Page 19 of The Heir
“Yeah, but they’re all couples. I’m talking about my sister. Did she hook up with anyone?”
Linea laughed. “Freya? No.”
“Why is that so funny?”
“Because who would have the courage to come on to your sister when a million of her protectors were there? Besides, she doesn’t seem interested in anyone.”
With my arms crossed, I kept my gaze on the clouds in the distance. “I’ve been wondering; do you think Freya is a lesbian?”
Linea watched me for a long second. “Is that a serious question?”
I chewed on my lip and met her gaze. “I’ve never seen my sister flirt with anyone.”
“Maybe her flirting looks different than yours.”
“Sometimes when we’re at the summits, I wonder if she has a crush on one of the other delegation members. I can tell she’s always excited to go and right after the summits, she falls into a state of sadness as if she’s grieving that it’ll be another year before we have to go.”
“You must have a suspicion about who she might have a crush on.”
I nodded. “That’s why I think she might be a lesbian. There’s a woman called Holly who always hugs Freya tightly. The two of them will disagree during meetings, but as soon as we get to the social part of the program, they are friends.”
“Is Holly a lesbian?”
“I think so. I’ve never seen her and Freya kiss or anything, but she definitely seems to like my sister.”
“Maybe Freya is asexual. That’s not uncommon in the Motherlands.”
I wrinkled my nose. “My sister is a Northlander.”
“Yeah, but don’t you think that if she was a lesbian, you would know it by now? I mean, Freya is turning twenty-nine. Why would she hide it if she loves someone?”
I thought about it. “That energy stuff you do…”
“Mm-hmm?”
“Could you tell who she’s in love with if you were in the same room with them?”
“Probably.”
Watching Linea, I felt a sudden insane urge to reach out and touch her thick, red locks of hair. Fascinated, I angled my head and studied her. “When did you turn beautiful?”
Linea lowered her brow, but I continued,
“I don’t remember you being pretty as a child. You had those big teeth and the mane of a lion.”
Her face turned crimson. “All children go through weird phases. You had big ears.”
“I still do. Every comedian in the Northlands makes fun of them.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Nah, look at my uncle, Magni. After his injury he’s far from good-looking and people still love him.”
“Love him or fear him?”
I shrugged. “Maybe respect is a better word.”
Linea folded her legs under her. “I used to be terrified of Magni when I was little.”
