Page 77 of Daughter Of The Ninth Line
“Uh, my apologies for taking so long, Librarian.” I felt guilty, even though none of my lessons or classes had even suggested I come here.
She looked down at Braxus fondly, who was gazing up at the woman with a doggy grin. “I see you had a guide. It’s okay, Miss Halhed. Every conscript makes it to the library when the Goddess feels it’s right.” She gazed at me with eyes that saw far too much. “What is it you wish to find?”
I blinked at the intense woman, my brain struggling to find a good reason to be in the library. Oranyreason to be in the library. “I just came from Battle History and wondered if you had any texts on recent battles?” I squeaked out, grasping the first idea that popped into my mind with both hands.
Something flashed across her face, something akin to disappointment, before it was once again fixed in that studiousglare. “Of course. Are you interested in the general history of battles, or of those that include your own Line?”
Once she figured out what I needed, she quickly checked the books out to me. I wanted to linger amongst the shelves for a little longer, but being in the presence of the Librarian was unsettling. The feeling was only reinforced when I stepped toward the door, and her voice seemed to echo toward me unnaturally.
“Life is full of questions, Miss Halhed. I believe that this library contains all the answers you might require.”
I nodded, mumbling my thanks and rushing out those large, ornate doors as fast as my legs could carry me and my absolute cache of books.
chapter forty-eight
Hayle
Braxus was debriefingme on everything that was happening with my Soul Tie, and it made me grind my teeth in frustration, even if I did sit there and listen with rapt attention. I wanted to be the one experiencing all these moments with Avalon, especially when Vox Vylan was trying to dig his manipulative claws into her.
Alucius had cautioned me to go slowly. Actually, she’d sent me an image of a pup running headlong into a bush and getting bitten on the ass by a swarm of bees. But I knew what she meant.
I could do slow and steady. I could woo my mate, until she felt the same aching draw that I felt. “Maybe I should ask her on a date?” Alucius nodded her approval of the idea. “First, I have to get her to stop avoiding me.”
She didn’t run like a little rabbit when I appeared—she seemed to know better than to run from a predator—but whenever she saw me, her heartbeat began to race, and she’d turn ever so slowly in another direction.
That wouldn’t do. I wanted her to run toward me, not from me.
Braxus sent me an image of something in the woods around Ebrus, and I smiled.Perfect.It was something I could show her that no one else could. He also suggested a picnic, and I grinned.
“Braxus, you old romantic,” I teased the hound, making Alucius chuff and get up to rub her fur along her mate’s.
With a plan made, I walked out of my dorm room to see the rest of my Line. It was chaos; animals were lounging in small piles all over the floor and couches, and my kin were doing much the same thing. Some were studying or cleaning their weapons, some were gossiping, others were asleep, spooning their animal companions.
That was the difference between us and the other Lines—the sheer amount of love I felt for these guys. They were my family. I’d lay down my life for any one of them.
Lucio loped over when I appeared, slapping me on the back. Lucio deserved to be my second-in-command. He might be a smiley guy, but inside that impressively hard head was a sharp tactical mind and fighting skills that matched mine.
“Jessia is making that stew with marrow again,” he groaned happily, rubbing his stomach. Okay, so maybe Lucio possessed a sharp mind, deadly fighting skills,anda bottomless pit for a stomach. “She smacked me with the spoon when I tried to taste it, though. I told her I was just checking it wasn’t poisoned. It’s my duty to our Line,” he whined.
“Suggesting Jessia’s foodmightbe poisoned is a surefire way to get your ass beat. You’re lucky she just whacked you with the spoon for that slight.” I sat down heavily, my thoughts still on Avalon. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her, but I wanted her to tell me herself. I wanted her to whisper to me all her hopes and dreams, so I could hold them to my chest, right beside my own.
I shook my head. This feeling was instantaneous, and honestly, kind of intense. I was sure Avalon would feel it too if she just spent a little time with me.
Lucio frowned, sitting beside me. “Brother, what’s going on? You’ve been… off, ever since the conscripts arrived.”
I looked around, but everyone else seemed invested in their own shit. Besides, I trusted every single one of these people with my life.
“Lockbox?” I asked softly, and Lucio raised an eyebrow.
Lockbox was the secret word we used when we wanted to discuss things we didn’t want our parents to know. We’d used it a few times over the years. Like when Lucio had gotten poison ivy rash all over his dick after rolling around in the woods with Leena Orion, back when we were fourteen. Or when he’d snuck down to the cellar and drank his father’s prized whiskey, and we’d had to fill the bottle with tea and hope he never opened it. Or when I’d fought with my brother and knocked him out, and we’d had to convince him that he’d simply tripped and hit his head. Or when I’d asked if he wanted to be my second-in-command and follow me to Boellium, without everyone knowing yet.
Lucio agreed quickly. “Lockbox.”
I sighed, leaning forward and lowering my voice even further. “I met my Soul Tie.”
“Holy fuckingshit!” he shouted, and I rolled my eyes. So much for the lockbox. Several people in the dorm turned to stare, and I gritted my teeth back at them.
“We’ll discuss it later.”
