Chapter 3
Magma
I scan the bullpen. My team is crammed in tight. There are those who couldn’t be here, but Jess will have a memo sent out within half an hour of this meeting.
Phones have been muted, and every eye is turned on me. They know something big is coming.
“I’ll keep this brief,” I begin. “As you know, the peace treaty has been signed. It takes effect at midnight tonight.”
A murmur rolls through the room. I lift a hand, and it dies down.
“From midnight, the Mistveil border falls under Red jurisdiction. Our sea patrols on the Mistveil border frontline have been ordered to stand down at midnight. The Reds will be permitted to cross into Draig with the appropriate permits and documentation, and our own citizens will have the same privileges in reverse.”
Someone toward the front swears under their breath. I let it go.
“That does not mean that our frontline is dissolving. It’s just moving closer to home.
To our own border. The flight guard division may need to be restructured in time.
” I don’t mention anything about phasing anyone out.
I’m not as convinced as the Council that it will even happen.
Time will tell. It’s no use worrying anyone over the possibility of my staff losing their positions within this organization until it becomes fact.
Mouths tighten. A few of my younger managers exchange looks. Snare, one of my flight captains, folds his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowing.
“How secure are our positions?” Snare asks.
“At this point in time, nothing changes except for where we patrol,” I say. “We need to be on our toes and check all paperwork of the incoming Reds. We do expect some unrest within our borders once Reds start coming into Draig. Keep in mind that they have a shortage of females.”
One of the males in full leathers stands; his face is red. “So we can expect a drove of those fuckers to hit our shores—”
“Let’s not assume anything.”
He barks out a laugh. “It’s going to happen, and you know it.”
“We will not accept any breaking of our laws, but we need to give them the benefit of the doubt.” It irks me to say it. I don’t want them here, but what Reed said is true. “They are shifters like us.”
Someone else mutters something and a few heads shake.
“They are not our enemy. We were lied to by the Mainland. We need to reunite and become one peaceful unit again so that we may stand strong against the Mainland. We—”
“That’s never going to happen,” another one of the captains says.
“This is not the forum for that type of discussion. I have my orders, and I’m passing them along to you. I expect each and every one of you to follow them without fail. Am I understood?”
There are nods and murmurs of agreement, but most of them remain stony-faced.
“This will take some getting used to, but I believe in every one of you. I hand-picked most of you myself. Change is tough, but we can do this.”
A few of them nod. The tension in the room doesn’t disappear, but it loosens some, at least.
“Stay sharp. Stay trained. Stay ready. That’s the assignment.
We’ll get through this the same way we get through everything…
together. You will all have the new operating procedures in your inbox within the next hour or two.
Please know what the expectations are and brief your subordinates accordingly. Thank you.”
The crowd begins to break up, conversations starting up. I push back from the edge of the desk and spot Flint at the back of the room, propped against the doorframe with his arms folded.
I tip my head toward my office, and he gives a nod, threading through the crowd toward me.
I’m already behind my desk by the time he closes my office door.
“You’re late,” I tell him.
“The frontline training drills ran over.” He sits across from me.
“How’d they handle it?”
“Fine. There were no problems. The last batch of Tributes arrived today.”
I nod. “Keep me briefed on how they do.”
“I will.”
I try to bite back a smile and must fail because he narrows his eyes, watching me. “What is it?”
I grin.
“You had a visitor today.”
He sits up a fraction. “Did I? Who was it?” He sounds unsure.
“A female called Carla. She’s from the hospital.”
Flint goes very still for a second, then a slow smile spreads across his face.
“Carla came here? To Security Central?”
I nod. “It wasn’t for business reasons. She wanted to talk to you but didn’t want to leave a message.”
He laughs once, short and pleased. “Thanks for telling me.”
“She was nervous, bolted out of here like the building was on fire when I told her you weren’t around.” I laugh quietly. “I thought she was here on business, but as it turns out, I was wrong.”
He nods.
“You look happy,” I tell him. I lean back in my chair. “Then again, she is sexy as fuck, so I can’t say I blame you.” Holy shit! Her body under that suit had me taking notes. Her scent was interesting as well. Ripe cherries and vanilla. “Are you going to call her?”
“Sounds like you want that privilege.”
“Me?” I bark out a laugh. “I don’t think so. Besides, she wasn’t here for me, and she’s a little young for my taste.”
“Your taste? What taste? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so much as talk to a female.”
“How did this conversation become about me? Carla was here to see you. Are you going to call her?”
He shrugs, still smiling. “Maybe I’ll give her a call.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Now I’m shocked. I had you pegged as a one-and-done kind of male. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sniff around the same skirt twice.”
“I’m getting older too, Magma. Maybe it’s time to grow up a bit. Stop playing the field quite so hard.”
“Well, well.” I steeple my fingers. “Maybe this is the female who finally tames Flint.”
“Maybe.” He shrugs again. “Time will tell.”
I tap the edge of my desk. “Right. I take it that you heard what I said out there.” I use my thumb to gesture toward the bullpen.
“I did, indeed.”
“We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
“You’re expecting trouble.” Flint sits forward in his seat.
“It would be foolish not to.”
He blows out a breath and looks at the window for a long moment. “Old hatred doesn’t switch off because someone signs a piece of paper.”
“That’s exactly what I said. What I’m about to say needs to stay between us.”
He nods. “You’re making me nervous.”
“The Council is talking about a fifty percent reduction in frontline flight staff over the next year. There will be reabsorption where we can manage it.”
He looks at me. “Half?”
“Half.”
“That sucks!” He runs a hand through his hair and sits back in his chair, looking deflated.
“Let’s see what happens. I’m almost expecting to have to increase our numbers. I think that the Council is delusional.”
“You might be right. I’m not going to panic just yet,” he says. “Right.” He stands. “I have plenty of work to do.”
“Oh, and Flint…”
He turns.
“It’s probably not my place, but don’t go breaking that female’s heart.”
He barks out a laugh. “Really?”
“It’s fine to fuck around, but it didn’t seem like that’s why she was here.”
“Giving me fatherly advice now?”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “No! Asshole! Do the right thing. That’s all I ask, and I’m not just talking about that female.”
“Yes, boss.” He smiles.
“And no more work calls, please. I can’t have a whole string of females outside that door.”
“I’m not that bad!” He walks toward my door.
“You’re worse,” I shout after him, and he chuckles, closing the door.
I don’t like the idea of him calling her, and I’m not sure why that is, since I don’t even know this female. But I do know Flint, and he isn’t the settling-down type, regardless of what he says.
I sigh because it’s got nothing to do with me. Flint needs to handle his own business.
Besides, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I pick up my phone and call Reed.