At this, she actually smiled a little. "Two peas in a pod are we, indeed. "
They were quiet for a time. Until he said abruptly, "I'm still in love with my shellan. "
"Why wouldn't you be. She was lovely. "
He felt himself smile for the first time in. . . so long. "It wasn't just her looks. It was everything about her. "
"I could tell by the way you stared at her. You were enthralled. "
He picked up one of the quills and checked out the fine, sharp cut of its tip. "God. . . I was nervous that night we were mated. I wanted her so badly - and I couldn't believe she was going to be mine. "
"Was it arranged?"
"Yeah, by my mahmen. My father didn't care about that kind of thing - or for me, for that matter. But my mother took care of things the best she could - and she was smart. She knew if I got a good female, I'd be set for life. Or at least. . . that was the plan. "
"Is your mahmen alive?"
"No, and I'm glad she isn't. She wouldn't have. . . liked any of this. "
"And your father?"
"He's dead, too. He disowned me until he got close to the grave. About six months before he died, he called me to him - and I wouldn't have gone but for Wellsie. She made me, and she was right. He formally reclaimed me on his deathbed. I'm not sure why it was so important to him, but there you go. "
"What about Darius? I have not seen him
around - "
"He was killed by the enemy. Just before Wellsie was. " As she gasped and put her hand to her mouth, he nodded. "It's been hell, really. "
"You are all alone," she said in a small voice.
"I have my brothers. "
"Do you let them in. "
With a short laugh, he shook his head. "You are hell's bells with the rhetoricals, you know that?"
"I am sorry, I - "
"No, don't apologize. " He put the quill back in its holder. "I like talking to you. "
As he heard the surprise in his own voice, he laughed harshly. "Man, I'm just making all kinds of charm points with you tonight, aren't I. " Slapping his thighs to end their conversation, he got to his feet with the help of the crutch. "Listen, I also came here to do a little research. Do you know where the library is? Damned if I can find it. "
"Yes, of course. " As she stood, she swept that hood up over her head again. "I shall take you there. "
While she went past him, he frowned. "You're limping worse than usual. Did you get hurt?"
"No. When I move around too much, it aches. "
"We could take care of that down below - Manello is - "
"Thank you, but no. "
Tohr threw out a hand and stopped her before she went out the door. "The hood. Leave it down, please. " When she didn't respond, he said, "There's no one here but us. You're safe. "
Chapter Fourteen
As John Matthew stood on the shores of the Hudson River about fifteen minutes north of downtown Caldwell, he felt like he was a thousand miles away from everyone.