We stood there, just as we had in her mind, and even with returning to the real world, Yun seemed unwilling to let the moment end. She didn’t stop the kiss, curling her fingers against the back of my neck to hold me tighter.
A throat cleared, causing me to break the kiss, ready to tear apart the mind of the fool who dared disturb me.
And fool it was…
Kenyon stood there, arms crossed, a stupid smile on his face.
Worse, it wasn’tjustthat idiot. Carter was to his side, eyebrow lifted, and Ingram to the other side with a look so lewd he could probably get a public indecency charge because of it.
Well, that and his entirely unapologetic erection that pressed against his pants.
“No fucking in public,” Carter said.
“Not without me,” Ingram added.
“I don’t want to have to bail you all out again,” Kenyon sighed.
Yun turned slightly, putting some distance between us, even if it wasn’t a full retreat. Her cheeks burned bright red in the sunlight as she tucked a few wayward strands of hair behind her ear and looked off as though someone were calling her. “I should go,” she said, rushing away even though no one else was around.
We let her go, because sometimes even the feeling of privacy was enough for a person to regain their equilibrium.
“We’re in trouble,” Carter said once she was out of earshot. “That girl is hell on our control if even Shear here if falling.”
“I wouldn’t say falling,” I argued.
He snorted, as though that were stupid enough Kenyon could have said it. “Right. Well, keep your wits about you—I have a feeling the Guild isn’t going to sit back anymore and just wait for us to make the choice they want.”
The reminder of what faced us made me recall Mr. Yorn, his appearance signaling nothing good.
It felt like more chess pieces appearing on the board. I didn’t know how they’d move, what would happen, but that didn’t change that they were enemies.
I might not understand Yun, might not quite get how she’d survived what she had, but I knew that I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Chapter Twelve
Yun
I could hardly recall the last time I’d sat in a room with people who wore this many medals and stars on their uniforms. In the conference room sat two who were military, another two wearing Guild insignia, and a man I didn’t recognize in a suit.
Right after getting certified as an S-Rank guide, I’d had a similar meeting, one where they told me how important my work would be. That was before anyone realized how damaged I was, of course, back when they thought that sort of effort would pay off. High-ranking guides were precious, so they liked to blow smoke up their asses and stroke their egos.
After the first of many mishaps and reassignments, however, I’d never warranted such respect.
It seemed that what happened at the hotel had changed that in their eyes, however, as I’d gotten called here after an event with other guides.
The timing was suspect, making me think they’d picked this time knowing that I wouldn’t have one of the espers by my side…
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Ms. Moore,” one of the people in military uniforms said.
A coffee had been placed in front of me, made exactly the way I liked it, suggesting they’d done some amount of research about me. It was strange, though, because I doubted many people knew any real details to give them.
Previous squads hadn’t given a damn about how I took my coffee, about the things I liked, so how did they know it?
“What’s this meeting supposed to be about?” I asked, unwilling to play the game where I pretended this was all just a friendly get-together.
The man who had spoken first smiled, though the edges of it felt cold, as though it were a front. “Don’t worry—you’re not in trouble.”
Wouldn’t that be a first?
