He quickly descends the remaining steps, staring at Revea with a concerned frown. “I told you yesterday. I said you needed to meet him.”
“Yes, but I didn’t agree, Sylvan,” she says, her eyes busily flitting between us both.
His frown deepens, voice lowering. “Did I do something wrong?” His eyes go a little wider as he tries so hard to study her expression. “Did I upset you again?”
Her lips part, her breath catching like the question hurts. “No, Sylvan. I’m not upset, I’m just...” She glances back at me. “Surprised.”
“Oh.” He nods, then moves on like the conversation never happened. “I’ve installed the last camera now, see.” He holds his tablet to Revea, moving close enough that his chest brushes her shoulder.
“You’ve bought her new CCTV, too?”I ask over the bond.
He glances up at me, and I get a half-nod. That’s it.
“How many cameras is that?” Her tone pitches higher as she scrolls through.
“Thirty.”
“Thirty?” she repeats, eyes wide as she stares at him.
He frowns again. “Is that not enough?”
She stops swiping. “There’s one in my office?”
“It was a blind spot.”
“Maybe I wanted the privacy?”
“Why?”
I bite my tongue. I hoped Sylvan would dig his way out of this on his own, but he seems to be digging deeper.
Sylvan and I trained together as teenagers, served together as men. I know what he’s like when he’s hyper-fixated on something. I’ve just never seen him fixated onsomeone.
“Sylvan,”I say over the bond. He looks at me while Revea studies the screen again.“Take a breath. Think.”
He listens, taking a second to pause.
“Sorry,” he blurts, causing Revea to slowly look up at him. “I should have asked you first. About the amount. The office. I can remove them. All of them. Now, if you want… Sorry. I thought I was helping.”
He’s floundering.
My stern, level-headed commander, who’s torn strips off younger cadets for looking at him too long, is losing hiscomposure over this small omega with baby pink hair and a smile so sweet it’s almost like she’s enjoying it.
Wait.
She’s smiling?
“Sylvan.” She’s saying his name, but it’s my alpha tilting his head at the soft, endearing tone. “It’s okay, it was a shock, that’s all. It does make sense, considering I have the safe in there. Thank you.”
Sylvan stands frozen, staring at this omega like she’s holding him in place. “You’re welcome.” His gaze snaps to me. “I like her, Kaiden.”
And with that, he walks towards the workmen, who flinch when they find him suddenly beside them.
“Erm, well...” Revea tries. It’s the first time she struggles to hold my gaze, her cheeks rosier. “Since you’re here, I just want you to know I didnotask for this.” She motions towards the scanner.
“I know. Once Sylvan sets his mind on something, it’s hard to get him to change it.” I look back at her, studying her soft smile as she watches Sylvan.
Most people are unsettled by him. She looks… fond.
