It was strange how quickly I’d gotten used to dealing with the men.It wasn’t nearly as bad as I would have expected.For the most part, they let me do what I wanted.They didn’t interfere in my day-to-day life, beyond the fact that they wanted to make sure I always had a guard.It meant no impromptu trips to the store, but it wasn’t like I did that often, anyway.
Still, it was strange to always have people looking out for me.
I had no idea what Carter had said to them—maybe he’d sat them down for a full lesson or something—but for five days after, they’d worried over me and taken especially good care.I’d found heating pads and chocolates in my room, bubble bath in the bathroom, and they’d been quick to suggest things I might want.
In fact, the very next day, I’d found a plethora of pads, tampons, and even a menstrual cup under the bathroom sink.Part of me chuckled at the idea of any of these four going to the store to get such things, of them standing there in confusion while they tried to work out what a girl might want or need, but I couldn’t deny that it was nice.
I’d worked with countless squads before, and not a single one had seemed to give a damn about my needs.Even when there were women espers, they didn’t care.
Thankfully, my periods weren’t that drawn out, so after a few days of feeling crampy and tired, I was back to normal by the time we had another mission.
This one was just training—more like a lesson than anything else.
“What is this, daycare?”Ingram said, the words loud enough that anyone passing could hear him.
I had a feeling he’d never gotten a handle on the whole whispering thing—or maybe he did it on purpose.
It was funny for him to refer to the other espers as children, given they were all in their twenties—hardly kids.“They’re adults,” I pointed out.
“Barely.I mean, they’re here because they’ve never seen a stable dungeon before.Might as well be kids.”
“Why are you here, then?”
He pressed his lips together and looked the other way.
Seems he doesn’t want to answer that.
“Yun!”Kaiden’s cheerful voice made me smile before I even spotted him.
I turned, but found Carter’s wide back blocking my view.
“Whoa, buddy.”
I pushed Carter’s back.“What are you doing?”
“Do you know him?”Carter asked, still not moving from between us.
“Of course I do.”
Carter made an unhappy noise but stepped aside.“I don’t like when people come rushing at our guide.”
“Yeah, well, before she wasyour guide,she wasmyfriend.”Kaiden didn’t show a speck of worry before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug.In fact, I suspected he took his sweet time just to piss Carter off.
That was pretty on brand for Kaiden.
Finally, he pulled back, smiling as though he had no idea that four espers shot looks at him that could castrate a bull.“Fancy seeing you here.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t thinkyou’dbe here.Isn’t this a bit under your radar usually?You’re way too big a deal for something like this.”
He shrugged.“Training newbies is important.There aren’t that many guides who’ve worked this dungeon, so when they asked, I figured I’d say yes.Besides, I might have seen a certain squad’s name on the list and wanted to catch up.”
Carter frowned, then butted in, “You’re Kaiden Swarth?The guide?”
Kaiden didn’t bother to give Carter one of his winning smiles, the sort that could get an esper to give up damn near everything for him.Instead, his look was just about as friendly as Carter’s.“That’s right, and this girl here is my precious friend.You’ve been taking care of her?”
Wow, talk about a threat.
If anyone thought guides were automatically sweet or weak, they’d never met Kaiden.That man was just as vicious as an esper, something that had always amazed me.That was probably one reason I’d adored him right from the start.
