Chapter 9 Tiana #2
The glow that flared from my palm startled me so badly I nearly fell over. I’d seen my father use the Light, of course, but now it was flowing out of me. Without thinking, I moved my hand over his leg and watched the glow brighten and the wounds mend. Both of us passed out after that.
My dad found us sleeping in the field.”
“That’s incredible,” Keelan said.
“Ollie’s leg was my first Healing.”
Keelan raised his glass. “To the finest paw-Healer in the land.”
I giggled and sipped my wine, eyeing him over the rim of my glass. Keelan was getting more handsome with every sip.
“Did you grow up around animals?” he asked.
I nodded. “We had a couple horses, some chickens and pigs, even a few ducks who took over a little pond at the edge of our property. When my dad died, I couldn’t take care of them all. My old mare is the only one I have left. In a weird way, she’s like having something of him still with me.”
My eyes drifted, then returned to Keelan.
“Enough about me. All I know of you is what’s on your uniform and what was said at the banquet. No more squirming out of it. You’ve got to tell me something.”
Keelan shrugged. “There’s not much to tell. I grew up here, went into the Guard as soon as they’d let me. The rest is in the papers.”
I waited for him to continue, but he sat quietly, his gaze stern but not unkind.
“You’re going to make me pry you open, aren’t you?”
Keelan’s cheeks flushed. “Sorry. Guess I’m not used to being on the other end of the questions.”
I grinned. “Okay, the hard way, then. You have a brother?”
“Declan. He’s a cadet at the Ranger Academy out west.”
“Are you two close?”
Keelan’s eyes fell again. “We were.”
When he didn’t explain, I softened my tone and leaned forward. “Tell me about him. Let me know something about you. Something the papers don’t know.”
Keelan eyed me a moment, then blew out a breath as though I’d suggested extracting teeth. “He’s my little brother—well, younger. He’s as tall as I am now, just not as thick. We lost our parents when we were little. That’s when the Mages took us in. I think he’d just turned three.”
“The Mages?”
He nodded.
“Is that normal? I mean, for the Mages to take in a pair of children?”
He shrugged. “I really didn’t know what normal was back then. Life seemed so upside down.”
“Keelan, I’m sorry. That must’ve been so hard.”
“I guess so.” He stared into the back of his hand. “Neither of us remember our parents at all. I get flashes now and then, like a dream, of my mother’s face, but that’s it. In a weird way, that made it easier, I guess.
“I can see it all so clearly, that first day we sat in Atikus’s office, when they were figuring out what to do with us. Atikus Danai was the Mage who raised us. He’s as close to a father as I’ve ever known.”
He sipped his wine and studied the far wall as he spoke, his voice a quiet rumble.
“He was so scared—Declan, I mean. I lost track of the nights he cried himself to sleep. I held him until he finally went to sleep and fought to keep my own tears from falling. He needed me to be strong, to protect him.”
I reached over and squeezed Keelan’s hand, turning his eyes back to mine.
“It didn’t take long for the Mages to become our family, adopted brothers, fathers, and uncles. Dec was the puffy-haired demon who made them all laugh. I can still hear his giggle bouncing off the stone hallways.”
His lips curled at the memory.
“He always seemed so happy.”
I sat back. “Seemed?”
He released another sigh. “We grew up in the heart of the magical world, surrounded by men who lived for the Phoenix and everything she represents. Every child in the school on the grounds was one of Melucia’s most Gifted, each from a long line of powerful magic.
The Mages said over and over how they were our brightest hope for the future.”
When Keelan hesitated, I asked, “What about Declan?”
“Declan never manifested, and every year that passed without a Gift tore at him. He wouldn’t talk about it, but I could see it.”
“How old is he now?”
“Nineteen.”
If it hasn’t come to him by now, it likely never will, I thought.
“And still no magic? Keelan, I’m sorry.”
“I haven’t talked about those years—or Declan—in . . . I don’t even know how long.” A moment passed in silence, then Keelan said, “Sorry, didn’t mean to—”
“Stop that. I like hearing about your family. Thank you for sharing.” I gripped his hand again. “All right, Lieutenant, I need to clean this place up and get home. Tomorrow comes way too early.”
Keelan brightened and packed up the empty bottle, bowl, and glasses. I followed him to the door, and when he turned to say good night, I reached up and placed a hand on his chest.
“Thank you for a wonderful time. I really do look forward to our next . . . date.” I grinned.
I could see the hesitation written out on his face: the crease of his brow, the purse of his lips, the faint flush spreading over his cheeks. When it seemed like nerves might have gotten the best of him, I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Good night, Lieutenant.”
The door closed behind him, and I slumped against it and smiled, thinking of strawberries and wine—and crystal blue eyes. How had he known I loved strawberries? I could still taste their sweet juices clinging to my lips.
Even better, it felt like I’d finally glimpsed the real Keelan for the first time.