“Let’s get back so I can apologize to your sister,” I huff out while letting my hands slide down his chest.
“Let’s, and then we’ll move out tonight. That’s why she’s here. She’s a general with the United, and she just came to tell me about something her team found in the battle grounds.”
Crap. I really wanted another night here with him. Now we’ll be separated, and who knows what idiot captain I’ll end up with.
“As it turns out, you’ll be under your uncle’s rule, and your aunt and her team will be joining us,” he adds to squash my worries.
“I’m going to be working with my uncle… and … what? Us?”
He smiles a little bigger, and he kisses the top of my head again as we walk into the crowds not far from the restaurant.
“Yes, us. I’ve been put with you and your uncle and aunt. We’ll be heading out about eight or so, and we’ll go investigate a scene. You’ll be the tracker… the solo tracker,” he continues, his grin only growing as my stomach flip flops again.
“Well that’s nerve racking. This is a little too high profile for me.”
“Don’t put yourself down. You’re a hell of a lot better than any of the other trackers I’ve met, including Hedin. So, for now, just prove me right.”
He speaks as though he had something to do with this, but he’s just a lieutenant. It’s still cute how he brags on me though.
“So, does it suck that your sister outranks you?” I tease.
He shrugs, a secretive grin coming to his face once again.
“Not really. I’ve got her beat on everything else.”
C
hapter 7
The Breath of Danger
“I’ve already told you, it’s new. Just chill out, Mom.”
“Darling, you’ve been wanting to go so solo for a while now, and this is a little exciting for me. I’m just worried this is a big step that is coming too soon in your young career. This lead sounds very high profile.”
“It is, but I’m ready to take it. Besides, Uncle Grayson and Aunt Angelica will be there.”
“I know. Tell Grayson I’ll kick his ass if anything happens to you."
I laugh a little at her overzealousness.
“Really, I’ll be fine.”
“I was really upset you didn’t tell me about Hedin being the one who steered you and your team into that fight that went wrong the first time.”
I stare at my nails, growing tired of this same old song and dance. Everyone has been saying the same thing.
“You already knew.”
“I know, but I wanted you to tell me. I’m your mother, Aralia. Your safety is all that matters to me. If you had told me, I could have called the commander and-”
“And that's exactly why I didn’t tell you. I’m fine, and in the end, it all turned out okay, thanks to you. You still got to be my hero, just in a different way. How’s Uncle Brazen?”
“I’m fine,” he murmurs too close to the phone, and I gag inwardly at what they must have been doing when I called.
“Okay, well… I need to get going. I’ll, um... talk to you later,” I rattle out awkwardly, and I hear both of them giggling as I hang up the phone.
“Now that is gross,” Rex pops off while walking over to me in the small waiting area of the hotel lounge.
