Page 102 of Unbound

"Then what's in it for you?"

"Maybe I'm not the monster you like to assume. Maybe I just want to help them."

I put a fist on my hip as he heads for the door. "I never said you were a monster. I don't think?—"

He turns, half a smile on his mouth. "I know. You've never looked at me like I'm a monster. It's… one of a few things I like about you."

And then he's gone, leaving me alone in the training room, blushing like a complete fool.

"I shall follow the fire touched. If he reveals he is a siphon, I will destroy him. This is a sound plan."

"I need you with me, Typhon. What if somebody looks at me wrong? Who will threaten to eat them?"

"Hmmm... Perhaps you speak truth."

"Was what he said about siphons true? They can summon void elementals?"

"This is not what we would call them. But in a sense, yes."

"You didn't think this would be helpful to tell me sooner?"

"My knowledge runs more deeply than a well. If I allowed you to jump into those depths, you would surely drown."

"On knowledge?"I hope he can hear the dry annoyance in my response. Conveying emotion into thought conversations is a skill I'm trying to learn.

"If I believe my knowledge will aid in your survival, I will share it, as I’ve already said. If I believe it is a distraction, I will withhold it."

I pause, waiting for him to share something. When nothing comes, I turn to face him as he lays calmly in the corner of the room. "Well? Do you have any knowledge that will aid my survival?"

"Yes."

"Which is?"I prompt, biting back annoyance even though I'm sure he feels it through the tether.

"The fire touched is correct. If you see siphons, you should run. And I trust him. My suggestion would still be to perform the mating ritual. Humans are highly emotional creatures. Letting him enter you would improve his dedication to keeping you safe. This would be a sound strategic decision."

"I hereby ban you from speaking about mating rituals or me being entered, Typhon."

"The angry human thinks she has the power to ban me from sharing my wisdom. This amuses me greatly."

He's not kidding. A strong pang of amusement passes through the tether. Despite my annoyance with him, I can't help shaking my head and smiling.

"I'm going to my room. To sleep. Maybe you need to go find an elemental to mate so you can get your mind out of the gutters."

"I am a skilled mate, and performing the ritual with another elemental would require several days. When you are less likely to get yourself killed in my absence, I may do exactly that. For now, I must remain watchful and vigilant."

I know I don't have to tell him I'm glad he's here. He'll feel it through the tether.

I'm especially grateful as I walk through the chilly halls on my way back to the water tower. Every time I learn more about siphons, I feel more terrified by the idea that one of them is lurking on campus, searching for something.

But what the hell is it they're looking for?

22

"Um... Beck? What exactly is this?"

Beck smiles wide as he gestures to a group of five first-year waters he has paraded into the common room. It's late, but our promotion to aspirant privileges means we have a light day of classes on weekends, so we're all less exhausted than usual. At least most of us are. Some seem to be using the extra time to sleep with everyone they can.

The fear that every day could be our last has a lot of students acting without reserve. Who is sleeping with whom doesn't even qualify as an interesting rumor at this point. If anything, my lack of sexual activity is more rumor worthy than someone bedding a different partner every night.

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