Page 42 of Resurgent

His eyes move from Korr to me, then back to Korr questioningly.

“Well, well,” he says. “You didn’t tell me the recruit you were bringing with you is so beautiful.”

Korr’s expression goes flat. “Don’t.”

The soldier grins wider. “I’m just saying—It would explain why you took longer than necessary to get here.”

“Knock it off,” Korr barks, and I bite back a smile. Clearly these two know each other, and he knows exactly how to get under the Captain’s skin.

“So touchy,” he teases.

For some reason, I like him immediately—The Gods only know why.

Maybe it’s the easy grin or the way he talks to Korr without looking remotely intimidated…or maybe it’s because he has Mattey’s same reckless, irritating energy that’s made me want to punch him and laugh with him at the same time.

But whatever the reason may be, I find myself more at ease with him than I could have imagined, which is the only explainable reason I find myself telling Tyr to stand down when the soldier extends a hand in my direction and Tyr bares his fangs at him.

“Appreciate that! I thought Hunt here would be the only touchy one here today, but glad to see I can still be wrong from time to time. Anyway, I’m Dax.”

“Annalise.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Korr makes a low sound of warning, and to my disappointment, Dax releases my hand, conceding with both palms raised.

“What? I’m being friendly.”

“You're being annoying.”

“You’ll have to forgive my friend; he’s become a real bore since taking up his post at Scion. I swear he used to have a personality.”

I laugh before I can stop myself, Korr’s eyes cutting to mine—not sharply, just…surprised.

“Are you sure? I guess he thought since the military didn’t issue it that he must not need it anymore,” I tease, causing Dax’s grin to return even brighter than before.

“Oh, I like her.”

“You don’t know her.”

“Exactly! Makes it so much easier.”

Korr mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like a prayer for patience.

Dax and I spend the next hour up here talking while Korr delivers the missive and handles whatever other military business brought us here.

He tells me about a disastrous training exercise he and Hunter were in together involving a lake, too much booze, and overactive imaginations that had them all running into camp screaming warnings of monsters in the water, only to find it was an old tree stump poking out of the water, its branches formed perfectly in the shape of demon horns.

I laugh more than I expect to, which surprises me as much as it annoys Korr when he returns.

“This is work, not time for you two to braid each other's hair and tell exaggerated old stories.”

“Exaggerated, huh? So you didn’t really save Dax from a burning building and then declare he owes you first shot the next time you go hunting together?

Hunter’s facial expressions change too quickly to decipher their meanings, but once he’s settled back on the stoic Captain, he gives Dax a pointed look.

“Guess that’s my cue to leave, Trouble. Don’t let the serious face trick you; he likes long walks on the beach as much as the next guy.”

Korr stops walking, his eyes bouncing between Dax and me.