Page 47 of Guiding Reason
“That’s true,” Orrey said. “Look at me. I brought protectors onto the Grounds, or at least that’s what everyone says. That’s breaking the rules badly. I never apologized.”
Hyran walked around the screen with two plates. He’d taken longer than he strictly needed to get the food, which convinced Col it had been Hyran’s way of accommodating him, really.
“Is that a rule?” Hyran asked as he sat next to Col and held out a plate to him. “Aurean dumplings and one with wild spices. And of course extra sorono hummus and three-color crackers for you.”
“If Col says it’s a rule, it’s a rule. The wild spices ones are really good,” Orrey said.
Col looked at the food and smiled, looked at his family. “Thank you, Orrey.” He sighed, wishing for strength, hating that he had to ruin this gathering. “I didn’t want to tell you—I don’t want to tell you, really. No one should know. We should just leave and—forget that. I have to tell someone.
“We’re fucked. We’re deeply and utterly Hound-fucked. The Ferrean Op-AI is dead, and there’s no way to replace it.”
With the words, something in Col crumbled. He wasn’t sure what exactly, maybe it was because of the medication or because of the attack, because his family had been in danger and because, one way or the other, he had Hyran now, was a Conduit under custody-ship.
Regardless, tears filled his eyes suddenly and washed his vision away. He watched one salty drop fall onto one of the dumplings before the plate was whisked from his fingers at rapid speed and he was crushed against Hyran’s chest, his Guardian’s strong arms sheltering him from the world.
17
HYRAN
He didn’t know what was wrong, just knew that something was, and so he did the first thing that came into his mind. He held Col. Tightly, at first, because he’d heard that helped people calm down sometimes. Then he loosened his grip, because he realized he couldn’t remember where he’d heard that or whether he’d just made it up.
Col wasn’t crying badly. More than anything, the little Conduit seemed exhausted, and he had every right to be. All of them did, each Conduit sitting with them.
Briefly, with all of them gathered here, Hyran imagined this night without him, without the imprinting.Maybe Col would be cuddling up to Taros. Taros would have…they would have spent time together in the other room. He’d not be concussed.Hyran’s heart rate picked up.He would have fallen. If I hadn’t been there when I was, if I hadn’t seen them, the earth would have swallowed my Conduit.
Col sniffled. “I’m fine. I’m being stupid. I don’t know what happened.”
Col’s arms came around Hyran, the fingers curling against his back.
“What does that mean?” Senlas asked.
Taros was giving Hyran a threatening look, Vin glaring seemed to be nothing worse than his default expression, and Yamara was just scared, though he was hiding it, apart from the wide eyes.
Orrey leaned forward, though his Guardian held him firmly with an arm around his middle. “Col, are you okay?”
Right, I should have asked that. Fuck.“Col?” Hyran looked at the head of warm brown hair cradled against his chest.
“I’m fine. Everything is fine, really. Probably the meds. Yes, it has to be the medication. And the concussion. We all are aware that concussions can make people act strange.”
“You do feel like you’re still somewhat messed up,” Vin said.
“That’s such a sweet thing to say, Vinnie. Thank you.”
The black-haired Guardian shrugged. “It could have been brain damage. You don’t have that. Focus on the good. Your brain is bruised and tired, and nothing more.”
Tired. That’s right.“We can go back to the room,” Hyran said. “Do you want to eat there? Maybe lie down instead of watching a screen? I could read you something if you like that.”
Col shook his head. “No, not right now. I mean, we can watch another episode, Vinnie. I know you need this drama.”
“Guardian Hyran isn’t wrong when he says you should rest,” Vin said, utterly surprising Hyran.
“Rest alone, you mean. Or do you think he’d let Col get all that much rest when he…readsto him?” Taros said.
Oh, the panoplian was not giving Hyran a Wild Hunt’s chance. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have bothered Hyran, but with the imprinting, and with it being so fresh, he wanted to both attack Taros and whisk Col away to safety. He could’ve done it too. He had the speed, and technically, with custody-ship, it was his responsibility to decide where Col spent his recovery, where he lived.
Those thoughts are dark. They are sick. They will lead to a once pristine living space drenched in blood. I won’t let that happen, not to him. Not to us.
“Enough of this.” Col released his hold on Hyran, and that hurt more than the panoplian could have. “Hyran, I think I can eat while I explain. Would you hand me the food? Please. I’m really hungry, and I want to try the dumplings you mentioned, the ones you picked out for me.”
