The Debt of the Unmarked

Silas's breath hitched.

The word still vibrated between us, a fragile and provocative word. I was frozen, and my fingers looped back down to my palm ..maybe it was still there if I just held on tight enough.

"I can see," he added, this time loudly.

Then it vanished.

His shoulders stiffened. His jaw locked. He blinked once - twice, and whatever he just saw vanished like a puff of smoke.

His eyes filled with darkness again.

He reached out and restrained me by the wrist.

"What did you do?" His voice was sharp now, no tremor left. "Do not lie to me."

Pain flared where his fingers dug in, but I didn't pull away.

"I swear, Alpha, I don't understand it either," I said. "When I touched you, something...something opened."

His grip tightened.

"You touched me without permission."

"I was stopping you from falling."

Silence pressed down on us. The hall seemed smaller, the shadows denser. A door banged in the distance. Boots echoed. Life went on, oblivious to the impossible thing that had just occurred.

Silas dropped me so fast I did not even hit the ground, as if he could barely hold me above it, stepping back like I was on fire.

"Leave," he said.

I bowed my head. "Yes, Alpha."

"Not into the servant quarters," he added. "You stay."

My head snapped up.

He turned his back to me, standing rigidly straight and gripping his cane in a white-knuckled hold.

Then it is dangerous, he said to himself, in case what you have done was real. And if it was a trick-"

"It wasn't," I said.

He faced me slowly.

"Then you will prove it," he said. And in case you are lying, I will cut your tongue.

I swallowed. "I understand."

He took one step toward me. Then another.

"Touch me again," he said.

My heart crashed against my ribs.

"Now."

I hesitated only a second. Then I lifted my hand.

My hand touched his garment.

Nothing.

Fear crept up my spine.

"Closer," he said.

I leaned over until my breath landed on his chest. I touched his skin with my palm slowly and carefully.

The bond flared.

Light flooded my mind.

The hall leaped into clear focus, stone walls, flickering torches, and the slight crack in the ceiling above us. In a polished shield in the room I had a glimpse of myself. Pale. Wide-eyed.

And through it all, I felt him.

His tension. His anger. His sorrow--ancient and profound, as a bleeding wound.

Silas sucked in a breath.

Do not move, he said in a low shaken voice.

He put up his hand gradually as though he was in fear that the world would shatter were he to move too swiftly.

"What do you see?" he asked.

On your right there is a torch, I said. "Your cane is near your foot. Your banner in the background is ragged at the corner.

His throat bobbed.

"Guide me."

I moved away but retained my hand on him.

"One step forward," I said. "Now left."

He moved...Perfectly.

One step became more and more certain. His shoulders eased. His breathing slowed.

It was the first time I had seen him look alive since I saw him.

Then I felt it.

A sharp pull in my chest.

The vision flickered.

I gasped and stumbled back. The hall disappeared in my overmind like a blown candle.

Silas froze.

"No," he said. "Bring it back."

"I can't," I whispered. My knees weakened. "It hurts."

He stood there breathing hard, again gazing into the darkness.

As he turned to me his face was again closed. Cold Alpha.

"You will tell no one," he said.

I nodded quickly.

Should the council know of this they will tear you to pieces to make use of what you can do, he added. and should my foes know it (they will kill thee to make me blind for ever).

A chill ran through me.

You will go to my apartments every night, he said. "In secret. You will be my eyes."

My heart skipped.

"And in public?" I asked quietly.

His mouth twisted in a sadistic manner.

"In public, you are nothing."

The following days were lost in some muted form of torture.

By morning I was back to the service.

I cleaned the floors and nobles went past me without even looking at me. I was taking trays and warriors whispered and laughed at my back.

One of them muttered something behind me, "Rejected mate."

I kept my head down.

But at night...

By night I stood by the Blind Alpha and gave him the world.

We ran along secret passages and unhearing rooms. I talked about maps, faces, weapons. He was a good listener, and he would listen keenly and pose questions, correct me where I erred.

One night he said to me: You are nervous.

I stiffened. "I'm not."

You are breathing too quick, he answered. "Slow down."

I did...our hands brushed.

The connection throbbed, regular now as a mutual pulse.

"You don't fear me," he said.

"I should," I replied.

"But you don't."

I didn't answer.

One night, he laughed.

The sound startled both of us.

I froze. He went still.

"What?" I asked.

I did not remember what it was like, he thought.

Something in my chest ached.

Then something out of the ordinary occurred.

An alarm horn broke the air in one of the council meetings.

Silas drew himself rigidly by the table.

"Assassins," someone shouted.

Steel rang. Chaos exploded.

Warriors rushed over me as I was pushed to the floor. Fear clawed at my throat.

Silas stood alone....Blind.

Exposed.

I ran up to him, without considering, and caught him by the arm.

The vision banged into position.

"Behind you!" I shouted.

He spun, sword flashing. Blood sprayed the floor.

"Left!" I cried. "Two more!"

He was like death itself, steered as by my voice, by my eye.

At the end of it all, there were dead bodies. The hall reeked of blood.

Silas turned to me slowly.

Every eye followed....His hand clumped my hand.

And for the first time..

He did not let go.

The room fell silent.

The council stared.

The relationship blazed white and unquestionable.

Silas's jaw clenched.

Too late....They had seen.

And I knew somewhere within myself..

Everything was about to burn.