Dark Empathy Archibald Bradford (best books to read in your 20s TXT) 📖

what is a Flutterby doing taking my course? Shouldn’t you be off having a tea party or organizing a luncheon or something?”

This time it was Ophelia’s turn to titter into her hand.

“We aren’t all like that! I have spent the last twenty five years working either in the slums of Algrade or with orphaned children in Kettering. And while I won’t say no to a nice cup of tea, I have no problem getting my hands dirty.”

“Fair enough. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind taking the time away from trying to teach those meat-headed cadets how to work a bandage, but I was surprised when you asked me for this.”

The Flutterby’s expression turned pensive.

“In recent months, my bond-mate and one of my bond-sisters both came very close to dying. And while I cannot throw a punch or swing a weapon, I refuse to be helpless any longer. If you will allow me, I will continue to learn, so that the next time somebody I loves decides to pick a fight with a Chimera I can do more than simply stand by and wring my hands!”

“Whoa, easy now. Point taken. Maybe you should sign up for Advanced Triage, you’d have to take it alongside that chatty Ginger kid though.”

Ophelia sighed as her eyes grew distant, finally she nodded.

“I probably will, I’ll discuss it with my bond-mate later today.”

“The little guy right? The one with... shall we say, special qualities?”

“He is quite well-endowed yes.”

Brooke’s eyes boggled before she burst into laughter at the indelicate statement.

“Not that! His other special quality.”

“I’m certain I don’t know what you mean.” Ophelia said tartly.

The instructor chuckled some more.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not going to run my mouth. His secret is out though. If it’s any consolation the ones who are in the know are smart enough to keep it private, as much as they can anyways.”

Ophelia sighed pensively as she nodded.

“And I appreciate that. My love has suffered enough.”

The medic scratched her jaw as she looked the Flutterby up and down.

“You’re a lot more steel wool than sugar and spice aren’t ya?”

“How flattering.”

“It was meant to be.”

Ophelia spent a few more minutes asking a few specific questions regarding first aid, but then a wave of anxiety overtook her from her bond-mate and seeing her disctracted Brooke sent her on her way.

Later that day, after they had completed their various training, they were all back in their room. Soon Milly was milked by her guilty bond-mate, after which Nameless informed them of his disastrous encounter with Escrya.

With his empathic abilities, he understood perhaps better than anyone that you couldn’t realistically keep secrets from monster girls that were bonded to you.

Once they had all of the information there were numerous shared looks as they processed it.

Eventually someone spoke up.

“She loves you.” Volka commented.

He shifted uncomfortably, well aware of how all of the Amazons felt about him.

“Yeah, and I’m fond of her too, she has always-”

Before he could finish though, she shook her head.

“Not like the others. They cherish you for finding me, and it makes my heart soar that you are so valued by them. But Escrya loves you. She was intrigued with you before you found me, as teller for her people yours is a compelling story after all, but when you returned to her village with my shield...” She trailed off, her meaning clear.

He looked to see the other girls regarding him and he didn’t know what to say. He knew she was right of course, how could he not with what had happened earlier? But knowing she was right and knowing what to do about it were two very different things.

Volka sighed when she realized a response wasn’t forthcoming, but it was Ophelia’s turn to speak.

“Dearheart, do you remember what her mother said in their village? What Alcaia said?”

Sitting on the edge of their bed, her wings fluttered behind her slightly as she crossed her legs.

He struggled for a moment, but the whole trip into the wilds seemed like it was decades ago, so much had happened since.

Seeing him drawing a blank she opted to refresh his memory.

“She advised that it might be a good idea to bond with an Amazon. To keep the others at bay, I think was how she put it. Though there was certainly more to it than that!”

He nodded slowly as the memory resurfaced.

“Yeah, I remember, we talked about it when we were considering bonding with Kar.”

His Flutterby tilted her head slightly before continuing.

“Alcaia wanted to forge a connection between you and the Amazons, a way to link you to them forever. Technically, Escrya and the other Saenga girls that came with us all offered you their heartstones. Well, except Myrina, but I think that is because she still feels somewhat guilty for insulting you in the wilds.”

“Okay, but that’s-”

“And you never responded to any of them, did you?” Erica said slowly as realization struck.

A red flush crept up his cheeks as he thought about it, and his mouth worked trying to find words to defend himself.

“Dumbass.” Nina snorted.

The Gigas was lying in bed, her arms behind her head and eyes hooded as she followed the conversation.

Ophelia got up and moved in front of him, a hand resting on either of his shoulders as he looked into her non-judgmental eyes.

“I think it’s alright, at least for most of them. Like Volka says, they love and cherish you, and want you to be safe and happy.” She frowned and slowly shook her head; “But none of them feel for you what Escrya does. As strong as she might comport herself, she’s still a girl waiting for a boy to respond to her feelings, one way or another.”

“And you