“You seem a bit distracted, Cap. Got somewhere to be?”
The man knew me well enough to swallow his smirk, but I knew him well enough to see it swallowed, so I snorted. “Apologies, Jer. And no, I don’t, but I am expecting company soon.”
“Company?” Jeremiah inquired, giving me a knowing look. “Here? Really, Kieran?”
I tried but failed to hold back a smirk as a familiar weary expression took over my lieutenant’s face, the one he and Hans both wore whenever they grew tired of my bullshit.
“Never mind,” he said, shaking his head. “Of course you are, you fucking delinquent.”
“So…Can we resume this debrief in an hour?” I asked, my tone onlyslightlyapologetic.
“An hourat most,Captain. You have me leaving for Amaranthe at six.”
Ah, right. I did give him that assignment, didn’t I?
“Yeah, yeah,” I nodded. “I’ll meet you in your office, and I’ll try to be prompt. And tell Kraiggson I said thanks, by the way.”
My lieutenant cocked his head, frowning at the quip. “Thanks for what, exactly?”
“For being a good boy and running an errand for me earlier,” I snickered. “He’s awfully eager to please, though I suppose you would know better than I, in that regard.”
The tips of Jer’s ears burned violently red, the same color creeping up his neck as he scoffed and turned away, attempting to shroud his embarrassment as he made his way toward the door.
“Shut up, and tell him yourself, you insufferable prick. It would probably make his damn day,” he muttered beneath his breath.
“That’sCaptainInsufferable Prick to you, Fairchilde,” I replied breezily. “And hey. I’m happy for you. Really, Jer.”
The small smile that crept up his face told me that all was forgiven.
At long last, my lieutenant had taken a lover, and I truly was happy for him, even if I had royally pissed him off to see that plan finally come to fruition.
Because above Jeremiah’s head, behind his back, and largely against his stubborn will, I had, indeed, taken Kraiggson off the scouting unit, having him re-assigned to standard daily city defense. My third in command had pretended to be affronted for well over a month, too stubborn to even take advantage of the newfound opportunity. He had finally exploded on me after I’d given him a teasing prod a few weeks back, slamming his fist against my desk.
“I told you, I didn’t want to interfere with his career, Kieran!”he yelled, frustrated enough that the slightest of embers fizzled around his knuckles.
“You didn’t,” I replied simply. “I did.”
When I’d told Jeremiah that Kraiggson was a shit scout, I hadn’t been lying. The fact that the kid simply wasn’t cut out for reconnaissance was a convenient excuse, yes—but an accurate one. I probably would have had to move him eventually, even if there hadn’t been a questionable amount of yearning going on between the freshling and his superior officer. Besides, it would be easier for Jer this way—not just because the altered powerdynamic would make the relationship more appropriate, but because the station Grant was placed at now was much, much safer than ours. Jeremiah had lost enough in this world to last a lifetime.
I, for one, still found the kid rather irritating and overly enthusiastic. I didn’t quite get whatever it was that my more reserved partner in arms saw in Grant, but hey. I was in no position to judge anyone’s romantic decisions. I just hoped he was happy. He looked happy.
“Thank you, sir,” Jeremiah said, his voice subdued but sincere as he quietly took his leave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ARKEN
With two croissant sandwiches and spiced cider in tow, I took my first cautious steps into Elder Guard headquarters.
Though I had been here before on several occasions, I had never been without Kieran’s escort—and we’d taken the front entrances so rarely that I felt woefully out of place, intimidated by all the men and women in uniform, guards of various ranks milling about with pride and purpose.
Fates, the main entry hall was massive. More often than not, I’d met Kieran on the fields, or he’d sneak me into one of the many spare training rooms in the back buildings. This appeared to be where more official business took place, with several stories worth of offices, archives, and meeting rooms made visible by a series of dark wood indoor balconies.
As I searched for some kind of directory, I couldn’t help but notice the way some of the guards stared. Some with raised brows, others with bemused curiosity, or in a few cases, outright contempt.
You probably should have asked for more specific directions to his office.
“You’re lookin’ a little lost there, Miss,” a younger-looking recruit said as he passed by and then paused. “Can I help you with somethin’?”