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weakened as he was, it was patently useless, and he
soon ceased, panting, dazed, lying helplessly
sprawled on his back. Was he not even allowed to
succeed in this?
His wounded arm throbbed under the pressure of
the vine, and Rylis growled in frustration, glaring at
the greenery that held him so perfectly. Now what? It
had stopped him bleeding; to what end?
He lay there, glowering, anger giving him a
modicum of strength. The shock of the vine seemed to
be making him think again, and some corner of his
mind was gibbering in horror at what he had done.
Self-sacrifice had ever been frowned upon, and
Rylis himself had scoffed at those who had done so,
thinking them weak. Obviously he had not
understood their pain or desperation enough. To find
himself in the same position was mortifying, and as
he began to come back to himself, he was shocked at
his own actions. What had been so clear now seemed
wrong.
The barrier hissed, as if in response to his own
thoughts, and he turned his head to look at it,
blinking in astonishment as he saw a figure within its
embrace.
Who& ?
Tamrin stepped from the shifting energies as
gently and calmly as if there were nothing there at all.
Rylis stared, sure now he was hallucinating.
There could be no other reason for what he was
seeing. There had been no sign of a portal, and the
barrier itself would destroy any who touched it.
What then was this?
His breath caught as Tamrin met his eyes across
the short distance. Those golden eyes were far
brighter than he remembered, Tamrin s stance more
proud, his face leaner and more stern. He seemed so
real.
The ever-present pain in Rylis s chest tightened so
that he gasped for air, his free hand reflexively
covering the spot. He watched with increasing
agitation as the illusion approached with slow, sure
strides, that intense gaze never wavering from Rylis.
Rylis took a deep quivering breath, his eyes
tracing that beloved form, longing making him begin
to tremble. If this was a dream, let him never wake.
To be so close, to see him once more&
Then the memories came, of how he had betrayed
this being, of all the ways he was unworthy of even
looking upon him, of how there could never be
forgiveness for his actions.
Immediately he turned his face away, his gaze
dropping to the bloody grass, squeezing his eyes shut
against the beauty before him.
He had no right.
Long claws curled around his cheek, and the
prick of their tips forced him back to face the one he
feared the most. Childishly, he kept his eyes shut
tight, as though somehow that could protect him
from what he most feared.
 Rylis&  The whisper was soft, with that
beautiful accent that characterized Tamrin speaking
Melanian.  Look at me. The tone held strong
command that Rylis had never heard from Tamrin
before.
He opened his eyes in obedience before he could
even consider refusing. Those golden eyes were
powerful, deep, with nothing of the softness that had
allowed Rylis to abuse him.
Rylis shuddered at the strength there, wondering
if Tamrin had come to kill him himself, that there
would be true redemption in his death. He wanted
Tamrin to hurt him, wanted him to return piece by
piece all the torment he had inflicted upon the Eth.
Only then could he be free of what he had done.
Pain for pain.
Tamrin made a noise in his throat, almost a
growl, and took Rylis s face between both clawed
hands.  You are a young fool, Melanian. And I was a
fool to bend to your will, and me so much older than
you. His lips drew back in a snarl as he touched the
vine bound tightly about Rylis s forearm.  And what
was this madness? Did you think to take yourself
from me?
 A life for a life, Rylis whispered.  I drove you
to attempt to take your own life; is it not fair that I do
the same?
Tamrin shook his head, his claws pricking harder
against Rylis s face.  I was ill with fever that night.
The snow was cool, that was all I remember. There
was no intent to die, Rylis. If you had faced me,
spoken to me, you would have discovered this.
Instead you returned me to Teeathun without ever
asking me what I wanted. That was arrogance of its
own, and nothing I will tolerate from this point. You
will not assume what I need, what I want. You will
speak to me always. That has always been your
problem, young one, always unable to understand
those around you, how to communicate with them.
Rylis felt the wash of tears on his face, felt Tamrin
wipe them away with soft sweeps of his fingers.
 How can you forgive me? he almost did not
recognize his own voice, it was so broken.
Tamrin huffed.  How can I forgive myself for
being so foolish? You think I could not have stopped
you? I am stronger than you, Rylis. I could have
halted what was happening. I did not, for I did not
understand love, either. I thought it was giving in,
accepting everything you chose to do. Neither of us
knew what love was, and we squandered it in the
ways of selfish children.
 I am sorry, I am so truly, deeply sorry. I was
cruel and beyond self-serving in what I did. The
words came from the very depths of Rylis s being.
 Yes, you were. The words were stark, Tamrin s
lips pressed into a thin, pale line, his wings held stiff
with tension.  Now it is up to you to prove you are
more than that.
Rylis quivered, uncertain how to respond.  How
may I do that? What do you wish of me?
 First I wish you to give oath you will not
attempt to harm yourself again. The tone was utterly
without compromise.
 I so swear. Rylis dipped his head down, feeling
like he was a child again, uncertain and afraid with it.
 Good. As to what I wish of you, I have little
enough to offer in exchange. Only myself and
immortality at my side.
Rylis s gaze lifted, shocked.  I am dreaming this, I
have to be, he whispered.
Tamrin leaned closer, laid warm lips over Rylis s. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]