looked so confused, so wounded, that Helen?s eyes started leaking
tears, even though she had promised herself the night before that
she would never cry again.
?What is it?? he asked, bewildered and in pain.
?We can?t do this,? she said, shaking her head in a rapid motion.
?What are you talking about?? He tried to get her to look at him
as he reached for her hands. ?Helen, we?re free. There are two other
Houses left to preserve the Truce. We can be together.?
?We can?t do this,? she repeated, balling her hands into fists so he
couldn?t take them.
?Why?? he asked in a strangled voice, sensing that Helen was being
honest with him, but still not understanding why. ?Have your
feelings for me changed so much in one night? Did you stop wanting
me??
?That?s not it,? she said, agonized. ?I wish I didn?t want you.?
?How can you say that?? Lucas asked, relieved to know that at
least Helen still felt the same about him. ?I know you?ve been
through a lot today, and maybe you?re not ready right this second.
That?s fine, we?ll wait as long as you want. . . .? He tried to pull her
into his arms, just to hold her, but she pushed hard against his
chest and turned her face away from his.
?We?re first cousins!? she cried out hopelessly, her shoulders beginning
to jump up and down with uncontrollable sobs. ?Jerry
wasn?t my father, Lucas. Ajax was.?
Luke?s whole body went still with fear and in the silence that followed,
all Helen could hear was the sound of the rain on the glass
roof.
?That?s not possible,? he whispered, even though he could hear
that she wasn?t lying. He shook his head. ?No. We saw the Furies
when we met. We can?t be related.?