“I’m fine,” Ronin sighed. “For the love of Anaemos, will you stop pestering me about it? Knight to d7.”
Ronin tossed Selene’s bishop off the board, chuckling as he heard Selene do the same through the commstone.
“Clever move, brother.” She clucked her tongue. “What else is going on up there in Kheimos? I’m a bit jealous, actually. It’s been unseasonably warm down here. We haven’t even had our first snow of the season yet. It doesn’t feel like winter without it. Queen to d8. Check.”
Fuck, she was good at this game, her aggressive moves a contrast to her shy, sweet demeanor.
And he knew she was angling for an invite. She’d done so in her letters as well. But he’d never allow her to come here. To see what a complete and utter mess his life had become.
Though his apartment was luxurious, purchased with his fight winnings, it certainly didn’t look it at the moment. Empty bottles of Delirium and greasy take-out containers lined the counters, discarded boots and dirty clothes piled on chairs.
“Maybe I could come visit this year?” Hesitation quieted her voice.
Thereit was.
“Not this year, Leenie.” He studied the board, searching for his next move.
“You say that every year.”
“It’s not a good time,” he sighed. “Knight to b8. Gotcha.”
“You saythatevery year, too.” Selene exhaled long and loud, pieces clacking as she removed her queen. “I’m worried about you. You’re up there all alone, thousands of miles away from me,participating in those dangerous, no-magic cage fights. Who’s going to help you if something happens? Who’s going to take care of you?”
“I can take care of myself,” he snarled. “Those fights aren’t dangerous for me.”
“They’re not dangerous for theoldyou. The one who had back-up.”
Ronin’s wolf huffed.Back-up. Please. If anything, you weremyback-up. Silly female.
“I said I can handle myself. Will you fucking stop? High Gods, you sound just like?—”
Ronin stopped himself. He knew bringing up their mother would just upset her. Family was more important than anything to Selene, and despite the fact that their parents had passed peacefully, their deaths had hit her hard. Even centuries later, the grief hadn’t fully let her go. He didn’t need Selene to burst into a crying fit on top of the guilt trip she was laying down.
“My life is about to change in a way that means you won’t have to worry about me so much anymore.”
“How’s that?”
“I have a new assignment. Straight from Imperial Affairs and the High Councilor himself. And if I succeed, they’re going to remove my cage.”
Selene squealed and Ronin nearly ripped the commstone from his ear. “Ro, that’s wonderful! Will you come back home then?”
Ronin didn’t yet knowwhathe would do if he succeeded in getting his wolf back. There were certainly more welcoming places to roam in the fields surrounding Denevrae versus the frozen, lifeless tundra up here.
“Haven’t thought that far ahead. I need to complete the assignment first.”
He told Selene what he’d been tasked with, protecting another operative and posing as her lover while they worked to gather intel on a suspected enemy of the Empire. He didn’t tell Selene who it was. Firstly, the IA probably wouldn’t want him spreading the word about it and secondly, he didn’t want to give Selene any information that could put her in danger if things went…poorly.
“Posing as a lover, eh?”
Ronin shook his head. Out of all the outrageous things he’d just shared with his twin, somehow he knew that detail was what she’d get hung up on.
“Just a job. Don’t get all excited.”
“Is she pretty?”
Ronin scrubbed a hand down his face. Yeah, she was fucking gorgeous. Soft and curvy in all the right places with a strong pair of legs that wouldn’t quit and an ass he wanted to sink his teeth into. Not to mention that lustrous copper hair and a face that males would start wars over.
“I guess. If uptight killer ice queen with a massive stick up her ass sounds pretty to you.”
