But if he performed the ritual and linked her longevity to his, it would weaken him. Then if he died in battle, she probably would too.
“I’m going mad,” he said quietly. “What should I do? If I give her my magic—”
“You’ll be weak.”
“But she would live.”
“And if you died?” Ginny asked. “What then? If your lives are linked and you died in a fight, she’d likely die anyway. You know that, Leo. The sacrifice isn’t worth it.”
“Her life is worth everything to me.”
Ginny sighed and rubbed both hands over her eyes. “Her life will always be tied to yours unless she has her own magic.”
“I know. But I can’t teach her, and Ava’s not here. I think if I could get her back to Istanbul—”
“I’m sorry I yelled at you the other night.”
Leo spoke cautiously. “Ginny, I have no intention of asking you for any favors. That’s not why Alyah called you.”
“I know.” Ginny nodded. “But you love her. She’s your reshon. You have every right to ask questions.”
“But not every right to cause pain,” Leo said. “I am sorry for that.”
Ginny nodded, looking across the yard at the scribes unloading the tourist van.
“It was a long time ago,” she said quietly. “I need to get over it.”
“Scars remain, even after a wound heals. I can show you a few of my own, if you like.”
“Why would I want to see that?” She smiled. “Everyone has their own stories. Their own wounds. Mine don’t make me special.”
“No, you’re special for many more reasons than your scars, Ginny.”
She grabbed his chin. “You have to stop being so sweet. Otherwise I’ll be tempted to get rid of your girl and keep you for myself.”
“You’re not going to do that.” He smiled. “Your heart is too good.”
“You’re killing me,” she groaned. “Okay, let’s go find Kyra.”
Leo halted. “Why?”
“I can’t fight with you in this one,” she said, rising from the porch. “But I can give you an edge that will make you more focused. If you’re not worried about Kyra, you’ll be able to focus on fighting this Fallen. And I guarantee my crazy energy will be enough to keep her going for a good long while.”
Leo’s heart pounded. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Besides, it’ll give me an outlet. It’s been a dry spell for me, and the energy I have built up is starting to get to me. I need to expend some big magic, and I’m more than happy to give it to your girl.”
Leo grabbed her hand and rose. “Ginny, thank you.”
“Thank me later,” she said. “If she’s anything like me, she’ll be revved up afterward, so I’m guessing you’ll want privacy.”
Leo felt his face heat. “Are you talking about—?”
“Yep.” Ginny waved a hand. “Come on. I don’t have all day.”
Leo walked toward the bungalow where Kyra was helping with the women. “Niran wants to leave tonight.”
“I’ll tell him you need to wait until morning. You’ll want to stay with her and give her privacy until the first wave passes.”
“Wave?”
“Energy, man.” Ginny smiled. “This is as close to high or drunk that Kyra will probably get until you guys do your mating ritual. Nothing beats that, but this spell comes pretty close.” Ginny stopped and put a hand on his chest. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Mr. Wholesome?”
His face must have been flaming, but he nodded.
“Good. Now let’s find your girl, because you’re not going to want to be in mixed company after we do this.”
He swallowed hard. “She’s in the bungalow with the women and children.”
“Go get her and bring her to wherever you two are staying. I’ll wait. You two need to discuss a few things before we start. No euphemisms. Don’t be shy. Set clear boundaries for both of you. That’s all the advice I’ll give you. Other than that, have fun.”
Kyra narrowed her eyes. “So, this magic she’s going to perform…?”
“It will bolster your life energy with a huge punch of Ginny’s magic. But the side effect of that will be… Well, I’m sure it’s linked to life and the continuation of life and… the mating cycle and—”
“Oh!” Her eyes went wide. “You mean…”
“Sex,” he blurted out. “You’ll want to have sex. A lot.”
“I see.”
He nodded. “But you’ll be in a somewhat… altered state. So before we… According to Ginny, the excitement and enthusiasm can be overwhelming. Your inhibitions will be lowered, so I need to know—”
“My inhibitions will be lowered?” Kyra’s eyes lit up. “You mean I won’t be so nervous?”
