Guides had a slight defense, an ability to repel an esper with a short burst of energy, but it was intended as a way to shock an esper back into their right mind should they lose control.I’d never before heard of one that could actuallyharman esper.It seemed impossible, and if it hadn’t been so well documented throughout her lifetime, I wouldn’t have believed it at all.I’d have chalked it up to an old wives’ tale, to something meant to scare espers into behaving and keeping our grubby little hands to ourselves.
But too many instances of it existed for me not to believe.
Which meant I needed to ensure we watched ourselves around our little guide—it seemed she bit.
“You know, you’re not very observant for an esper.”
I frowned at the voice that seemed too real.My mind was pretty fucking amazing, wasn’t it?
Then, the very face of the woman I’d assumed I’d conjured up appeared above me, causing me to lose that precarious balance and topple to the floor.My head hit the hardwood, making me wish I’d gone with Kenyon’s idea for carpet.
She didn’t move—not to help me or apologize.Instead, she crossed her arms and stared down at me.
At least it gave me a nice look at her from an altogether new angle.
And shewasrather pretty.She had pale skin and eyes so dark it was hard to tell iris from pupil.Her hair was black and fell to her shoulders, the strands with a slight wave in them.She was thin, her frame small, and fuck did she have contempt written all over her features.
Who knew that was my type?
“You’re early,” I said.
She turned her wrist, the screen of a smartwatch flashing to life.“No, I’m right on time.What sort of esper doesn’t notice someone walking into their office?”
I rolled over and got to my feet with the same slow lumbering I tended to use.No reason to show how quick or agile I was—I preferred being underestimated.It was the same reason why I spoke like a fool, so others let their guard down around me.“Espers feel a draw to guides, but we also don’t view them as threats, which means our senses don’t always notice them.”I lifted my eyebrow at the bag of groceries slung over her shoulder.“Did some shopping?”
She reached in and pulled out a package of…
Cookies.
The sight nearly had me laughing again.Leave it to this girl to entertain me, to show me amusement I hadn’t expected at all.
Her cheeks tinged pink.“Well, he did give me money for them.”
“He gave you a few hundred.That’s about ten dollars’ worth.”
She shrugged and tossed the cookies on the kitchen counter.“Consider the rest a delivery fee and tip.”
Which told me she could probably use the money.
Guides were taken care of—very well, for those who made their espers happy—but that didn’t mean they had it easy.Plus, given her responses before, I had to assume she wasn’t one of those babied ones who got gifts all the time.
“You travel light, don’t you?”
She frowned, no comprehension on her pretty face.
“You didn’t bring things to stay here.No clothing, no personal items.Girls need things like that.”I waved my hand to encompass the multitude of things that women seemed to have to have.We’d had a few female guides come, and they always showed up with ten bags—usually expecting us to carry them all.
She turned and hiked a finger over her shoulder, pointing at a backpack slung there.
A backpack that couldn’t have held more than a couple outfits—maybe.
“So is the rest of it in a car?Do we need to go get it?”Even as I asked, I ensured my voice sounded just as annoyed as I felt about the prospect of doing just that.
“This is it.”
Another thought hit me, even less pleasant.“Did you keep your Guild apartment because you don’t think this’ll last?”
Maybe the girl just didn’t want to move all her items for an arrangement she figured would fall apart quickly, anyway.I didn’t blame her for it, but it still bothered me.It was as though she’d written us off before we even got to try.
