She and I could talk about damn near anything, but one of the few things we tended to avoid sharing stories about was our sexual conquests. I knew we both had casual sex, but I could probably count on one hand the number of times either of us had brought something up as it related to that particular subject matter. Even then, it was usually just when something particularly funny or awkward happened. Beyond that, it had just been something we naturally steered clear of, respecting one another’s privacy. The only thing that I really knew about Arken and her sexual interests was that, like me, she was attracted to both men and women.
I shouldn’t be this curious. It was none of my fucking business.
That didn’t stop me from figuring out this guy’s schedule, identifying his most likely location right about now, and stepping into the Shadows.
I had to give Arken credit, Mason Park was attractive. Even as I watched the Conduit exit his lecture hall from a comfortable distance, I could see what she might’ve seen in him.
Lean, tall, carried himself with a casual sort of confidence, as much of the wealthy elite of Atlas so often did. He was pale, but he wore it well with striking, almond-shaped brown eyes, thick lashes, and thicker brows, understated clothing. The Conduit was laughing, arm in arm with another female, and I couldn’t tell if that pleased me to see, or if it irritated me on Arken’s behalf.
I wasn’t about to follow him all night, but I also didn’t have anything else better to do at the moment, so I continued on with my observations while the pair made their way from the Academic Quarter, passing through the eastern gardens.
The other woman was clearly into him, hanging off of every word. I could only make out a few snippets of the conversation from the distance I kept, but it seemed quite bland to me. It made me wonder how many drinks it took to get Arken interested. She was way too smart for the likes of him, though the blonde on his arm now seemed vapid enough to make an even match.
She had just dropped one of her textbooks, a move so painfully obvious and intentional that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as Park bent down to retrieve it for her. As he leaned forward, the gray-blue scarf he was wearing slipped down to reveal a bloom of pinks and purples just between where his neck met his shoulders, and I felt my blood boil.
I had been irritated when I saw the bite marks on Arken’s neck this morning, but realizing that she’d returned the favor with this prick somehow made things so much worse.
Was it the implication that I was wrong, and that he’d actually fucked her well? The idea that she enjoyed herself enough to leave her own mark on him? The potential of what that might mean, that maybe she had lied to me when she said it was just a one-night stand? Had it been her way of claiming Park as her own?
Not. Your. Concern.
My subconscious mind tried to chide me, but I didn’t give a damn. He didn’t deserve her attention, let alone her mouth on him.
And neither do you.
Yeah. I was well aware of that.
I took off in the opposite direction before I could say or do anything stupid.
I didn’t particularly want to go home, and I didn’t particularly want to go out, and so I took to brooding alone in my office. I was attempting to review missives to distract myself and shake off the bitter mood, but it wasn’t really working. Probably because these investigations continued to frustrate the shit out of me.
IknewI should have stuck around after the Pyrhhan Guard showed up last night. I should have stayed behind, should have tailed the man who was riling up the crowd with such vitriol. Iknewsomething wasn’t right.
Jeremiah and Hans had returned to HQ about an hour ago, confirming the worst. Our best fucking lead on this case had simply vanished, gone without a trace. And of fucking course, none of the Pyrhhans would talk. Even folks weknewhad attended that meeting pretended they didn’t recognize the name. Like they had no idea who we were asking about.
I should have trusted my instincts. I fucked up.Again.
I must’ve been radiating some particularly toxic energy, because even Jeremiah—who was just as frustrated with things as I was—seemed to hesitate after coming around to knock at my door.
“Yeah?”
“Oh. Apologies, Captain. Is this not a good time?”
I sighed.
“You’re fine, Jer. What’s up?”
“Can I ask you something sort of… personal?” my lieutenant inquired, scratching awkwardly at the back of his neck. “Not related to the case.”
“Why do I get the distinct feeling that you’re going to ask me anyway?”
“Because you know me well?” Jeremiah laughed.
“Go on, then,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I stacked the papers in front of me in a neat pile for later.
“Look, please don’t kill me for this, but I have to ask. When you first started bringing Arken along for things, keeping her around… Hans and I just figured it was strategic. Because she’s the Light Conduit and all. We assumed that you wanted to keep tabs on her. Like the commander asked.”
I said nothing, but motioned for him to continue with a slight gesture of my hand.