Chapter 41
3052
“It’s been a year Hydra.” Falkor sighs as he looks around my cramped office.
“I know.” I mutter as I scribble my signature down on the document and save the file. “I just… It doesn’t feel right.” I admit as I attach the file and send the mail back to the council.
“This office is too small and it’s getting tiring to explain to everyone why my Beta is hauled up in such a small office when the one you’re supposed to be using is collecting dust.” I finally look up at him and then at the admittedly chaotic office around me and sigh.
“Fine, I’ll move.” I’d been avoiding moving into Roanan’s old office and it’s never been an issue until now. I have no idea what made Falkor decide to push on the subject today, but I also know to pick my battles with him carefully and this is not a battle I want to have right before handing him the new rule book for the evaluation games.
“Okay, I’ll help.” He picks up a box and leaves the office with it. I sigh, sitting back in my chair as I look around, my heart racing a little at invading another space that doesn’t feel like it belongs to me.
3053
“Beta Valentine.” I pull the sash over my head as Beta Jennings approaches, wondering what he could possibly want to talk about, after he practically took over the entire meeting just now.
“Beta Jennings, did I forget something?” I place my bag on the back seat, wondering how much energy I have to scrape together to have this conversation with him.
“No, nothing like that. I was just wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tonight? Unofficially.” My brain short circuits, every thought standing still as I stare at this purple-eyed man in front of me. Questions like these aren’t strange but they still manage to surprise me. While I understand that true Kin are rare, it also still floors me that dragons who have never even met their Kin would go after women that they know do not belong to them.
“I have a flight in a couple of hours, I’m afraid. Thank you so much for the invitation.” His smile doesn’t hide his disappointment, but he doesn’t push the subject as he wishes me a good day further. I climb into my car and arrange for the jet to take me back home, knowing I can’t stick around in this city, even though I really didn’t want to go back home.
3054
I watch as warriors spar, noting their techniques and wondering if my time away from the clan has done more harm than good. Our international relations are strong, but they’re only going to help us so much if our warriors are lacking this much technique.
“What do you think?” Gina asks, her eyes never moving from two of our top fighters going at each other.
“They’re not going to cut it.” I admit and she only nods. “Let me make some calls. I have a few favors I can call in.” I give her a pat on the back as I leave the training grounds, trying to push the guilt I feel for not being involved in the clan to the back of my mind. We don’t have time for pity. Not where action is required.
3055
I watch from the edge of the training grounds as Falkor laughs with Estelle. Not a fake one either, a real, head thrown back, smile that reaches the eyes laugh, at whatever the hell she’s saying. Sometimes, I miss the easy friendship we had before Roanan’s death, but most of the time I can live with the relationship we’ve built since then. It’s not tense, not exactly friendly but it works for us, or at least it does for me, most of the time. It’s the type of relationship most Beta’s have with their King, functional.
“I can’t stand her.” Kayla mutters as she comes to stand next to me, taking a rather aggressive bite from her apple. “When does she leave again?” I look at her with an amused smile before shaking my head.
“She’s helped a ton in improving our warriors. Especially the humans.” I remind her but get an eyeroll as response. “She leaves in a week. She has to be back at her own clan before the games start.”
“When is that again?” I sigh, wondering why Kayla even attends meetings anymore if she never really listens in them.
“In a month. We have three weeks to choose our final warriors and submit their names.” We’ve worked ourselves to the bone for nearly five years to be invited to these games, and yet it still doesn’t feel real at times.
“I still don’t see why you can’t just train them. You’re the best here.” I sigh, knowing that Kayla won’t stop complaining until Estelle goes back to her own clan.
“I don’t have all the skills you think I have, Kay. Estelle is a decorated warrior; she’s been through these games before.” I explain once more.
“So has your brother. You could have just asked him for help.” I swallow down the panic that rises in me at the mention of Hayden.
“Kayla.” She sighs, hearing the warning in my tone.
“Listen, I know but it’s been five years. You’re not going to be able to avoid them forever, or are you just not going to attend the games? You know that isn’t an option.” I know. She knows I know but it still doesn’t mean that I want to run into my family.
“I might not see them at all. It’s a big event.” With clans from all around the world coming. “They’re a big clan; there’s a high chance we won’t run into each other.”
“You still don’t have a Kin; how much do you want to bet that slimy bottom feeder won’t seek you out now.” I stare at the side of Kayla’s face until she looks at me. “Too far?” I nod and she nods, going back to nibbling at her apple. “I still can’t stand her.” She narrows her eyes at Estelle, and I laugh, pushing away from the tree and walking in their direction, before I let it slip that sometimes, most of the time, I can’t stand the way Estelle can make Falkor laugh either. That I don’t know what to do to close the distance between us. That I’m pretty sure he still blames me for his friend no longer walking this earth, even if he says he doesn’t, because how could he not, how could anyone not when I still blame myself?