Charm, however, returns my fragile smile with a genuine one.
“Great! We each have a few areas we’re responsible for. You can try them out and let us know where you’d like to spend your time,” he says.
“Of course, I’m happy to help wherever,” I say.
“There’s no rush to jump into anything. We’ll let you get settled in for a few weeks first,” Orion says.
As the tour moves on, I have that prickly feeling like I’m being watched.
Cato still hasn’t reappeared. I surreptitiously peer around, but don’t see him anywhere. I’m not sure where he could be hiding that he can see me but I can’t see him.
Maybe I’m just imagining things and he’s in his room doing whatever it is he’s into, already bored with the new trainee.
It doesn’t matter if they’re visibly avoiding me (like Magnus) or not. I’m sure I’ll win over my teammates when they see how dedicated I am.
I hold in my sigh as we go up to the third floor. At least no one is being actively hostile.
This level has several offices along with an archive with file cabinets full of reports and information about our area. Our paperwork is all digital now, but the comprehensive monthly reports are still printed and saved as a hard copy.
The focal point of this level is the room that I mentally dub the Command Center. It has all kinds of equipment, like weather radars, a seismograph, and several other things to monitor acts of nature. There are multiple radios to pick up every frequency. Since service is spotty in the mountains, it’s not uncommon to receive calls by radio or satellite phone.
“We track storms and note the days that we’re likely to get emergency calls. We also send alerts to the people living nearby and check in if we don’t hear from them,” Orion says, showing me the map of houses dotting the mountain slopes. “We keep track of thru-hikers and they touch base with the stations as they travel through the Fossfells.”
I wish I could dive into the reports and data right away, but the tour keeps moving. I comfort myself with the thought that I live here now, so I can delve in whenever I have free time.
Chapter 6
Hestia
Ididn’t notice they hadn’t pointed out where my bedroom is until Orion stops at the door to the tower and tells me these are my quarters.
“My—what?” I say.
“Your rooms are through here. We can show you around, or you can explore on your own if you’d prefer we stay out of your space,” Orion says.
“If this isn’t to your taste, we can move you to one of the other empty bedrooms,” Henri says.
“You can show me around,” I say, still surprised I get to sleep in the fancy tower I saw when we drove up.
I follow Henri in, surprised to find only a cushy couch and some tables and shelves. I didn’t expect to have an antechamber to my bedroom.
“It’s not much, so let us know what else you need,” Charm says.
This is what they’re callingnot much? My dorm at the academy just had a bed, desk, and small closet.
“This is plenty,” I say.
“The rest of your rooms are through there,” Orion says, nodding at the door on the other end of the room.
I guess they plan to stay out of my private areas regardless. It’s not like they don’t know what the rooms look like, and my things aren’t even in there yet. But their omega probably wouldn’t be happy if they went into my bedroom with me.
I leave them in the sitting room and explore the bedroom on my own. There are more shelves and chairs, plus the giant bed, which is a huge step up from my tiny dorm bed. The furniture is all light wood, and the bed has a puffy blue comforter and sheets with additional blankets draped across the end of it.
There’s a small fireplace against the wall, wood already stacked and ready, with windows on either side. From this high up, you can see clear across the valley to the other mountains. If I look to the right, I can just make out the sea reflecting the lights of the port towns.
A large walk-in closet completes the room. I certainly won’t have to worry about storage space, unless my bosses insist on taking me shopping again.
The bathroom has the same color scheme, light blue tiles, bathmats, and fluffy towels. There’s a shower and clawfoot bathtub. I find it’s already stocked with brand-new soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes,andfancy lotions, soaps, and bath bombs. They must keep personal care items on hand in case they get visitors.
