be, but he’d been up-front since the beginning. He didn’t want to hide anything now.
“I think you’re right. If she’s in hiding now, it’s because she doesn’t want to be found. But we need balance in our world. We need the knowledge she holds. If she knows martial magic other Irina can use, I will ask her to share it, and I will then share it with our allies.”
Meera set her wineglass down and walked into the kitchen.
Rhys rose and followed her. “I know you don’t like that.”
“I hate it.” Meera was rinsing dishes and putting them in a rack on the counter. “How will bringing more war into the world—more violence and potential for violence—solve anything? We should be talking to the Grigori, free and bound.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Rhys crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you think they’ll be content to meet us for tea and give up their hunting?”
“I can make them listen.” She turned to face him. “Do you understand? I canmake themlisten to me.”
The passion in her eyes softened his resolve. “I don’t doubt that. But Meera, there is only one of you. There are so many of them. The Fallen rape and deceive women every day, each birthing sons and daughters who drain the life from them.”
“I can stop them. We can stop them without killing.” She stepped closer. “Tell me the truth, Rhys. How much of this war is still based in revenge for the Rending?”
The arrow hit pointed and deep. “Didn’t Anamitra lose her own mate? I still have my parents. You still have yours. Do you know how rare that is?”
“I do know, and my heart aches with it. But we must be stronger than vengeance. When do we forgive? Most Grigori in the world today had nothing to do with the Rending.” She cut her hand to the side. “The guilty are dead, Rhys. The victims are at peace. We have to move beyond this. We have to rise together.”
Rhys spoke past the grief in his throat. “And how can we do that when our wounds are still bleeding? There is evil in the world; I have seen it with my own eyes. Should we battle the Fallen with an embrace?”
She frowned. “I know we cannot. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“I want peace as much as you do. I fight, Meera. Every day I am on watch for enemies who would kill the people I love. But I dream of a day when the most conflict I face is academic. When I can argue about points of study instead of survival strategies.”
“You say you want peace.” She spread her hands to the side. “But you work for war.”
“I fight in a war that will lead to peace. Do you really think all the Fallen will just crawl away and give up their power without a fight?”
“No.” A voice spoke from behind him.
Rhys spun around, drawing his throwing daggers from their hidden sheaths. He spotted Vasu and sent his daggers hurling toward the Fallen, but the angel blinked out of sight and the daggers embedded themselves in Meera’s smooth green wall.
“Missed me again,” the angel said from a perch on the counter.
Rhys reached for Meera, shoving her behind him before he drew two more daggers.
“Stop!” Meera yelled. “Stop putting holes in my house. Vasu, what are you doing here?”
Rhys turned on her. “You know him?”
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
“It’s complicated,” Vasu said. “Ava doesn’t like it when you try to kill me, Librarian. She told you the last time.”
Rhys pointed at Vasu. “You do not show up at the house and talk to the children without permission. She told you that, and you ignored her.”
Vasu leaned back on the cabinets and stuck his lower lip out like a petulant child. “The children are amusing and enjoy my games.”
“They don’t know what you are,” Rhys growled. “They don’t know about your sneaking around, trying to—”
“What about you?” Vasu asked. “Why are you here with my Meera? Did she ask for you to come? No, she did not. Her interfering parents asked for you. And they have ulterior motives. If she knew—”
“Everyone be quiet!” Meera stepped between Rhys and Vasu. “Are you…” Meera blinked. “How— I don’t… I don’t even want to know. Rhys, Vasu had a curious and respectful relationship with my great-aunt, and I’ve known him since I was a child. Vasu, I know my parents called for Rhys. I don’t want to know what you think their motives were because it doesn’t matter.”
