In the office, I ducked around the low-hanging lightbulb on the ceiling and leaned against the cold back door. Erith’s black eyes darted around the crowded room before he mirrored my posture, leaning against the door we’d just come through.
“I thought you should hear it from me and not Arne—”
“Too late.” He shrugged. “They told me where I’d be stationed this morning.”
He didn’t sound happy about the placement. But at least he didn’t sound particularlyunhappy? His tone was factual. Same as I’d always been. Weapons don’t have preferences. “Did they tell you about who you’ll be going with?”
“Arielna named Mitus, right?”
“Right.” I felt an urge to apologize preemptively. I really was prioritizing Vivian’s feelings over everybody else’s. And in a way, I was prioritizing my own redemption over Erith’s lifestyle. Maybe he didn’t want a partner at “work”. He definitely didn’t need one. Especially not one who was inexperienced, uninformed, and moody.
He looked at the frown that was pulling at the corner of my mouth. His sharp ears, pierced with golden rings, pressed against his head. “I’ve been to Drifael once. Had the best stew of my life there.”
He was offering me some reassurance, and it was appreciated. “If you can get Mitus trained up, maybe eventually we won’t need both of you. You could return to Virylan.” That was assuming Mitus wanted to stay in Drifael. I didn’t get the sense he was particularly happy here in Virylan.
“I asked around about him. My colleagues implied that, if his bartending is any evidence, I have my work cut out for me.”
“He doesn’t like dealing with the public,” I admitted. “But I don’t think he’ll give you much trouble. He would probably appreciate learning to throw a proper punch.” Could be a great way to get some of that pent-up, grief-fueled rage that I suspected he was dealing with out.
“And who do you suggest I let him beat up?” he snorted, his sharp teeth peeking from between his thin lips in an amused smile.
“I won’t tell you how to train.” I shrugged, holding up four hands innocently.
He huffed out a laugh. “Mykie told me you let your trainees wail on you for practice when you worked for G.P.O. It set a shitty precedent for other supervisors after you left.”
“Mykie should stop starting rumors.” Especially true ones. I figured it was much safer for my trainees to practice on me, rather than their first fight being with someone who wanted to kill them. Nothing wrong with that.
“Don’t worry, there are plenty of rumors out there that didn’t start with Mykie,” he grinned. Erith had a soft, socially aware mischief to him. He was the right one to pair with Mitus. I could clearly see that now.
“All positive I assume?”
“Depends on what sick fuck you ask,” he chuckled. “So, this female we’re supposed to protect, does she know about the goddesses?”
“She knows about the goddesses and has a natural intuition that it’s all best kept secret. I don’t think she knows about E.A.R.T.H…” I hadn’t mentioned it, and to my knowledge Vivian hadn’t either. “You can likely trust her with that information if it’s helpful… but be delicate with introductions. Identifying yourselves as grunts sent to protect her may not go over well. She’s quite self-sufficient.” I paused to think of a better solution. “You should bring some socks for her to mend. That’ll get you in her good graces quickly.”
“Socks?”
“Any damaged clothing. She’s a talented seamstress, and it seems to be her preferred way of making friends.”
“Gotcha, I’ll bringtasks.” He nodded skeptically.
“I’m renting half a duplex for her. Arne can get you guys into the other unit with enough bribery. Make nice, then mention you’re friends of mine there to help Vivian.”
“And will you be explaining this plan to Mitus?”
I scratched my scar. “I think it’s better you handle that with him.” I hoped Erith didn’t know what I’d done—why Mitus was coming along on this. But when his sharp, witty expression softened, I knew he did. It would have been part of the debrief before he was sent here.Theo, top paid hitman of the organization, throws fit over killing mailman.
“Convincing him to join shouldn’t be too hard. Arne is offering one hell of a sign-on bonus.” He raised a brow.
My heart ached. Arne was trying to make this easier on me by extending a sweeter deal to Mitus. The malecouldn’tjust let me hold a grudge against him forever. I wanted him to be in the wrong. I wanted to stay the victim of my past actions. But he wasn’t my enemy. Despite a busted brow, concussion, broken nose, curses, and several blows shared between us—we were friends with history.
“That’ll help,” I agreed, trying to not let the heaviness in my chest reach my expression. “I’m spending the rest of winter wrapping things up here. Gotta pass the pub off, sell my house, donate all my shit…”
“You really spent one season with a female and are uprooting your life? That’s very Arielna of you but…” He looked at my four arms, reminding me I was a Quadmos.
When he put it like that, it sounded like a bad idea. Sure, I wasn’t an Arielna who could identify my fated mate at first meeting, but Iwascertain this was the best idea I ever had. Nothing had ever felt so right. “She is my life now.”
He tilted his head skeptically, but smiled softly, nonetheless. “And you’re sure she’s alright through the end of winter? Is anyone watching over her?”