Leo frowned. “Why are you nervous? Am I pressuring you? Am I—?
“It’s not you. Like I said, it’s just the unknown. I start thinking about what will happen when we finally… consummate our relationship.” Her cheeks turned red. “And I want to. But then I worry I’ll do something wrong. Or that something will go wrong and you’ll be disappointed.”
“I would never be disappointed in you,” Leo said. “Not ever, Kyra. I’m as unfamiliar with this as you are. We can learn together.”
“But this magic will make me less nervous,” she whispered. “It sounds like the perfect time to… experiment. Experiment more, I mean.”
Leo’s heart took off at a gallop. “I’m very willing to try that. But I want you to be sure.”
“Am I going to be myself still? I’m going to remember everything, won’t I?”
“Yes. According to Ginny, you’ll just have much more energy. You might be light-headed, but—”
“Then I want to have sex afterward.” Kyra nodded firmly. “This sounds like the perfect opportunity. I won’t be nervous. And you’re never nervous about anything.”
Leo wasn’t sure that was true. Just the thought of finally being with Kyra was enough to make him feel like a foolish and uncontrolled schoolboy. He’d barely become accustomed to seeing her skin bare. But he wasn’t going to deny her either. She was correct. Most of their hesitance had to do with her nerves. If this ritual would diminish her anxiety, it was the perfect time.
“Okay,” he said.
“Okay.” She smiled. “Now you look like the nervous one.”
“You have no idea.”
Ginny sat across from Kyra, both resting cross-legged in the lotus position. Leo watched them from the side, surprised when a low, droning song came from Ginny’s throat. Her song sounded like the wind through trees. Her palm thumped on the wooden floor in a steady rhythm as her power began to fill the air. It was unlike any singing Leo had heard, completely unlike Irina singing he’d heard from Sari and Ava.
Of course.
Though the Old Language was the same, Ginny was American, not European. The Irina of North America had been singing long before any European influence came to their shores. Even though Ginny had European blood, her teachers would likely have been indigenous North American Irina.
The song rose and fell in rhythm. He could see Kyra’s face glowing with Ginny’s power, but the song droned on, filling Leo’s chest with an intense longing. Something in his heart listened and understood what his mind did not.
This is how it will be.
Her song will give you life.
Her voice will lift you from darkness.
Find her voice.
Leo was a scribe of tradition and duty, but his mandate was no longer to obey his watcher first. His mission was to help his mate find her voice. She was a daughter of heaven, redolent with power. One day he would hear her sing as Ginny did. As Alyah did. As Sari did. In her own voice—in the voice heaven had given her—Kyra’s song would rise, and Leo would hear it.
“Vash shanda vet.
Vash vet Urielda. Vash vet Rafaelta.
Kulme shanda vet e livah.
Kulme vet. Oh Kulva vet.
Oh vet Urielda vashama.”
Leo felt tears roll down his cheeks, his heart pounding with the beauty and power of Ginny’s song. She called on Uriel, who gave the gift of life to all Irin sons and daughters. She called on Rafael’s healing.
Ginny was Rafaene. Like his mother.
That was why her life-giving songs were so potent. She was a healer of Rafael’s line. It was probably also why she didn’t want to work within the scribe house power structure. Healers had a tendency to be the independent sort. Even among scribes, they were given special dispensation from combat for long periods of time.
Ginny was a healer, and she was healing Kyra before his eyes.
Kyra’s face was luminous. Her eyes were closed, and he could see her pale skin glow with a golden light, as if Ginny’s power was radiating from the sun. It wasn’t unheard of. Leo had heard that Rafael’s line thrived in sunlight and avoided areas of the world with long periods of darkness.
He didn’t know how long she sang, only that as time passed, he could feel the power leaving Ginny—the manic energy she so often radiated—and feel it enter Kyra. He felt Kyra’s energy reaching out toward his like gold threads that entangled him. He didn’t realize he’d moved closer to her until their knees were touching. He stared at her. Her eyes were closed. Her face was lifted.