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I would never stop.
I held my breath for a moment, hoping for a whisper of my wolf.
Nothing.
I tried not to let it ruin the heartwarming words Lea had just said, focusing on the happiness the moment had just brought me.
“Thank you,” I said, finally breaking apart the gnarled mess, able to smooth the brush through her beautiful black hair. “It’s what I was meant to do. But I feel the same way about your job. We all have our own callings, and we are all meant to follow through on them. It doesn’t make yours any less important than mine. Plus, I bet no matter how many years I learn, I could never perfectly sculpt and design the works of art you call weapons that come out of your forge. That’s not just a calling, that is a gift from Lunestia.”
“Thank you.” She fell silent for a moment as I finished with the brush, moving on to braid the length of her hair. “Can I say something you probably don’t want to hear?” she asked at last, and even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew she was smirking from the teasing tone of her voice.
My eyes narrowed. “Sure.”
“Nolan actually seems very nice, or at least his witness manner is.” She let out a chuckle. “Although I suppose it helps that he’s quite pleasant to look at.”
A lump formed in my throat, the burning difficult to ignore as I swallowed. I tied off the end of her braid. “I suppose, if he’s your type.”
“Kasha Mallanis, I’ve known you for over twenty years.” Lea twisted around, nudging my shoulder with hers, a kiss of pink dotting her dark, bronzed cheeks. “Don’t act like I don’t know exactly who your type is.”
I balked at her, eyes and mouth wide. I wished I could tell her she was way off, but then I would be lying.
In a different life or during a different time, if he had just stayed that stranger in the tavern, Nolan would be the one my eyes would go to.
But my life was never that simple.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I took the next day off, refusing to leave Lea alone.
We spent the day at home, part of it together playing chess or cards, and other times giving her space when she needed it. I worked on cleaning the house and cooking a very simple dinner, hoping it would take some of the stress away. It seemed to help, being there for her without constantly suffocating her. By the time dinner was over, she seemed a little less anxious and had decided to go to bed early.
I finished wiping off the last clean dish and storing it in the cupboard when the faint chirp of my Comms rang from my bedroom upstairs. I raced up, taking the steps two at a time, trying my best not to miss the call. The whole Faction knew why I was here, so if they were calling, it might be about Elliot or some new piece of information about the hostage situation. The screen was still lit up as I entered my bedroom, grabbing the unit from my bedside table to see who exactly was calling.
Nolan’s name flashed across the screen.
A part of me wanted to ignore it, but the stronger, more curious part hit the accept button, Nolan’s smirking face appearing before me on the screen.
“Hello, what can I help you with?” I dropped down onto my bed, my legs a bit shaky. “Something about the case?”
“Uh, no, nothing too pressing,” he said.
I squinted, noticing that he was walking outside, somewhere that wasn’t the Compound by the look of the buildings around him. “Then this call is for…?”
“I wanted to see if you were available to meet me tonight at that bar you all seem to enjoy.”
My eyes widened, my heart pulsing a beat faster. “TheBlood Moon?”
“Yes, that’s it.” He nodded. “I think there are some things we need to get out in the open and talk about, which might be better discussed outside of our professional environment.”
“I don’t know how I feel about discussing my personal life in a public place.” My skin itched, and it took all my self-control not to scratch at the rising pressure on my throat.
“I reserved one of the private rooms they have. I figured you wouldn’t want me coming to your house…”
“Sharp instincts.”
“So, I found a public venue that offers privacy for people to talk in.” Nolan stopped in what looked like the entryway to the bar. “Look, a lot’s happened since I arrived. I have questions for you, and I can tell you have plenty for me, even if you haven’t asked them. We’re going to be stuck with each other for who knows how long, so we might as well take a step toward civility and mutual respect. I think the only way to get there is to try and break some of the stress that seems to be surrounding the idea of getting to know each other. So, if you’re willing, I think I have an idea of how we can do it, but it involves you meeting me tonight.”
“Well, um…” I looked around my room as if some magical answer to my dilemma was going to appear on the walls.
