Page 63 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

When Thax finished his design, he showed it to Liria.

She looked delighted. Until she realized they didn't have a convergence room.

Of all the rooms in that house, none was equipped with the metal scraps, gears, and assorted basics needed for fabrication and convergence.

They didn't even have a worktable. All the tables his father had purchased for them were too pretty to converge on. So, they had to go into town after all.

Liria drove the trav, Thax riding in the passenger seat beside her.

They could have taken biwheels, but she said they'd be making a lot of purchases, and although some of the larger pieces would have to be delivered, she wanted to take as much back with them as possible so they could get started right away.

Since Thax had no idea what stocking a convergence room entailed, he bowed to her knowledge.

And Liria was right; it was nice to get away from that house. As beautiful as it was and as happy as he was becoming there, Thax had some painful memories locked within those walls. Leaving felt as if he were giving them space to diffuse. Like a bad smell.

Indeed, the air seemed fresher in town. Possibly the work of the breathforges, but still.

It felt good to be in a new environment.

Thax stared out his window at the Medeans strolling down the street.

Although Thennis was a tourist town, his people would never choose to visit.

An ocean view was not a selling point to Aethari.

They only liked to see it from very far above.

Thax liked the ocean now. He truly was becoming more Medean every day.

Instead of saddening him, the transition was saving him.

It was helping him recover. A glance up at the empty sky comforted him.

If he had been allowed to convalesce in Icara, it would have taken far longer for him to reach this point.

Maybe he would never have gotten there. Facing everything he lost daily would have made it impossible to see what he had gained.

There, in Thennis, he could begin anew. Fresh.

Then Thax realized that they had stopped. How long had they been parked alongside the sidewalk?

He glanced at Liria. She was waiting patiently, looking around as if she wanted some time to acclimate before she got out. But it wasn't about her. She was giving him time to adjust.

A bolt of razor-sharp love sliced through Thaxvarien.

His destra had shown him the kind of loyalty that only came after being together for centuries.

But she had it in her from the start. Liria sacrificed her needs to see him through his pain, focusing so much on him that she could now read the nuances of his body.

Even in this minor way, she bent to his needs, letting him take all the time he needed before he got out of the vehicle.

That was enough of that.

“Destra,” Thax whispered.

Liria looked over at him with a smile. And it was genuine. She was happy just to be sitting there with him. Even after all he had put her through.

He took her hand and kissed it. Then he pressed it to his heart. “Let's do something you want to do.”

“What?”

“This can wait. What would you like to do today? We can do anything you want.”

Her face shivered. “That's so strange that you asked that.”

“Is it?”

“I've been trying to think of what I'd like to do now that I've retired from military service.”

“And?”

Her voice sounded very young when she said, “I don't know. Do you remember when I told you that I have no talent?”

“And I told you that you do.”

“Yes. Convergence. But beyond that, I don't have any interests, Thax.”

Instantly, he sensed this would be too much pressure for her. Unfortunately, the day would have to continue to be about him. At least until she figured out what she wanted. Then he would lay it at her feet.

“That's only because you haven't given yourself the chance to explore the possibilities.” Thaxvarien squeezed her hand and let it go.

“Don't think about it. Just look around.

Keep an open mind. When you see something that interests you, give it a chance.

Investigate. If it doesn't hold your interest, you can always move on to something else.

It's not as if you have to choose one thing to enjoy and only do that forever.”

“Explore the possibilities. Yes, I like that idea.” Liria's eyes gleamed. “So, you're insightful too. When did that happen?”

“When I became the chosen one of the Sources!” he intoned dramatically.

She snorted. “All right, Chosen One. Let's go get you some equipment so you can explore your great power while I explore whatever the fuck I want.”

Thax laughed and then leaned over to kiss her. Just a quick brush of his lips over hers. “I love you, my destra.”

“I love you too, O' Great One.”

He rolled his eyes. “Make one joke and she torments me forever.”

“Yup. You're the one who offered me forever. Remember that.” Liria got out, stepped around the trav's metal front where its converged engine was located, and onto the sidewalk.

