Nox’s expression turned serious. “Yeah.”
“It understands more than you think, you know. A lot more.”
Nox nodded. “I’m beginning to see that.”
“Do you think it learned, or it’s just always known?”
Nox stared at the ceiling. “No idea.” He rubbed the place over his heart. “I can feel it again.”
“What’s it like?” Luca traced nameless shapes over the place where Nox had touched his pec.
“It’s hard to explain.” He furrowed his brow. “Heavy. But not like a weight. It’s like this force pushing from the inside. And it hums, but with energy, not sound.” He caught Luca’s hand and kissed his palm. “It’s always restless. Except with the Rakta.”
“And now?”
“Calmer. It doesn’t have to hide.” Nox blew out a breath. “Not that it ever really hid, but that’s the best way I know how to explain.” He ran his fingers down the length of Luca’s spine. “I didn’t think I could feel any more normal than I did when I agreed to the injections, but…”
Luca propped his chin on the back of his hand, where it rested on Nox’s chest. “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Absolutely.”
“Let it know it can trust you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Make it understand that you’re not its competitor. You’re its partner.” Luca lifted a shoulder. “Or something like that.”
“As of late, I feel like it’s more interested in a corporate takeover. Even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“Listen to it.”
“It doesn’t talk, Luca.” There was worry in Nox’s tone. “And I’m not sure I want it to.”
“And that’s the problem.”
Nox pushed up on an elbow. “What?”
“You’re just thinking about whatyouwant. You start off with a battle because your wants differ, and instead of accepting that and trying to understand it, you resist.”
Nox flopped back against the pillow. “That’s because it wants violence.”
“I think there’s more.” Now that Luca had let the Anubis hunt him, and now that he’d convinced it to give up control, he was sure of it.
“Trust me. That’s the only thing it knows: rage and violence.” Nox resumed running his fingers up and down Luca’s spine.
“Have you ever wondered why?”
Nox stared.
“Well?” Luca said.
“No.”
“Have you ever asked it?”
“I told you it doesn’t speak.”
“And you can say a lot without words.”