“But Captain Song, you know I’d serve better in logistics or strategy. Why have I been assigned to help a healer? I don’t have the skills.”
“So learn them.”
“But—”
“Do you intend to be useful to the Guild or not?”
“I assure you, Cadet Lin,” Zizi interrupted, finally looking at Rui, “that despite my forbidding appearance, I’m lovely to work with. I’m sure Captain Song can attest to that. I look forward to having your assistance.”
Rui stared at the floor like she wanted it to swallow her up. The tension between them was palpable. It was obvious they knew each other, and Rui’s objection had more to do with the person than the assignment itself.
Yiran wanted to shake some sense into the both of them.
Meanwhile, Ada and Teshin were watching the whole exchange, one with great interest and the other with great confusion.
Surin stepped in. “You two can come with me,” she told Rui and Zizi. “Let’s look at the setup in the infirmary.”
After they left, Ada leaned in, asking Yiran in a low voice, “Something’s going on there. Know anything about it?”
Yiran shrugged.
“Listen up,” Ash said. “Tomorrow’s mission is a simple one, but there’s always a chance things might turn dicey. Be prepared. The three of you will be sent a code to view your assignment details.”
Yiran wondered if the mission would involve Hybrids and if Ash would reveal their existence to Ada and Teshin. Yuki’s face flitted in his mind, followed by an uneasy feeling. The scar on his cheek reminded him of the Hybrid every time he looked in the mirror, and he’d been spending too much time thinking about the cold touch of Yuki’s fingers around his throat.
“Go through everything before you leave in the morning,” said Ash. “Absorb every single detail—the document disappears once you’re done reading.”
That drew a look of surprise from Teshin. “That only happens when the information is highly classified.”
“Every mission we do from here on is highly classified.” Ash’s expression darkened. “Sleep well tonight. It may be the last time you’ll ever have a good night’s rest.”
43
Rui
An herbal scent lingered in the infirmary, but it didn’t cover the stronger smell of regularly sanitized floors. It reminded Rui too much of waiting outside doors, of a flurry of strangers in white coats telling her there was nothing else they could do.
She threw an irritated look at Zizi, unconsciously tracing the planes of his face where moonlight skimmed it. His hair had grown longer, wilder. She wanted to run her hands through it; she wanted to throttle him. She didn’t want to be near him; she hated his absence even more.
Rui moved farther from him, hoping the distance would quell the turmoil inside her.
As if feeling the same way, Zizi edged to the wall. Hands in his pockets, he stared out of the window stiffly.
Shaking her head at them, Surin said, “Considering what’s going on, we think this is the best place for Zizi. Like Ash said, we might be needing the infirmary beds soon. A powerful healer will be useful here.”
“Is it the Hybrids?” Rui asked. “Are they the ones causing trouble?”
Surin nodded. “It’s clear they’ve been organizing.” She sighed, rubbing the short blond hairs on her buzzed head. “There’ve been reports of other creatures as well.”
“What other creatures?”
“Things that have been touched by too much yinqi,” Zizi replied, still facing the window. He didn’t elaborate.
Rui shivered as a chilly silence fell on the room. What other vile creatures were out there?
“Everything looks good here,” Surin said. “The infirmary’s well-stocked, so there isn’t much we need to do right now. You’ll both be on call. Go get some rest tonight. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
After switching the lights off on her way out, Surin headed down the hallway.
