In hindsight, I’d look back on that moment as a rare flash of intuition.
Chapter 33
Colluding with Colleagues
Before returning to my room, I rounded up the delinquents I needed for my scheme. People were flitting around the outpost as they packed and exchanged details, most of them preparing for their first operation but several others returning home for service reassignment.
Sarina’s absence was like a frame missing its portrait, but Corra assured me privately she was recovering quickly. The more time I spent around Corra, the more differences I could see between them. Corra was ever so slightly more blunt, and Sarina more playful.
Seated on a bench with Corra, Izaiah, Henrik, and Benji, I laid out everything, offering them each an invitation to my wedding after graduation.
“I’m in,” Izaiah said as soon as I’d finished my explanation.
“Me too,” Corra agreed.
“Me three,” Benji added.
“And me four,” Henrik grinned. “This will be fun.”
“What’ll be?” A familiar voice asked from behind us, a lean shadow falling over the group.
Damn it.
I turned, unsurprised to see Zevrial behind us. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted him anywhere near. “None of your business.”
“Lisia has just formally invited us all to her wedding,” Benji said.
His new nickname would be Benji Big Mouth. Was it too late to rescind his invitation?
Zevrial’s eyebrows did a little jig, slanting down before one raised. His expression was frightening. “Oh?”
“You’re not invited,” I said.
“You never told me you were engaged.” His voice could have cut metal.
Tread carefully.
I shrugged. “It never came up. And like I said, it’s not your business.”
“Who’s the unlucky groom?” he asked, oh so casually.
“No one you know.”
“Don’t be like that. We’re all friends and future crewmates here.”
“What?” I asked, temporarily distracted.
“The Shadowtide’s crew for the operation,” Zevrial explained patiently like he was talking to a child. “It will be made up of this year’s graduates and those who graduated in the last two years. Including me.”
Just what I needed, more time near Zevrial so he could continue his quest to drive me crazy. “Wonderful.”
“Can’t wait,” Henrik added, sarcasm thick. Zevrial gave him a bored look.
“When and where will this wedding be happening? I’ll bring a gift.” Zevrial’s voice was too level, his eyes too menacing. The gift would be poisoned, or explosive.
“Don’t worry about it,” I waved my hands to disperse the tension and aggression he was breathing into the air around us. “It’s not important.”
“Oh, I disagree,” he smirked down at me, leaning closer. “This seems very important.” He was too close, eyes fixed on mine as his face filled up my field of vision.“When were you going to tell me you're engaged?”