Meanwhile, Thaxvarien climbed out of the trav and locked it with his thumbprint. He offered her his hand. “What first?”

She intertwined her fingers with his. “Let's order the furniture we need. I'd like to know how long that's going to take.”

“All right.” Thax lifted his chin and squared his shoulders. “Furniture. Yes. Where do we buy converging furniture?” He looked around.

As if in answer to his question, a man said, “Li? Thaxvarien?”

No fucking way!

Thaxvarien's destru nature came roaring to the surface at the sound of that man's voice.

He growled even as he turned to face Braxis.

Every instinct he had was telling him this man was a threat.

Destrus did not tolerate threats to their destras.

Especially if that threat was to their bond.

It was all he could do not to tear Braxis's throat out with his bare hands.

Liria jerked on Thax's hand, sent him a quelling look, and then smiled brightly at the threat. “Braxis! Hi. How are you?”

“I'm good.” Braxis stood within a doorway. He came out as he spoke, his movements cautious and slow. He glanced at Thax. “How are you two?”

“We're very well, thank you,” Thax said, his tone stiff, his eyes narrowed, and his free hand clenched into a fist.

“And we're so sorry about the other day,” Liria tacked on.

Thaxvarien took a deep breath. Do not kill this man. Do not kill this man. Do not kill this man.

“There's nothing to apologize for.” Braxis waved it away.

“I can't even imagine what you've been through.

And Thaxvarien, again, I want you to know I have no romantic intentions toward your betrothed.

She is undeniably lovely, so I can see how you'd be protective, but I respect what you have together. Could we start again?” He held out his hand to Thax. “Friends?”

When Thax only stared at the man's hand, Liria elbowed him in the side.

“Yes, of course.” Thaxvarien took Braxis's hand and forced himself not to crush it. “Now, if you'll excuse us. We need to find some furniture.”

“What sort?” Braxis looked from Thaxvarien to Liria. “This is my shop, right here. I build furniture.”

“Of course you do,” Thax muttered.

Liria elbowed him again as she grinned at Braxis. “How fortunate. We're looking for sturdy work furniture. Things that can handle fabrication and convergence.”

Thaxvarien glared at Liria. Why was his destra determined to torment him?

“You're setting up a convergence room?” Braxis asked.

“Yes, precisely,” Thax said.

“For me,” Liria hurried to tack on. “I mean, obviously for me.”

“Well, I've got some basic tables, chairs, and cabinets all made of sturdy wood. Anything you could need. And I'll give you a welcome-to-town deal. Especially if you buy multiple items.”

“Can you deliver them to the house?” Liria asked.

“Are you kidding? I'd love an excuse to see that house again. Come on in.” He opened the door and waved them inside, but then went in ahead of them.

Liria looked at Thax. “He's being very nice. Can you be civil?”

No fucking way. He was going to converge that motherfucker right into an early grave.

“Of course, Liri.” Thaxvarien took her hand and kissed it. “After all, I'm the one who has you.”

Liria snorted a laugh and pulled Thax with her inside the dickhead's store.

Within, it was tidy, with displays of chairs, tables, and more set out in pleasing arrangements.

Luminarc lanterns cast a warm glow from above to enhance the look of the wood.

The smell of wood polish with a hint of citrus filled the air.

Liria ran her hand over a tabletop inlaid with contrasting wood to form a border of vines and flowers around the rim.

“Braxis, these pieces are lovely,” Liria said.

Thaxvarien hated the man and his lovely pieces. He wanted to smash them into smaller pieces.

“Thank you.” Braxis motioned to a dark-haired woman seated at a small writing desk at the end of the room. “This is my sister, Branla. Branla, this is the couple I was telling you about—the ones who moved into the cliff house.”

“Oh!” The woman stood up and came over to them. “Hello. Welcome to Thennis.” She held her hand out to Liria first.

Liria shook it. “Thank you. I'm Liria, and this is my betrothed, Thaxvarien.”

“Hello.” Thax nodded at the woman but didn't offer his hand.

