Page 104 of Tell No Tales
"You, too?"
"Anyone can forge a bond with their beloved under the right circumstances," Yvette said. "Healers and death weavers used to bond with each other to keep the line strong, same as the imperial fire and ice weavers."
Klaus could still feel Vadim in his head, so he blasted him with his frustration."We had the right circumstances? I thought you hated me!"
"Does saving each other's lives count?" Vadim asked.
Nola laughed. "That's when ours first formed, aye." Her eyes were soft in the dim light from her water globe. "I drowned a man where he stood when he tried to run Yvette through with a sword. Fucking navy bastard."
"I never hated you."Though closer than anything Vadim had said so far, Klaus would have to pry a declaration of love from Vadim like a rotten tooth.
They hurried back to the dorm as quickly as they could with both twins carrying dead weight. Trin started to come around when they reached the stairs into Hesse's old dorm room, but Ray adjusted his grip and kept her hefted over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
In the room, Vadim motioned for Roy to put Hugo down on the mattress. The emperor's skin was ashen, his lips almost blue, but his open wound was now closed, thanks to Coryn's attempt at healing.
"Well?" Yvette asked. "Can you do it?"
"Everyone out," Vadim said.
Klaus turned toward the door. Vadim grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him to his side. "Except you."
"What good am I?"
"Moral support." Vadim grinned, and Klaus found himself grinning, too. It seemed ludicrous that either of them would be the epitome of morality, but Klaus understood. This was a matter of life and death, of keeping it all in balance, and Klaus balanced Vadim physically, the same way his healing and death magic balanced each other.
"We'll get the airship ready," Nola said. "Hurry, if you can."
Yvette held the door for everyone to clear out. Trin was now on her feet, but she clung heavily to Ray's arm as they walked into the hallway.
"Good luck," Yvette said before closing the door.
Vadim nodded and grinned at Klaus. "Luck. That's what we need."
"You didn't need luck to bring Mewskers back," Klaus reminded him.
"No." Vadim snorted. "Little bugger did that all by himself. How could I resist?"
"Who is Mewskers?"
Klaus shivered at the emperor's voice inside his head. This wasn't like Yvette's telepathy. This was something dark and slithery along Klaus's connection to Vadim. Klaus almost felt guilty overhearing it.
"We have a kitten aboardStarlight Specter," Vadim answered."If you consent to return to your body, you'll get to meet him."
"Of course, I consent! You're here."
Vadim looked up from the emperor's lifeless gaze with anguish etched between his brows.
"He can't help but love you."Klaus met his gaze with silent acceptance. It would be hard, but it had to be done."For the good of the empire, remember?"
Vadim frowned at him, but then he shoved the hovering spirit back into his body. Hugo went readily. Klaus didn't know how Mewskers had taken the jolt of life returning to his limbs. He'd heard Renald coughing and sputtering in the hold for a full day after Niall brought him back, though it could have been from the smoke and water in his lungs.
Hugo lunged for Vadim, wrapping his arms around the death weaver's neck and kissing his cheek when Vadim turned his head to the side. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Vadim clawed at Hugo's arms, pulling them away from his neck and twisting them until they were folded in Hugo's lap. "Thank you for trusting me."
"Trusting you? I love you!"
Vadim frowned at Klaus."You … knew about this?"
