I groaned.
Thatwas the reaction I was expecting. Walking over to the door, I pulled it open. Thank the gods, a servant was walking by. Sending the empty tray with them, I ordered some coffee.
There were still several hours to go before the sun rose, and I was already exhausted.
* * *
By the timethe servant returned with two steaming mugs, Luna was sitting up. I handed her one, and she wrapped her hands around it, thanking me.
Nodding, I sipped the hot liquid. The coffee ran through my body, warming me in a way that little else did anymore.
Luna eyed me carefully. “I thought you didn’t eat anything,” she remarked.
“We don’t.” I shook my head, leaning against the wall. “But coffee isn’t eating. Not to mention, it’s delicious.”
She eyed her cup, clearly unsure of the dark contents. “I’ve never heard of this beverage. Julieta brought some for me earlier, but…”
The Tether had kicked in.
Not wanting to bring that up again, I said, “Coffee is a gift from Isvana. There are priestesses in one of the northern provinces whose entire life work is dedicated to growing coffee plants.” The caffeinated drink did nothing to appease my growing hunger, but it was delectable. “It’s one of the few delicacies we have in Eleyta that belongs solely to the north. Try it.”
Keeping her eyes on me, Luna raised the cup to her lips, sipping carefully. Her eyes widened as the first drop hit her lips. Soon, she took large gulps.
“This is incredible,” she said in wonder.
“I’m glad you like it.”
I could safely say that coffee was one of my favorite parts of life.
We drank in silence for a few minutes before I asked, “What were you thinking about earlier?”
I didn’t even know why I cared. I’d spent years minding my own business, barely entertaining stories about the lives of others. Caring about others was dangerous. Feelings could impede my errands. Athena had died because I didn’t learn that lesson fast enough.
Even as the question left my lips, I knew I should not have been doing this. I should not have been letting this human worm her way into my heart. She shouldn’t have been able to affect me like this.
But she did.
“I was thinking about the Tethering.” Putting down her cup, Luna clasped her hands in her lap. “You said that when you were Made, you read about the Tether?”
“In the libraries.” I nodded. “There were brief references to the Tether, yes.”
All the books I read blended together after a while.
“Libraries?” she said excitedly, practically vibrating with excitement. “There are libraries here?”
I smiled. “There are.”
“I’d like to read those books.” A spark entered her eye, and I was fascinated once more.
I tilted my head. “Why?”
“I think… it would be helpful. Since the Tethering was done to us, then logic states that it could be undone as well.”
Undone.
Why didn’t I think of that?
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’ve never heard of anyone Untethering themselves before.”