Chapter 23
Carter
A couple months ago
Yapping, yapping, yapping.
It was all Kai seemed to be able to do.
I ignored him as we both walked to Arc’s office. The demon kept talking about the damn renovation project we were still all debating on. Should we build up? Add new walls and create a new district like we did for the farms? Extend the pre-existing walls further and increase the size of the main circle?
I couldn’t care less.
ButKaihas been pissing everyone off talking about it.Not enough houses.Not enough room.
“We get it,” I said through my teeth as we rounded a corner. “You’re in a binded group and have been for decades. You guys are sick of all sleeping in a tangle of knots in one bed. Why are you the only one complaining? I’ve never heard Ann beg for a bigger house, yet isn’t she the core that has to put up with you insufferable lot?Get over it, the renovations won’t be starting anytime soon.”
Kai scoffed, bumping me with his shoulder as his steps quickened.
“See? That’s why people don’t like or talk to you.”
“Fine by me. People give me headaches.”
Kai opened Arc’s door without knocking and we both strode in. I was quick to let myself fall on the sofa under the large window overlooking the garden behind the building as the demon went straight to sit on one of the chairs facing Arc’s desk.
I really don’t want to be here.It was the end of the day and I’d been doing paperwork most of the afternoon. My head hurt and my body longed for a long nap. And a joint.
“Can you go and put those in the prophecies’ box in the Archives?” Arc asked.
I groaned, ready to get up. If he had called me here only to send me back there, he could have shot me a text. Or mind-linked me. No, he had to send fucking Kai to pick me up and escort me like I was summoned.
“Sure,” Kai said and I froze. Was he not talking to me? “Need anything else before I go?”
Arc shook his head. “No, we’re good. But let’s all meet for dinner outside in an hour or so. My treat.”
The demon cocked his head to the side in question but ultimately shrugged with a grin. “Alright. You know I never pass on free food. I’ll book us all a table at the Crimson Bite.”
“Come on, the Crimson Bite?” I gritted out. “Can’t we go somewhere else for a change?”
My old friend looked at me with a frown. “What do you mean? You—weall love this place.”
I did love the food they made. But I was in the mood for a bland soup and an overly long nap.
“Can I ditch?” I tried.
“You can’t,” Arc countered. “We’re going out because we’re celebrating something foryou.”
That seemed to pique Kai’s interest. “We are? What a twist.”
I gave him the evil eye. Arc tried—and failed—to hide a smile. “Alright, go put them upstairs and we’ll meet you at the table,” he said, handing him a thin binder. Were these prophecies old? New? Did they have something to do withme?
Kai didn’t bother to say goodbye and left the office, closing the door softly behind him.
I waited, looking over my shoulder at the well tended garden outside. I wished I had the time to just go there and sit on one of the benches for a couple of hours. It was a shame it was mostly used during binding ceremonies and the events we organized. After all, the barrier Arc and I put in place around the camp also partially protected us from the worstof the occasional acid rains and most of the heat. If we were roasting inside the camp, the temperatures outside were usually scorching.
“How long do you plan on brooding this time?” Arc asked, finally joining me in the sitting area, taking a place on the armchair facing me.
“I’m not brooding.”
