Free The Bonding by Victoria Hansen Page B

puzzled by Davin's cryptic words.
    “It's a long story,” he said as though prevaricating.
    “We have a long day ahead of us,” she reminded him. “If we want to have this amazing future together, don't you think I should know about your family?”
    He smiled. “Well then…Jaya is my adopted sister. We're from the same town, a tiny village far from the capital. We were from two of the most prominent families there. My father was head of law enforcement for the entire district. Jaya's father was mayor. She was the best friend of my younger sister.” He paused, his eyes far away. “When I was eighteen, I came to the capital to enter training for magical law enforcement, which had always been my goal. About a year later, a plague swept through the town. Almost everyone died: Jaya's family, my parents, my sister. Jaya was one a few people who seemed to possess a natural immunity. When I heard about the illness, I went back, but the journey took many weeks, and by the time I arrived, it was too late. Everyone was dead. Everyone except Jaya. Her whole family was gone.” Sorrow flared on his face, still potent despite the years that had passed. “I couldn't leave her there alone. The town was declared cursed. All the buildings were burned and the few survivors scattered. I had a life here in the capital, so I brought Jaya with me. She was about fourteen at the time. I tried to adopt her, but the elders said I was too young to be her parent, so we adopted each other as brother and sister, and I've tried to look out for her ever since. So, legally she is my sister, even though we're not related by blood.”
    Every word seemed to drive like nails into Kiri's heart. Through the bond, she could actually feel his pain. “Oh gods, Davin, that's terrible. I'm so glad you two had each other!”
    “So am I,” he replied, his lips twisting into a parody of a smile. “What about you? Do you have any family?”
    Turnabout is fair play, Kiri.
She sighed. “Well you know about my grandparents. My grandfather died fighting the creatures. My grandmother was pregnant with my mother at the time, but she didn't survive the birth. Mother was raised as an orphan and eventually married my father, a common farmer. I hear he was a kind and friendly person, but he died in a farming accident when I was just a baby, so I never really knew him.”
    “And your mother?” He pressed.
    Damn, I didn't want to talk about her.
“She's still alive, but I haven't talked to her in years. Around the time I was being recruited to the army, a new suitor was sniffing around her, and he wasn't too keen on taking on a dead man's daughter. I think she was glad to see me go. She eventually married that man and they had half a dozen children together. I still saw her occasionally over the years, until the trial. She publicly disowned me over it. I have had no word from her since.” She blurted the words as fast as she could, but they still hurt.
    “Another sad story,” Davin said. “What a pair we are.”
    “Just one of the many ways we fit together,” Kiri replied, searching for a silver lining.
    Careful of Kiri's arm, Davin pulled her close against him, cradling her as though she were fragile. “We can be each other's family.”
    She melted just a little in his soothing embrace. “Can I keep Jaya too?”
    “Of course.”
    Kiri smiled. “I think I would like that. I haven't had friends in a long time, but she seems like someone I could get along with.”
    “She's very likable,” Davin agreed. “You have to get used to her lover though. He's a bit of a curmudgeon.”
    Kiri had run out of things to say. She still felt tired and the sensation of poison streaking through her was painful and disconcerting. While she bore the discomfort stoically, it was taking its toll. She lapsed into silence in Davin's arms, thankful for his soothing presence.
    And soon enough it began. Kiri drank the purgative when it arrived without complaint, and it was as