Page 119 of Close Quarter
"I will," Rhys said and closed his hand around the strand.
Then the Messenger turned and walked away.
They were alone, but for the plants and two piles of ash.
Silas kissed Rhys's neck. "What else did you want to ask him?"
"When I was--" Rhys shuddered in Silas's arms. "No. I'll tell you that part later." He started again. "He called me by my name."
"They do that."
"He called me Rhys Alexander Perun Matherton."
"Yes?"
"I've never been called Perun before, and yet..."
No doubt the name had felt correct. They might use misdirection, leave pieces out, but the Messengers never lied. "It must be your name, then. Or will be."
"Or was," Rhys said. He voice was very soft.
In that instant, much of the annoyance he'd felt for the Messengers fell away. "That too was a gift, I think. A clue."
Rhys was quiet. Thoughtful. After a time, he spoke. "What about the swords?"
Another choice. Silas looked at the blades.
Two. His and Rhys's. "It's not always an easy life to work for the Messengers."
"So I've noticed." Wry humor, even now after all that happened. "I don't want to live every day like the past few."
"This was the worst it has ever been."
Rhys's lips against his neck spread a deliciously distracting warmth down his spine.
"That's over now."
Over. Anaxandros had been destroyed. He could put down the sword, stop hunting. "Shall we leave them, then?"
"Is that what you want?" Rhys's thoughtful expression returned.
No. Yes.There were other soulless out there, perhaps even others who had once been fae. And he'd miss the feel of the blade in his hand, the thrill of the hunt. But his life was not entirely his own, and he had no desire to pull Rhys into that world unwillingly.
Rhys snorted. "Yeah, I thought as much." He slid from Silas's embrace. "I don't want to spend all my nights hunting vampires."
"Then we--"
Rhys picked up both swords and held out Silas's. "Once in a while would be fine, though.
When they really need us."
Silas tamped down the sudden tightening of his throat and took the blade from Rhys. "That will work quite well, I think." He sheathed it into the Aether.
Rhys put his sword away, then stood.
"Besides, I want you to teach me to use it. We can't do that if we give up, right?" He held out his hand.
Silas grasped it and let Rhys pull him upright.
