Chapter 18
Ryoden
Time passes in a blur once those four men leave.
Can I even call them men?
The word feels inadequate for creatures who brought with their arrival: a winter snow storm, a dragon, shadows that seem to be alive, and a vampire whose hand around my neck was colder than the snow melting against my skin.
No one said aloud that they’re the four kings of the supernatural factions, but I’ve read enough reports, briefed enough squads, and seen enough grainy recon images.
They also spoke as if they have the authority to make decisions for each of their factions.
It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots. Not only are they our enemies…they’re at the top of the pyramid.
“Colonel, what do you want us to report to headquarters?”
The question knocks me out of the looping reel of questions behind my eyes and I blink twice, trying to pull myself back into the present.
The briefing room comes back to me in layers: the low hum of electricity through the wall, the harsh overhead lights buzzing, and the smell of coffees on the table between us.
The newly promoted first lieutenant in front of me shifts his weight from foot to foot, boots squeaking faintly on concrete.
His brown eyes are bright and a little too wide, excitement barely contained.
An interesting assignment, finally, for him as he joins our higher rank.
I remember that feeling—when the world was as simple as good and bad, us and them, orders followed and medals earned.
Now I’m sitting in the chair that bright-eyed version of me used to fantasize about, and all I can think about is how much he’d despise the man I’ve become.
He’d be appalled at the leeway I’ve given Wren.
The blind faith I’ve extended, again and again, to a woman I barely know—who stood on my wall with the kings and looked like she belonged with them, as much as she ever has at my dinner table and wrapped in a towel within my quarters.
My fingers curl tighter around the edge of the table until the tendons in my hand ache.
I knew there was more to her than meets the eyes, but I never anticipated the kings would show up and three of them would kiss her like they’re staking a claim on disputed territory.
It’s always been in the back of my mind that she could be my enemy, but it never occurred to me that she may simply be in bed with the enemy.
“Sir?” the first lieutenant prompts, the earlier exuberance beginning to drain from his voice as the silence stretches.
His pen hovers over the parchment we use for official records, since we don’t trust the comms with high-ranking information due to previous magical interference.
He glances at the other officers gathered around the table, like he’s wondering if he should repeat the question to me or them next.
I should be speaking already. I should be rattling off every detail of their arrival, the conversations, and her involvement in it all. I should be the colonel they deserve: efficient, decisive, predictable.
Instead, my thoughts keep circling the same aggravating question, as persistent as the ache where vampire fingers left bruises on my throat.
Is she in love with them, the way they clearly are with her?
My jaw tightens and I clear my throat, tearing my gaze away from where it's fallen to my hands and back to the younger man in front of me. His shirt is full of wrinkles and glasses slide down the bridge of his nose.
“Sir?” he says again, quieter this time before pushing the glasses back into place.
I inhale slowly and force my shoulders back against the chair as I try to clamber back a bit of who I need to be, and what my focus must stay on.
Colonel, not man.
City, not Wren.
“Start with this,” I say, surprised at how steady my voice sounds when my insides feel like they’re knotted. “Log a confirmed visual on four high-level supernaturals at the gates of our city. Unknown designations, but likely leaders. No casualties. No engagement.”
The pen scratches against paper as he scribbles, frowning faintly, clearly expecting more.
I pause, feeling everyone’s attention like a physical weight on my skin.
“And note,” I continue after clearing my throat, “that they withdrew peacefully after terms were discussed. Temporary ceasefire in effect per my command. One month for the term.”
A white lie about whose command put that into effect, but an important one to keep the illusion of power being in our hands.
The way they ripped through our stronghold near the border has created too much fear and uncertainty as is.
The last thing I need is more nerves and fear to make these men consider fleeing their post, or not obeying orders.
It’s like all the air is sucked out of the small room with my admission to how the meeting concluded with our enemies.
Up on the wall with no one able to see the details from the ground level, and no human hearing being good enough to hear it, they’ve all been kept in the dark until now.
All they saw was Wren and me coming down from the wall alone and then Derrick and Eli escorting her away under my command.
There’s a ripple in the room with people shifting and a muffled curse that’s swallowed, but no one speaks yet.
It’s as if they’re waiting to see how much of what they saw with their own eyes prior to being ordered from the wall I’m willing to say out loud.
While they may not have seen the most troublesome parts of that meeting, they did see a woman I continue to house that had a dragon practically purring under her touch, a vampire choking me, and her pleas to not shed blood.
My brow creases with the implications. None of that can be erased from their memories, yet I fear memorializing any of it on this missive to headquarters. Without context and being here in the moment, so much of it can be taken as collusion.
“Colonel,” the first lieutenant repeats, and this time there’s a thread of unease woven through the title. “Is there anything else?”
I don’t mention the way three of them kissed her like she was already theirs.
I don’t mention the way the dragon appeared to be as docile as a puppy in her palm.
I don’t mention the way the wraith threatened to kill her himself if she turned against them.
And I definitely don’t mention the way my heart stuttered when she stood in front of me on that wall, asking me to trust her one more time.
Some things don’t belong in a report.
My hands have curled into fists in my lap and I have to deliberately uncurl my fingers and set my palms flat on the worn wood table, giving myself the illusion of being grounded as I stand up.
I prefer to stay on the same eye-level as my officers, never wanting to appear like I enjoy being above them in power, but if there’s ever a time to remind them of said power, it’s now.
