Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
And was she really hearing him right? Was this an apology?
“You’ve been out in the field a lot, that can’t be easy.” She knotted her hair up and put it over her shoulder. “And I know that you’ve been worried about Granmahmen.”
“So have you.”
“Well, it’s true. But we’ve always handled things differently.”
There was a long silence. “Can I be honest with you?”
“That depends,” she replied hoarsely. “I’m a little raw right now, so if it’s going to be hard to hear, I’d rather wait.”
“I really don’t want you to date a human.” He put his hand up. “Not because they’re intrinsically bad or we’re intrinsically better. It’s just I live in terror of you ever falling into the hands of a lesser, and to me, every one of them is a slayer just waiting to happen. I know it’s not fair, and I clearly wasn’t able to put that into words the other night, but that’s where I’m at—and yes, I’ll do my best to get over it. I have no right to put a stamp on them that says ‘forbidden.’ ”
Lyric lifted her brows. “I…”
“And listen, if you want to learn how to shoot, I will absolutely teach you. But I’m going to want you to learn hand-to-hand as well.” He took out his phone and nodded at it. “To that end, I took the liberty of talking to Xhex and Payne. They’re willing to start training you anytime you’re ready. I thought it was important for you to learn some basics from females, and then I can put together some sparring sessions with the guys. You need both. Best practices for females, and some experience with a full-grown male coming at you.”
As her brother fell silent again, he put his phone away and crossed his arms once more over his big chest. Then he murmured, “I’m sorry, Lyric. For a lot.”
“I… I don’t know what to say. Other than thank you.” When he flushed and nodded, she added, “This is also more than you’ve said to me in a very, very long time.”
He frowned at that. “I’ve been kind of blinders on about everything lately.”
“I understand. And I get your response to the human thing now a little better. I’m glad you explained yourself.”
Rhamp nodded again.
When things went quiet, she assessed him as a male, not as her twin, the brother she’d never not known, never not been around.
“You remind me of L.W.,” she murmured.
“How so.”
“You’re so angry—and I’m not picking a fight with you, honest.” She put her palms up. “I’m just making an observation. He’s like that, too.”
As Rhamp rubbed his face, he looked older than her, much, much older. “Ever since I’ve gone out in the field, I’ve just seen… things I can’t get out of my mind. Civilians who were tortured, the aftermaths of inductions—humans who have been hurt by humans. The night is not a kind place, and I take all of it home.” He tapped the side of his head. “Everything’s trapped up here. I don’t sleep well, I worry about our dads out there fighting, I worry about what happens if the lessers find you or the grandparents. It’s just… the only way I know how to handle it is to fight some more or get drunk.”
He laughed in a short unhappy burst as he kept his eyes studiously away from her own. “Put like that, I probably need to go talk to Mary, huh.”
“I think so, yes.” She frowned. “Do you maybe resent me for not fighting?”
“That would be ridiculous. I don’t want you anywhere near the field.” He put a palm out. “I’m not saying I’ll stop you, but… I do not want that for you.”
“Emotions aren’t logical. So do you get frustrated because I’m just skating along, while you’re in the trenches?”
“I don’t know,” he said remotely.
Which was a “yes” he didn’t want to admit to.
Lyric laughed a little. “I’ve been feeling frustrated at being on the sidelines, too. But I’m changing all that now.”
Finally, those bright green eyes shifted over. “I don’t want you to be like me, though. Don’t lose that wonderful warmth you’re known for. The world is a much, much better place with you in it. You light up every room you walk into, sis. And maybe I’m a little sexist, but I just wouldn’t want you out in the field… turning into me. So be careful, if you decide to go there. It changes you, forever.”
There was such exhaustion and sadness behind his words, the shadows in his eyes making him seem positively ancient.
Lyric got up before making a conscious decision to do so, and as she went across to her twin, he sighed like he was putting down a tremendous weight.
As they hugged, she couldn’t remember the last time they had done that, either.