Chapter 114

Chapter 114
As Kael signed off, a young man's voice cut in from the co-pilot's seat, sharp and technical.

​"The air quality is dropping significantly, Captain. High concentration of suspended metallic dust and traces of the Beast-bound virus itself. Looks like a recent battle or maybe a purge site nearby. We should switch the main carrier to filtered air," Dorian said, showing his brilliance in comms and chemical.

He sat stiffly, running diagnostics while Reed drove the scout vehicle with unnerving smoothness. Reed was silent, focusing on his task.

​Kael turned to Dorian, his expression hardening slightly. "You heard the Captain. We're going in close. Report the air quality to the main carrier, then prep the jamming gear. We need to open a secure channel to the Capital grid. The signal is our priority."

​Dorian frowned, his eyes flashing with professional irritation. "My analysis is critical, Kael. If Ren's sister is sensitive to the air—"

​"The Captain's prioritising the objective, Dorian," Kael snapped, his patience thin. "Mira has her serum; she'll be fine. Focus on getting us the window we need to hit the Capital's data centre. Everything else is secondary."

​Reed gave a single, deep grunt of agreement, his massive hands tightening slightly on the steering yoke.

​Dorian pressed his lips into a thin line, but professionalism won out. He quickly patched the air quality report through and began setting up his equipment, his small compartment now a hive of blinking lights and humming electronics. The danger was escalating, and Kael's command had just reinforced the cold reality: the mission came before everything, even safety protocols.

​The convoy was nearing the Faction 12 base, and the tension was rising as they anticipated Conan's countermove.

Meanwhile, on Axton and Ren's vehicle, Axton was speaking to Rhys and asking him to make sure everything went as planned.

Rhys nodded and lifted his comms to his mouth, "Everyone, we will be stopping in twenty minutes. Get your supplies. Br ready." He announced and nodded once more at Axton.

Axton gave him a slight nod and walked toward their chamber. 

"Ready?" He asked Axton as he leaned against the door.

Ren lifted his head from the bunk bed he was sitting on, "I am... it's just..." he sighed, tapping his hands on his knees.

Axton walked into the chamber and lowered himself beside Ren, "What is it, Renault? You know you have to tell me." He spoke gently. 

Ren sighed again, "It's nothing, really. It's just me being paranoid. I believed that your father would have attacked us on the way, but look, the sky is darkening, we are almost at the Faction 6 walls, and still no sign of him. It feels like we're walking right into his trap." He said, frowning in worry.

Axton sighed, placing his hand on Ren's waist, "Do not worry, Renault. From Vance's and my side, our teams have checked for any interluding signals or hidden troops. We found nothing, it can only mean that Mt father has not gotten here." He assured, lifting Ren's face to stare into his eyes.

"We got here before the general, and even if he tries to interfere, we will be ready for him... plus, you have that disgusting army of yours to keep him busy for a while." Axton kissed Ren's cheek, smiling.

Ren chuckled, "I guess you're right." He smiled back at Axton.

"Then, let's prepare to camp. The signal is still steady, yeah?" Ren questioned.

Axton nodded, "Yes, my love. We rest tonight, and tomorrow, hopefully, we find it." He replied, standing to get their bags.

Ren smiled and watched Axton move around the room, starting what they would need for tomorrow's journey for they would be journeying on foot.

The maps show that the signal cannot be reached with a vehicle, especially one as big as theirs. 

——

The night fell, and the orange clouds floated as the dry wind blew harshly. 

The men scattered around the walls of Faction 6, never intending to enter, but to make rent for the night, and, use them as a shield in case of a war.

Everyone was busy, building up their large, strong tents which had specifically been made to withstand any kind of wind and rain.

Very far away from the men, the Beast-bound creatures stood, ready to attack at their King's orders. But, for now, they stayed away as their King ordered, keeping an eye out for any strange movement. 

Inside a ready, warm tent, Mira sat on the small chair by the side of the tent's wall, busy writing in her notebook.

"There's food in the bag... and a change of clothes. Do take a break from your journalism," Tide's calm voice said from the tent's door, drawing Mira's attention.

Mira paused her writing fingers and looked up from her notebook, taking in Tide's dressing.

He wore a heavy coat, boots, gloves and a cap, he looked ready to spend his night outside.

She slowly closed her book, clearing her throat, "Are you... going somewhere?" She asked, sounding unbothered.