It had nothing to do with her brother and everything to do with his destru status.

Declared destrus did not touch other women unless they were relatives, or the touching was mandatory.

Handshakes were actually acceptable, but if they could be avoided, they were.

“Hi.” Branla cleared her throat and glanced at her brother. “So, you need some furniture?”

“They're setting up a converging room,” Braxis said. “I'm taking them into the back.”

“All right. I'll mind the shop.” She resumed her seat. “Nice to meet you two.”

“You as well.” Liria followed Braxis through an open doorway to the far left of the desk, dragging Thax with her.

The back room was much larger than the front, extending at least forty feet.

It was both a storage and a workroom, smelling strongly of wood and lacquer despite the open windows at the back.

Sawdust and wood chips speckled the floor around several work areas, but otherwise, the space was clean and orderly.

Braxis took them over to a wall where less ornate pieces were stacked on huge metal panels.

“These are the ones made for durability rather than style.” Braxis waved at the pieces.

Liria let go of Thax's hand and looked over the tables first. “This one's a good size.” Liria pointed at a solid table with a top thick enough to serve as a butcher's block.

Since it was on the first metal panel, she didn't have to bend to inspect the joints.

They were at eye level. “Dovetailed. Nice work.”

“I make things to last.” Braxis hit a button, and the metal panel slid out and down, bringing the table to the floor.

Good, he could make his own coffin. Thax took another deep breath and sought calm.

Liria checked out the table once more, but then motioned to another.

She looked through a few before settling on one with a steel plate set into its top.

Then she moved on to the selection of cabinets.

Then side tables. Finally, the chairs. Thax crossed his arms and watched Braxis the entire time.

The man was wise enough to keep a polite distance between himself and Liria.

On top of that, he focused on jotting down Liria's choices in a little notebook instead of admiring her.

Yes, he was proving smarter than he looked.

“I think that's all we need for now,” Liria said.

Braxis looked up from his notebook. “I can do 400 dari for the lot.”

“That's all? Braxis, I think you're being too generous. 500 is still a deal. How about that?”

“That's not the way bargaining works, Li.” Braxis laughed. “But all right. 500, and I won't charge you for delivery.”

“Deal. Thank you.” Liria brought her current out of her purse, tapped in the amount to transfer, and held it out to Braxis. This particular funds transfer device was linked to Thax's parents' account. Even though he'd been overwhelmed with sorrow, he remembered his father giving it to Liria.

“Thank you for your business.” Braxis brought his current out and connected it to Liria's via the port on the end. The currents blinked, exchanged currency, and then reported the new available balance to each of them. Braxis grinned at her. “That's our biggest sale today.”

Maybe he could use the money to pay for his medical bills.

Why the fuck did they have to buy furniture from Braxis?

But even as Thaxvarien seethed, his destra came to him, grabbed his wrist to unwind his crossed arms, and wove her fingers with his.

Instantly, the beast inside him was soothed.

He practically purred as she led him out of the back room. It helped that they were leaving.

But then Liria pulled him to a stop. She turned back to Braxis to ask, “Is there somewhere you'd recommend for purchasing the smaller items we need?”

“Sure. One street east and down to the right a bit, you'll find Careful Converging Supplies. They're who I always go to.”

“Thank you,” Thax said, hoping this was the end of it.

“Of course. I'll get the furniture up to you tonight, after I close. Is six all right?”

“Perfect,” Liria said.

They made our goodbyes and left the shop. At last.

Back in the trav, Liria slid her hand over Thaxvarien's thigh. “Thank you for being, well, not friendly exactly, but polite.”

“He behaved himself, so I did as well.” Thax absently laid his hand over hers as he looked down the street. “Can we not walk? It didn't sound far.”

“But then we'd have to carry boxes of metal items back here.” Liria started the trav. “I'm not doing that.”

“I see your point.”

Liria pulled out onto the street with a murmur of magical energy and drove them toward Careful Converging Supplies. Thaxvarien relaxed back against his seat. Maybe now he could return to enjoying their outing.