Page 118 of The Mentor
I gasped and Khan gave a small shake of his head.
“Don’t give me that look, Kya. I said almost – which means the guard is still alive.” He lowered his voice to a mumble. “He’ll be freezing his ass off in old Alaska this winter.”
“But Willow isn’t married, and I didn’t force her,” Solomon argued. “We… we love each other,” he stammered.
“Is that right?” Khan sighed and sat down on the desk again. “What are you? Romeo and Juliet?”
“I don’t know who they are,” Solomon said without looking at Khan. “My name is Solo.”
“I know what your name is, stupid.” Khan rolled his eyes and turned his focus on Willow. “Tell me why you let him kiss you?”
Willow tensed up and I stroked her back. “It’s okay, you can speak up.”
“He’s my boyfriend,” Willow whispered.
Khan’s head fell forward and for a split-second I thought I saw a tiny smile. I quickly disregarded it however, because when Khan lifted his head again, he looked dead serious. “Your boyfriend, huh?”
Willow nodded.
“So, what’s the plan then? Are you gonna stay and marry him when you turn eighteen or are you just having fun until you decide you want a new boyfriend?”
Willow licked her lips nervously. “I don’t want another boyfriend.”
“And how about you; what are your intentions toward Willow?” He asked Solomon.
The young man lifted his chin and spoke clearly. “I would fight to marry her today, if I could.”
Archer and I exchanged a glance. It was easy to dismiss their feelings because of their young age, but there was no doubt in my mind that it felt real to them.
Khan cleared his throat and looked at me and Archer. “It’s your wedding day, and as a present to you, I will leave the destiny of these two lovebirds in your hands.”
Shifting my balance, I took a deep breath of relief. “Well, to be honest: Pearl was right. Willow isn’t one of your females and I would argue that youthful curiosity is natural,” I said, and added, “Although I haven’t been in this particular situation before.”
“That’s true, but Solomon should still be punished,” Khan said.
“And he will be,” Archer said firmly.
“Good, then I think my work here is done.” With those words Khan left Archer, me, and the children in the room. Archer pointed to the two chairs in front of the desk. “Sit down,” he said and walked over to take the chair behind the desk. “I think it’s been established that you’re lucky Magni didn’t kill you on the spot,” he said to Solomon.
A strange noise came from the back of Solomon’s throat.
“May I talk to you outside?” I asked Archer.
He nodded and we left the two people on trial alone for a minute.
“Look. You can’t punish him for doing the exact same thing as you did.”
Archer wrinkled his brow.
“You kissed me on the first day you met me!” I reminded him in a low whisper.
“But we’re grown-ups.”
“Who fell in love, Archer. Just like them.”
He sighed and looked down for a moment, his head spinning so fast I could almost hear it.
“I actually pity them,” I said. “In seven months, Solo turns fifteen and moves on to the next school. It will most likely be the last time they see each other.”
