"It's not that. It's that you think that saying it would flip some kind of switch inside me and make me feel things that…that take time."
"Oh God." Lyght rolled his eyes. "I don't have bloody time."
Lesedi bunched his huge shoulders. "You said yourself I had to be in love, and I'm taking it she has to as well."
Lyght pointed at him emphatically. "She's in love with you already."
Lesedi stilled. "How do you… She is?" An expression of awe crossed his handsome face and he tried to hide it with a quick frown.
"Yes." Lyght smiled at his expression, nodding. "You like that."
"I'm…truly…"
"Honored? Pleased?"
"Confused. I mean she barely knows me." He went to examining the floor between his feet. "How could she—"
"She knows what she needs. And she knows you saved her life. You're kind and gentle, an amazing kisser, yada yada, all the qualities important to her. What more does she need to know?"
"She thinks all that?"
Lyght's smile broadened. "Yes, and if I hadn't stopped you," Lyght elbowed him and finished with a whisper, "she would have bonded her soul to yours right there in the bathroom."
Lesedi appeared slightly dumbfounded. Only slightly.
"Ah, yes, you knew this, you knew she would be yours."
He regarded Lyght with those coal black eyes, then nodded. "It was…an instinct. Or something." At least he didn't attempt to deny his responsibility.
"She was ready. To give you everything. But you weren't quite there yet, and I can't let you screw this up."
"Well, I hate to belabor the obvious, but falling in love takes more than just a command from a scary diamond angel." His slight frown had deepened into a definite scowl.
"Bullocks! I'm bloody beautiful, not scary. Fantastically and wondrously amazing perhaps. But scary? Absolutely not."
"I do not love her."
Lyght stood and paced with agitation. "How bloody long do you need?"
"I do not know, and I cannot guarantee."
"But you're willing to try?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Of course you bloody have a choice. Humans possess free will. Yes. You have a choice."
"I do?"
Lyght wanted to slap him. "Are you a child? Don't make me repeat it. It's bad enough I can't force you."
Lesedi had the audacity to chuckle.
"Let me clarify. I can't use force where your will is concerned." Lyght raised one brow. "But I can bloody well punish sinners."
Understanding registered immediately in Lesedi's suddenly guilty eyes. "That is manipulation. Coercion."
"And black mail. And intimidation. Strong arming. Bullying. Call it whatever you like." Lyght smiled joyously. "That's the way it is. Read it and weep. Only don't ever weep in front of me."
A span of silence preceded Lesedi's booming laughter. But what began rather normally slowly evolved into something nearing hysteria.
Lyght looked at the door and shushed him with a finger to his lips as the hand jive manual had instructed.
"Oh God, I cannot believe this is happening." The man jerked his hand up. "Rhetorically speaking, I mean." As though he didn't want any more proof carved into him.
Lyght leaned on the bed post when the man finally sobered.
"Tell me then," Lesedi said, solemnly. "Tell me exactly how crazy and deep this shit is that I seem to have stepped in."
Lyght chuckled and clapped him on the back, relieved, at least, for his cooperation. "My brother, the shit is very deep and very crazy indeed, I'm afraid. And quite frightening, to boot."
Chapter Six
All the while Lyght dealt with his stubborn human, he'd needed all his ability to focus on the task at hand and not Kassie in the next room. Her fears screamed in his spirit and the urge to crush them all had thoroughly saturated his being. And of course, now that he was available to tend to her, she had escaped into the bathroom.
Lyght sat on the couch next to the boy swathed in quilts against the slight chill. The lad was frighteningly thin, malnourished and weak, unable to maintain normal body heat. The quilts could make the difference between a speedy recovery and prolonged illness. Miya's reasoning for the protection pleased Lyght, confirming her nurturing instincts.
He'd placed a spirit barrier around the child, ensuring he slept like a newborn baby while Lyght saw to his…soon to be wife. The temptation to slip into the bathroom in spirit form quickly became the leading nominee for Battle of the Millennium. He had so many questions. He found he didn't do well with waiting. At least not in this specific situation. Ironic, since he'd existed for countless centuries. Even more so, given the enduring qualities of his gem.