“We keep the report factual,” I say, forcing my voice into the cold tone I use when I need it to be clear that I’m not welcoming an open discussion.
A few pairs of eyes narrow and as I find Derrick’s, the warning shining back at me is crystal clear: You need to give them more.
I trust my major more than anyone and I’ve always made it abundantly clear in our personal friendship that if there is ever a time he feels he needs to step in and save me from a mistake, that I expect him to do so.
“Please go into detail that we’ve confirmed sightings of the first dragon anyone in our generation has seen,” I add quickly and with ease, like this was always my intention. “Bronze and green scales and that he was sighted first in vampire territory before approaching our city.”
I barely resist the urge to rub at the bruises on my neck as my hand raises on instinct alone, but at the last moment, I adjust my collar. The sore area throbs in time with my pulse, a reminder I don’t need.
“Are you sure you want me to list without engagement, sir?” the young officer asks, eyes on my neck despite my attempt to hide my discomfort.
The last thing I need is HQ to think I’ve all of a sudden lost my nerve and allowed myself to be injured, with my hesitation in killing these enemies the moment they appeared.
I meet his gaze and let a tinge of annoyance bleed into my voice. “Did we fire?”
He swallows. “No, sir.”
“Then it goes down as we did not engage,” I reply. “You can add that the city remains intact, citizens unharmed, and all our forces accounted for. That’s what HQ will care about first.”
The room settles a bit at that; danger is easier to stomach when you remember no one lost their lives.
“And the…woman?” one of the captains ventures. “Do we mention she was on the wall with you when it happened? That she seems to have some level of connection with them?”
My spine goes rigid for a fraction of a second, but I carefully keep my face schooled. I don’t dare shift my gaze to Derrick now, away from the captain. I can’t afford to look like they’ve caught me on a subject I’m trying to keep away from headquarters.
“In the report, you can note that a detained civilian was present during the encounter under my direct supervision.” I say evenly before sliding my focus back to the young lieutenant nodding as he writes.
Even that allowance of information makes my chest constrict, and the scratch of his pen suddenly feels loud in the small space. I can’t keep allowing these men to force my hand here.
“As for HQ,” I continue, “they’ll get more detail, but I’ll handle that part myself, as it is classified to the highest level.”
A few glances pass between the older officers. They’re not used to me drawing a line that sharply, but thankfully none of them challenge it.
“Include that all standing defensive protocols remain in place,” I add, pushing on past that uncomfortable moment. “Patrols maintain current rotations, tanks stay fueled and positioned, and our scouts continue to stay on alert near the border.”
The relief that trickles through the room is almost palpable. This is ground they know how to stand on—discipline, structure, preparation.
I use it to my advantage and keep my control over the room as I let my voice rise in volume.
“As for what is discussed outside of this room, I expect all of you to keep rumors from stirring and prevent fearmongering. Our men need to stay on alert and with clear minds to do their jobs properly.” I take a moment to scan the room and meet each pair of eyes. “Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” comes the chorus.
I nod toward the first lieutenant, suddenly realizing I don’t even know his name to properly address him.
I usually make it a point to know all my men's names, but he’s a new transfer that was promoted from another state and reassigned.
“Finish drafting the missive and leave it on my desk to be sealed. Tomorrow you can begin the journey to HQ.”
Everyone at the table stands, waiting for my dismissal. “Everyone else, eat if you haven’t, sleep in shifts, and keep your people in line.”
One by one, they file out, voices dropping to low murmurs as the door opens and closes. Derrick lingers just a heartbeat longer, watching me with that stubborn, assessing look that has gotten him in trouble more than once.
“You good, Sir?” he asks quietly.
“Good enough,” I answer, which is the closest thing to honesty I can afford. “Are you okay with going to relieve Eli from his watch until I get home? The kid has barely slept since his shift last night with me requiring your assistance today.”
He hesitates, then nods. “Of course. I can handle that, but Ry—”
My brows raise and he corrects himself, knowing better than to drop the formalities outside of my home.
“Sir, I worry about not being able to contain the unease and contempt that could arise in our forces with everything they saw today.” His throat bobs before he continues.
“To them they saw our leader hurt by an enemy, and in return we were told to stand down because an unknown woman asked it of you. This places a mark not only on your back, but hers, more than ever before.”
My hand lifts to rub against my face harshly.
I can’t expect Derrick and Eli to watch her forever, nor would she likely allow that.
I also can’t have her at my side, especially given the nature that, to all who were on that wall, she firmly looks like she is friends with our enemies.
It will look like I’ve willingly invited our enemies in.
“I don’t have the answers for these problems right now,” I admit on a heavy sigh. “The one month agreement won’t matter if something happens to Wren.”
Derrick’s lips press together for a moment before he nods to himself.
“Right, well, in the meantime we continue to ensure her safety as we always have. I will personally make sure those we continue to rotate at your home’s entrance aren’t tainted by what happened today.
Perhaps tomorrow will bring us further clarity on everything else. ”
Let us hope.
I blink at him and nod in agreement. “Thank you, Major.”
He doesn’t waste any time, slipping out and ensuring the door clicks shut behind him.
Silence folds over the room like a blanket, but it isn’t comforting. I fall back into my chair and let my elbows rest against the table as my face falls into the palms of my hands.
Wren.
“What am I supposed to do with you?”