Page 85 of Werewolves and Witches AU

Since his brief appearance at lunch, Janus has been suspiciously absent. The longer he manages to avoid the Dogs’ efforts to track him down, the more I worry about what he might be planning. He clearly has a way of tracking Milo’s location, and Janus won’t give up when Milo poses the only threat to his plans for revenge.

“Ranger?” Guardian answers.

“SitRep.”

“Bear and Delilah are still dark; they have seventeen more minutes before comms live.”

“Everyone else?”

Guardian exhales, and there’s a muffled scratching sound, as if he’s dragging a hand over his stubble. “Tense as fuck. Packs don’t do well separated, you know that.”

I feel that like a kick to the gut. “Yeah.”

“How’s Magpie?”

“Holding up well, all things considered. Heard from the General’s Office yet?” I ask, unusually nervous for the answer.

“They declined my request for a unit.”

“Fuckers.” But there’s a moment of selfish relief—will he stay? “What was their reason?”

“The official line? ‘In the current climate, we cannot spare resources for celestial matters.’”

“What a load of bollocks. We’re the only unit they’ve shared that intel with. They’ve got the whole military available.”

“Mhm.”

But I know that sound. “Yer going solo, aren’t ye?”

“Tsk. Not until after Bear’s debrief.”

“If ye can wait until we’ve nailed these missions, Guardian, the Dogs’ll come with ye.”

“While I appreciate that, Ranger—and I might be calling in all those favours— I’ve already waited too long.”

I hang my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yer going to be missed.”

“I have to do this.”

“Aye. I know. We’d all do the same in yer shoes.” There’s a lengthy pause on the line, and I check on the cookies.

“You’re not the only one pissed at me,” he admits, albeit quietly.

“I’m not pissed at ye, Guardian. I’m wondering who the fuck is going to fill yer spot.”

“Tsk. I think you already know.”

My brow lowers in thought—I do?

“So, who’d ye manage to piss off inside of twenty-four hours.”

Guardian’s dark chuckle drifts down the line. “Anna.”

Janus’s PA? “How’d ye do that?”

“Thriller had an interaction with one of her night staff.”

I smile. Thriller’s a menace.