Tide nodded, "Yes, My–Mira. We will be taking turns to guard the perimeter –"

"But the Beast-bound creatures were already doing that," Mira cut in without meaning to, clenching her fingers around her notebook as she frowned at Tide.

Tide nodded, "They guard without brains, we're soldiers, and I do not mean it as an insult, but we can't put our hopes in creatures whose life forces are being destroyed every second." He explained every so calmly.

Mira slowly stood, "So much for staying by my side till the end of the journey." She murmured, looking away from him.

Tide wanted to speak but paused, his eyes narrowing as he keenly observed her.

Quietly, he stepped into the tent, standing right in front of her and staring at her lowered face.

"I'm not leaving your side, my lady. I'm barely even ten feet away from our tent. If you need me, just yell, I'll be by your side in a flash." He said, his voice taking a gentler, tender tone.

Mira sighed, slowly lifting her face to gaze at Tide, "That's not what Axton or Ren said. They said you would be beside me twenty-four seven. But you're leaving your warden to... never mind. The tent will be more peaceful without you." She frowned, shrugging. 

"You don't need to stay with me, I'll just have the yiny bed all to myself," she chuckled and took a step back.

But before could take another step backwards, Tide gently wrapped his hand around her wrist and stepped closer to her.

"What? I'm not asking you to stay, Soldier –"

"You do not want me to go, my lady," Tide stated, his hand slowly going up to cup the back of Mira's head.

Mira gulped, her fingers getting impossibly tight as she stared into Tide's knowing eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I was just reminding you of your duties to..." She paused and started trembling slightly as Tide's face leaned closer to her, her breath hitching as she licked her suddenly dry lips. 

"What are you doing, Tide?" She whispered breathlessly, feeling Tide's warm, shallow breath on her lion lips.

Tide stared at Mira's green eyes before lowering them to her lips, "I'm just making sure my assessments are correct, my lady." He murmured, his voice a sexy, deep drawl.

"W-what assessments?" Mira's eyes looked nowhere else but at Tide's lips, her breath turning hotter and sharper.

Tide smiled ever so slightly, "This assessment." He whispered and slowly covered the space between them in a warm, slow kiss.

Mira gasped softly as Tide's mouth met hers, the unexpected contact shattering the careful, unbothered facade she had struggled to maintain. The kiss was slow, deliberate, and warm, a stark contrast to the cold exterior he usually presented. Her earlier irritation melted instantly, replaced by a sudden, intense focus on the feeling of his lips moving gently against hers.

​Her notebook, the cherished recorder of their history, slipped from her nerveless fingers, hitting the tent floor with a dull thud.

​Mira's initial shock quickly dissolved into a response. Her free hand instinctively lifted, curling into the thick material of his heavy coat, pulling him closer as she deepened the contact. The scent of dust and clean leather, carried on his coat from his post, filled her senses.

​Tide released a quiet, pleased sound into the kiss. His hand that cupped the back of her head tightened just enough to anchor her, while the hand on her wrist slid up her arm, his thumb brushing the sensitive skin of her inner elbow. The gentle pressure communicated a depth of feeling that his calm demeanour usually masked.

​He was right. She hadn't wanted him to leave.

​After a long, breathless moment, Tide pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against hers. His eyes, dark and heavy with a sincerity she had never seen before, held her gaze. His breath was ragged, mirroring her own.

​"Was that assessment correct, My Lady?" he murmured, the title now sounding less like a formal address and more like an intimate claim.

​Mira could only stare, her lips tingling and her mind reeling. She reached up, placing her hand flat on his chest, feeling the solid, steady beat of his heart beneath the heavy fabric.

​"I... I need to sit down," she whispered, her voice husky.

​Tide's smile was fleeting but genuine. He carefully released her, stepping back only enough to give her room.

​"Food and dry clothes, My Lady. The mission begins tomorrow," he stated, his voice returning to its calm, professional timbre, yet infused with a warmth that hadn't been there before. He bent down, retrieving her fallen notebook with a careful hand. "I will be outside. Yell if you need me, but keep the yells soft."

​He placed the notebook on her chair, gave her a respectful nod, and then stepped out into the night, leaving Mira alone in the warm, quiet tent, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against the sudden silence.

​She touched her lips, a wide, disbelieving smile spreading across her face. A warden indeed.