The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(74)

“Barak cared for her?”

“In his way.” Vasu shrugged. “As much as he cared for anything.”

“She’s not a thing.”

“She was to him.” Vasu looked at Leo. “He was not human, scribe. Don’t try to explain his reasoning as if he was.”

“You’re not human either.”

Vasu cocked his head. “They accused me of it sometimes.”

“Of being human? Who?” Leo had a hard time imagining anything less human than Vasu.

“Barak and Jaron. They didn’t understand why I wanted to stay.”

“Why did you?”

Vasu rolled his eyes. “Heaven is boring. We are created to serve Him. I don’t want to serve.”

“I don’t think you’re a very good angel, are you?”

“No, I’m a terrible angel.” He leaned over Kyra. “I wouldn’t find them so interesting if I were a good angel.”

“Angels love women.”

“Angels don’t love anything,” Vasu said. “Or hate anything. At least good angels don’t. We have no commitments. No attachments.” He turned his eyes toward Leo. “We hold nothing dear because nothing is worth more than serving the one who made us.”

“The Fallen don’t think so. They’re greedy for power.”

“Yes.” Vasu grinned. “But then we were all Fallen. Your precious Forgiven fathers too. They were only rewarded because they abandoned their children. That is your inheritance, scribe. You have your power, your knowledge, because your fathers valued you so little.”

“If they valued me that little, I prefer to have the knowledge.”

“Ha!” Vasu grinned. “You are wiser than you appear.”

His eyes turned back to Kyra. “Do not mistake my optimism for na?veté.”

“She does.”

“I know.” Leo knew Kyra thought he was ignorant of the realities of their world. He wasn’t. He knew they had a hard road ahead of them. He simply chose to view it with optimism instead of resignation. “It takes far more courage to hope than it does to despair.”

“And that is why I could not return,” Vasu murmured. “Humans. Irin. Kareshta. Grigori. You are all so very…”

“Curious?”

“Odd,” Vasu said. “You’re odd. But the best of you are unexpected. And that is what keeps me from returning.”

“I’m glad we can entertain you.”

“Good.” Vasu stretched out next to Kyra and played with a piece of her hair.

Leo had the urge to shove the Fallen off the bed, but he wasn’t hurting Kyra. The affection he was showing her almost seemed… brotherly. Fond.

“I like her,” Vasu said.

“I love her.”

“That’s very nice, but do you like her too?” Vasu’s tone was curious, not confrontational.

Talking with Vasu was like conversing with an alien. “Is liking more important than love?”

“I don’t know. Is it?”

Leo watched Vasu playing with Kyra’s hair. There was something intensely childlike about the angel.

“I like to talk with her and spend time with her,” Leo said. “She’s funny and tells good stories. She’s loyal to those she cares about and guards those who are weak. She understands sacrifice and strength. Maybe better than anyone I’ve ever met. So yes, I like her and I love her.”

“She’s not going to die, you know.”

“I know. Ginny gave her power and as soon as we’re able, I will perform the mating—”

“I kissed her,” Vasu said.

Leo pushed back the flare of anger. “What?”

“In her dream. She probably doesn’t remember it. I kissed her though. She’ll be fine. I gave her some of my power.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” Vasu said. “She’s Barak’s blood.”

And that, Leo began to understand, was a little like Barak himself. Vasu, the mighty Fallen, was lonely for his old friends. Their children were as close as he could get to having them in his realm of existence.

“Vasu,” Leo asked carefully, “what do you want?”

“I told you I like her.”

Leo didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, he was relieved. Kyra would be strong and healthy for years with an infusion of angelic power. It was how she’d survived so long without magic. On the other hand, he didn’t believe that Vasu wanted nothing from her. The Fallen weren’t altruistic. Of course, it was possible to manipulate them too.

“If you really care for Kyra, then you should give her brother some power.”

“Which one?” Vasu twisted Kyra’s hair around his finger. “She has many brothers.”

“Her twin. Kostas. If he was hurt, she would feel it.”

Vasu’s eyes narrowed on Leo. “Would you give him power?”

“If I could. But my magic doesn’t work that way.”

“Rules, rules, rules,” Vasu muttered. “That is another reason. Too many rules.”

“What about rules?”

“Nothing.” Vasu sat up. “So you want me to give her twin brother some more life?”