Page 81 of Rhuyin

“Your brother is theleasttrusting person I’ve met in my life. I know I’m going to have my work cut out for me earning his trust.”

I smiled. He didn’t realize it, but he’d already come farther with my brother than I would have thought possible.

“I don’t want to offend, but why would they have an unbonded Soma involved in Tetradymo training? I asked.

“No offense taken, hon. We don’t have that many Tesseris Mageia. Certainly not enough to teach all the new ones who’ve developed over the last two years,” Betts answered. “Since I’m already a Dual Mageia I can assist with training to block the Elusian Suppression ability. When I’m not on theChrysalisI’m assisting with Tetradymo training.”

I mulled that over for a bit.

“So, you and Rhuyin, huh, Luke?” Betts asked finally, settling back into her chair.

“Looks like,” I said, blushing.

“Good for you, kiddo. He seems like a good guy.”

“Kiddo? Really? You aren’tthatmuch older than me,” I teased.

“But I amoh-so-much wiser…” she teased back.

“So what are you going to do?” Hel asked.

“Do? I mean, what can we do? If we’re Bonded, it’s not like there’s much wecando about it.”

“You—you could try to break the bond,” he suggested, raising an eyebrow at me. “It’s been done before.”

“No!” I was on my feet without even realizing it. “I wouldneverdo that to Rhu!”

Hel’s grin widened and Betts glared at her brother.

“You are such an ass, Helios Asimenios,” she said.

“I just wanted to make sure. I’m really glad to hear it. I knew you were good people, Luke. I’m just glad you’re going to give it a chance. Givehima chance.”

“More like he’s givingmea chance,” I muttered. “I’m still trying to pin down when exactly it could have happened. Did you notice the Bonding scent earlier?”

He shook his head.

“I didn’t notice anything until you guys arrived a few minutes ago. Granted, I’m still getting used to my and Elex’s scent, but itdidseem stronger than normal when we were around you in the hospital. I just thought it was the stress of the situation affecting everyone.”

More mystery.

“Soma history talks about the gods meddling in Bonds,” Betts said thoughtfully.

“Gods? Really? Aren’t we a little—beyond that now?” I asked, gesturing at the room filled with technology. “Religion is all well and good for those who believe, I guess. But gods are myths.”

Even as I spoke my thoughts flew back to the vision I had of the man bound beneath the earth.

Betts grinned and her laugh brought me back to the here and now.

“Myths generally have a basis in facts ofsomekind. I had a dream once that I was chosen to be a goddess…” she said, laughing.

“Was that before, or after, you ate those mushrooms Ri brought home from the east? You were saying the sky was pink for two weeks, and that the unicorns were coming through the walls.”

“I did not!” She said indignantly, then a thoughtful look came over her face. “At least, I didn’t say anything about unicorns. Everyone knows they’re not real. The sky reallydidlook pink to me, though.”

“Maybe that means we Bonded during the explosion. I don’t think I’ve ever used that much power that quickly before. Iwaskind of surprised at how easy it was, but it’s rare that Elex and I are able to really cut loose, so I wasn’t sure,” I responded, thinking about how the sphere had surrounded us much like the shields had during the Bonding ceremony.

My gaze shifted to the doorway Elex had led Rhuyin through. My brother could be way overprotective and I was afraid of what he might do to Rhuyin under the guise of “protecting” me.