“What?” He started, then sighed. “I suppose I haven’t really been a good Guide to you, have I?”
She blinked, caught completely off guard. She was not expecting this conversation.
“What exactly do you want me to say here, Guide Fenn?” He hadn’t been much of anything to her except an irritating man with his nose always in a notebook.
“I’ll try to do better. You’ve lived up to your end. You haven’t made things more...uh...dramatic than they needed to be.”
“If anything, you’ve been the dramatic one, just ignoring me.” She glared at him from the corner of her eye.
“You’re not wrong,” he admitted with a soft huff of laughter. “There’s not really tactical instructions for...this situation. I’m sorry.”
And what situation is that, exactly? Rynna wondered. Sure, they’d had that moment, but it was just once, and it had been months ago. It was over. Or...was it?
“Sure, no problem.” She tried to brush it off.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She leaned over, bumping him playfully with her hip, then immediately realized what she’d done. “Oh, crap. Sorry!” She jumped away, embarrassed by thecontact.
“It’s fine.” The deep rumble of his answering laugh doing all sorts of confusing things to her insides. “I’ve been making it awkward. But it doesn’t need to be.”
“Sure, yeah, okay,” she stammered, heat rising to her cheeks as she struggled to get her blush under control. “Not weird at all.”
It was strange being next to him like this after so much time…
“So what did you mean…before?” She looked up, glancing from his clouded eye to where his mouth sat behind the ever-present mask. “About your blood and being lucky to get a unit?” Unsure why she’d brought it, she looked away, hugging her arms when he didn’t answer right away. “Elara practically thinks you walk on water. And you’re obviously well regarded in the Reach.”
That anyone could think any less of him…she nearly tripped on an uneven cobble as her heart thumped against her ribs. Why was she suddenly so angry?
“I can’t believe I showed you that.” His fingers scratched at the mask along his chin as he looked up to the darkening sky, oblivious to her stumble.
“Well, what’s the big deal?”
And who do I need to kill for making you feel like you need to hide yourself?The thought followed on its own accord, sending her gaze darting back to the ground. Anywhere but at the mismatched eyes now looking at her with curiosity.
“You truly don’t know the legends? How my ancestors supposedly turned in man-eating monsters before the tenth Ember Warden burned the taint from their blood.” He paused, reaching for a strand of red-tipped hair. “My parents were only able to convince the Elders to spare me after my eye clouded, because I could hold so much of the Source. They took my teeth instead of my life.” The brown threads fell from his grasp as she processed the words.
“I can’t believe I just told you that,” he added, voice low, gazed locked on the tavern ahead.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Fenn.” It was barely more than a growl.
Stupid!
She coughed, trying to rein in her traitor heart, reaching for a voice that didn’t wobble.“And I mean that only as a very loyal, very well-behaved student.”
He stopped mid-stride. The pause was soft but absolute. His gaze dipped to her, and a flush crept over the upper edge of his mask—faint at first, then unmistakable. A breath escaped him, half a laugh, low and startled, before he cleared his throat and tried for composure.
“Of course. No dramatics from Rynna—my oddly placed, potentially Vessel-level Novice.”
“None at all.” She began walking again, leaving him to follow, studiously ignoring the butterflies taking suicide runs at the lining of her stomach.
When they arrived at the tavern, he pulled the door open for her, but just before she stepped inside, she paused. “Hey...thanks for telling me. And for giving me opportunities to work with them.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“At first, I was annoyed. Like, aren’t you supposed to be the Guide?”
Fenn’s eyes crinkled in amusement, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips beneath the ever-present mask.
