Page 20 of Owned

Context was important, but his grandmother loved to infuse her explanations with extraneous information. He glanced at his unconscious captive and realized he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He might as well indulge his grandmother. “I’m not familiar with that term.”

“If the stories are accurate, and I happen to believe they are, the Level Two Experiments were the reason Raina and her cousins were taken to Earth. They were not the only ones, by the way. There were at least fifty others. The last time a large group of conduits tried to avoid their destinies, it resulted in the Controller Wars. The adults involved in the Earth incident should have known better.”

The information was interesting. It was part of Raina’s history, but he wasn’t sure how it pertained to her recovery. “If the changes to their DNA had already been made, what was gained by running away?”

“Second-level conduits are more powerful than ordinary conduits. Once Raina learns to control her abilities, she will do astonishing things. Jevara was willing to risk the wrath of the Citadel without seeing her in action. Imagine what he will do once he learns of her true potential.”

“He probably knows,” Kern told her. “Jevara’s spies are remarkably effective.”

Her shoulders squared and she lifted her chin. “Then the situation is even more dire. The only way to protect Raina is to claim her.”

Kern sighed, refusing to look at Raina. All he could think about when he looked at her was stripping her naked and—focus! “If I choose to claim her—and I have not agreed to anything—how would it be accomplished?”

“You are a Pyronese/Torretian hybrid who qualifies as both a controller and a source. You must find another hybrid who also has both aptitudes. You are a slightly stronger controller, so it will work best if he is a slightly stronger source. But they must possess both gifts or the balance of the soul bond will be compromised. This is why Raina is in thrall. I am giving you as much time as possible to recruit your mirror image.”

Kern shook his head. “I have never heard of anyone else who qualifies as both.”

“That is why I am Mistress Air and not you,” she countered with gentle mockery. “According to the Citadel’s records, there have been twenty-six in the past decade. You already know two of them.”

“Zevon volunteered this information to Mistress Air? How did you explain your inquiry?”

Her smile was utterly unapologetic. “Some inquiries are better submitted through unofficial channels.”

“A spy or a hacker?” Kern asked with a smirk.

“A lady never tells.”

“You said I know two of them.” He released Raina’s hand and stood up, facing his grandmother. “Who are they?”

“Laidon Feran and Cylex Mora.”

His gaze narrowed. His grandmother was shrewdly intelligent. She could also be ruthless when she wanted something. No one rose to her level of authority without shoving others out of their way. “Two of the males capable of bonding with Raina just happen to be my lifelong friend and the leader of the rebellion? Something about that sounds a bit too convenient.”

She shrugged, but determination made her gaze shimmer. “Everything I have told you is true. If you complete the soul bond with an ordinary source, you will be locked into the role of controller and part of who you are will die. You are special and your conduit is special. Does it not stand to reason that the third member of your triad also be unique? That is the only way to create a well-balanced, fully functional triad.”

“Cylex mentioned abilities, but I’ve never seen him manifest. Laidon has always been laser focused on the rebellion. Are you sure your information is accurate?”

“The information was pulled word for word from Zevon’s records. Unless the president of the Citadel has been deceived, the information is correct.”

He nodded as his gaze drifted back toward Raina. “I don’t think my personality is a match with Laidon’s. I don’t find him as obnoxious as you do, but there is too much controller in him. We would lock horns.”

“And Cylex? I know it has been many cycles, but you were quite close at the academy.”

“That was a lifetime ago.” Turning from the bed, he stared past his grandmother and tried to analyze his options. Why was he considering this? Even if he were ruthless enough to complete the soul bond, Raina didn’t deserve someone so… damaged. Shaking away the temptation, he took a deep breath and looked at Udora. “All of this is moot. Laidon is on his way here and I do not want to spend the rest of my life bonded to him.”

She didn’t look pleased by the revelation. “How much does he know?”

“I told him the basics.”

“You didn’t realize the soul bond had been started until I told you just now. Does that mean Laidon does not know?”

Kern nodded. “I told him that I stabilized her energy and didn’t have any idea why she passed out. That was all.”

“Good.” Warning flashed in her silver eyes. “We will tell him that Raina is being tended by healers and cannot be seen by anyone else. Comm Cylex. Find out what he has been doing for the past few years and see if he is interested in claiming a mate. Your personalities were compatible before. Hopefully, they will be again.”

“I have had no contact with him in many years. Most likely he will turn me down.”

Her head tilted and a faint smirk lifted one corner of her mouth. “You underestimate the appeal of a conduit. Like you, Cylex was rejected by both sides of his heritage. No social outcast will turn down the opportunity to seize the sort of power available to triads.”

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