Chapter 28 #2
He walked towards the wall lined with locked cabinets, producing a key from his back pocket and sliding it into one of the doors. Once opened, he pulled out a crumple of black fabric.
He tossed me a cotton shirt before slipping the other over his head. Another lightning strike shot just outside the windows, brightening the room. My gaze dropped to the shirt before flickering back to him.
“I could see you shivering all the way over here, but if you prefer your soaked leathers, by all means,” he sighed.
I blinked.
Noticing my hesitation, he chuckled and turned around, gesturing with his hand. “The room is yours.”
I took the moment to quickly peel off my leather training top, replacing it with the warm oversized shirt. My senses were suddenly enveloped by the scent of vetiver and burnt amber. The scent of him.
I stopped my mind from melting and cleared my throat.
“Are we decent?” he asked. His words hummed over my skin.
“Mhm,” I managed to get out. I could hear the smirk in his voice.
Without a glance in my direction, he grabbed a seat and positioned it a few feet in front of me. For a brief second, I wondered if there was a reason for the distance.
I shook the thought from my mind; it would be easier to concentrate this way. I couldn’t imagine what his proximity might stir in me right now.
I felt pathetic.
I had never needed or wanted anyone before. And I sure as Fírinne didn’t want to start now.
Rain continued to pour down in torrents above us, spattering across the roof and obscuring our view of the street outside. His eyes drifted past me, glazing over. It seemed as though his detachment from the last session had returned.
“You seem distracted.” I couldn’t help myself from pointing it out. I wouldn’t spend another day immersed in his disinterest. My progress might have been slow, but I truly felt I was getting a grasp on things.
“There is a lot going on right now.” He shook his head, returning his attention to me.
“I’ve been working nonstop. When I ran into you last night, I had just left an all-day briefing.
I’m… sorry if I came off too harshly.” He sounded as tired as I felt.
When his eyes met mine, they reflected something soft. Pity.
“No, it’s fine,” I responded quickly.
He was sorry .
Sorry it happened.
Laryk leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his copper locks. “But I do need to discuss something with you.” He cleared his throat.
“Should I be worried?” I lifted an eyebrow, breaking free from my unwanted thoughts.
“It’s nothing you should concern yourself with at the moment, but…” his voice trailed off, as if trying to find the right words. “I’m being dispatched to Stormshire tomorrow, and I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. It could be a few weeks, perhaps even a month. Maybe two.”
“Did something happen?” I straightened in the chair.
He was leaving…
He looked down and pursed his lips. After a moment, his eyes met mine again, deadly serious.
“I’ll need you to keep this conversation between us. I don’t want the entire Compound in a state of disarray.”
“You’re actually starting to scare me now. How bad is it?” I felt a tremble run down my spine. Worry for him churned through me, and I twisted in my seat, trying to get rid of it.
He was the General. He would be fine.
“Wraiths have found a way around our guards. We’ve since intensified the watchtowers across the border, so it shouldn’t happen again, but we have to proceed with extreme caution.
I need to be there so that I can…” He looked away.
“I need to be there to help. Mercer will be staying here. You all need to finish your training. It’s paramount that you all are ready for whatever is coming. ”
I sat frozen, staring at him.
“Speak, please,” he stated flatly.
“So our individual training is paused indefinitely?” My voice sounded weaker than I would have liked.
Laryk’s eyes softened again. “Unfortunately. But I want you to keep practicing on your own. You’ve made such great progress.” He shifted as though he might move closer, but paused, finally dropping his hands into his lap.
“Is she going with you?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking. I had no right to know. But I wanted to.
“Who?” He asked, confusion peaking his brow.
“Narissa.” I felt my cheeks get hot. Suddenly I wanted to go drench myself in the rain outside.
“Of course. She’s my third in command, behind Mercer.” His face tilted as his eyes studied me, likely wondering why I’d asked such a thing.
Immediately, I regretted it. An unfamiliar ache ran through me. I wanted to forget this conversation. I wished I could take it back. I didn’t want to feel like this.
“Fia, you have to promise me something.” A seriousness washed over his eyes.
One that caught me even more off-guard. “You have to promise me that you’ll stay out of trouble while I’m away.
Remember to address those in a station above you as you should, with respect.
Don’t try to make any new friends outside of Venom. Don’t do anything risky.”
The seriousness in his eyes turned into a sort of pleading, almost as if he was desperate for the words to sink into my skin.
“I won’t be here to protect you.” He said in a quiet voice .
I opened my mouth, and then closed it, unsure of what to say. I simply nodded.
“Do you promise?”
“Yes.” It was all I could muster.
“And you must continue your training. It’s never been as important as it is right now.”
“I’ll make sure I’m at peak control by the time you return,” I said, giving him a look of reassurance. I hoped it seemed genuine.
“Well, that’s good to hear.” He offered me a small smile and leaned forward, resting his forearms against his knees. “What’s gotten into you?”
I shook off the question as I sunk back into my lower spine, diverting my attention to the tendrils and the tendrils alone.