“Do not smile about this. How do we get rid of it?”
“Come here, I want to see it.”
I glance to Zhang for permission. The handprint thing’s a touchy subject. He nods.
Merrick’s vice grip circles my wrist and yanks me to him. He may be weaker than usual, but he’s not weak.
He runs a curious hand over it. “This is connected to the tattoo from the Gods somehow. I felt a searing pain in my forearm just before it happened. I don’t think this can be removed.”
“At least pretend not to be happy about it.”
“Why would I do that? I love having my mark on you.”
I sigh, yanking my wrist away, adding this to my list of problems.
“How imminent a threat is your father’s arrival?” Zhang asks, still glaring at Merrick’s handprint tattoo on my arm.
He shrugs and then winces in pain. “I don’t know, but with that,” he says, pointing to the runeheput on my body. “He can show up whenever he wants.”
My door slides open, and it was locked, so I know it’s got to be Father, who can override locks to the whole compound. Am I mad at him? Kinda, but I know he never does anything without a good reason. I want to hear those good reasons.
“Treyu. Your brother filled us in.”
“Yeah, and I need you to fill me in more, sir.” Or maybe confirm is a better word. Boone was telling the truth, and so were the hawthors. I’ve been paying closer attention to my husband—yeah, I know—and his body language gives away what he can’t with words.
Father stands firm with his thick arms across his barrel chest. No matter how many centuries old I get, I still remember the feeling of having a Father who could chase the bad guys away for me. I kinda need that right now.
“Everyone down to the war room—not you, angel. You’re gonna fall over. Treyu can fill you in later.”
Merrick—the fool—attempts to roll off my bed. He manages to sit up. “I don’t obey you, General Orion.”
“Take one limb off that bed and I’m contacting your father.”
It’s hard not to laugh, but I’m not foolish enough to attract Father’s negative attention. Merrick groans and flops back into a miserable lump.
* * *
Father’s war room is located inside a large sandstone building in the Eastern most barracks of the Guardian base. The building’s woven to the brim with protection runes, and it’s occupied by Father’s warriors at all times, in shifts.
My boots echo off stone and I absorb some of the hustle and bustle moving around us. Atlanta and I used to chase each other through these halls. We got into endless trouble in this building.
The place is all archways and carved pillars. It’s plugged into the ether, so in addition to sunlight, starlight brightens the darker corners. Light is only one thing the ether provides, we’re also able to pull up information by tapping into the vibration of the place.
At least Iwasable to. No sunstar means no access. Nothing in here will work for me without it.
Father gets nods of respect as he strides through the place, but I’m not watching him, something’s caught my eye in my husband’s countenance. When did he become so handsome? I’ve always found him attractive—begrudgingly so—but he’s extra today. I’m not even thinking with my dick like I usually do. It’s pure pride that beats through me, filling my chest. Light bounces off his silky amber hair. The ghost of his lips still blazes across mine.
“Father, can we meet you in just a second? I promise we won’t be long,” I call from behind him.
“Make it quick,” he says. “You know the way.”
I nod, grabbing Zhang’s hand, enduring Atlanta’s scowl. He shouldn’t even be here, but he insisted that in a guardian’s long coat with the hood pulled over his head, he’d be indistinguishable from the others. Failing that, he refuses to believe any of Father’s guardians aren’t loyal. Atlanta and Father are the most paranoid Orions in the bunch, but it’s the one thing I wish they’d be more neurotic about.
I haven’t forgotten that although the Guild gives the orders, someone from team Orion passed them along to me that night. It could have been an error, sure, but with everything going on, chances are that it wasn’t.
I know every nook and cranny of this place. I lure Zhang into private darkness, and it’s my turn to attack him. But dammit, I’m not tall enough. “Well, lift me, Centaurus.”
“What are you doing?”
