The vibrations that rushed through the room, the way he stood a bit taller, it all told me who had walked in without me having to turn.
Yun.
Even if I didn’t need to, I couldn’t stop myself from looking, my gaze finding hers with an ease that was almost terrifying.She walked in, her shirt undone slightly more than usual—or was I just more aware of it?—those black slacks hugging her thighs in a way that was far too tempting.Her hair was pulled back, French braided to the nape of her neck and secured there with a small bit of hair from the bottom.It made her look competent and capable, like any other badass here.
Mine.
The word bubbled up through my mind, percolating until it sloshed around, filling every last crevice.
I shook it away, smiling when her gaze found me, when she headed my way.
“You didn’t grab any food?”I asked.“There’s a table just outside that door with pastries and fruit.”
“I’m not hungry.”She crossed her arms and boy, did she make a valiant attempt tonotlook at Ingram.Whatever happened between them, at least I didn’t have to worry that she’d fallen hopelessly in love with him or something.The tension there said she wasn’t even close to addressing whatever they’d done.“Where’s Kenyon and Shear?”
“Kenyon is checking in the with medical.They do healer testing there.”
“And Shear?”
I shrugged.“He’s probably trying to avoid coming.He doesn’t like doing these sorts of tests, but I’m sure he’ll show up before long.Where are you scheduled today?”
“Guides are testing in the western wing.”
“All of them?”I lifted an eyebrow, surprised by that.“Normally, guides are tested in a few groups.”
“Yeah, it seemed weird to me, too.”
I considered it, then let out a soft laugh.“They’re trying to create a sense of community between guides and espers.It’s military tactics 101.Get people shoved together in close quarters, force them to rely on each other, and you’ll end up with a bond between them.Squads don’t tend to do well together, so they’re trying to force it.”
“They’re also probably trying to make guides feel responsible for one another so they’ll care for other squads,” Ingram pointed out.
Yun’s expression darkened.
“Don’t worry—won’t happen.”The reassurance left me unconsidered.It wasn’t just an attempt to make her relax or win her favor, but rather an absolute fact in my mind.
I wasn’t about to share her with other squads.
Fuck that.
I had no intention of handing overmyguide to anyone.There were enough other guides for that, and I didn’t mind taking apart any esper stupid enough to even think they could touch what was mine.
Especially given the fear on Yun’s face.Her expression said she didn’t want that to happen anymore than I did, and that solidified my response.I wasn’t about to let something happen that she didn’t want.
Not a fucking chance.
Still, despite the way my brain freaked out, I kept my expression neutral and my voice casual.No reason to let her in on how exactly I felt about it all.
“If they say we have to…” Yun pressed.
“Don’t worry about that.Consider this a benefit of working with a squad—you don’t have to think about stuff like that.You’ve got us to handle the Guild for you.”I doubted my smile reassured her much—she’d glimpsed the mess beneath it a time or two—but I still offered it in an attempt to make her understand that it was our job to keep her safe.
It was the push and pull of guides and espers.She kept us from losing ourselves, from becoming a corrupted, and in exchange?We took care of her.It wasn’t enough, wouldn’t ever be enough for what she did for us, but it was our privilege and responsibility to keep her safe.
That meant from monsters, from other espers, and even from the Guild if we had to.
She narrowed her eyes until only a slit of darkness remained.Seems she doesn’t believe me.
It was hard to blame her, given how many times she’d gotten herself thrown out on her ass from other squads.It wasn’t like she had any reason to believe us, to put any trust in us.
