Page 22 of Marked
“Wait, are we talking about Emi?” Orion chimed in as he joined us. “The guardian known for causing chaos wherever she goes?”
“I do not cause chaos.” I placed my hands on my hips and huffed. I caused death, if we were going to get technical about it.
Orion smirked but didn’t bother commenting.
The baker had moved even closer to Ace, her ample breasts pressing against his chest as she whispered in his ear. Ace must’ve mumbled something incredibly hilarious, because Maria started laughing and smacking his arm.
Ace smirked and looked up. Our gazes locked from across the roaring bonfire, and he stilled, his smile slipping. Before I could make a snide gesture, his attention slid to where Orion stood beside me. He stiffened and his lip curled into a snarl.
At the same time, Graham and Gavin passed where Ace and Maria stood, bumping into Ace’s shoulder before making their way toward us.
“Ugh...Looks like Graham’s headed this way,” Sley announced. "I’m out.”
My friend disappeared into the throng of people.
“You seem a little preoccupied tonight.” Orion leaned down. “Want me to help you forget your troubles?”
I let a slow smile spread across my face. That was exactly what I needed.
Orion reached out and traced his finger along my arm. “With Blake back already, it won’t be long before you receive your next mission. We should enjoy the time we have.”
The mention of the messenger’s name snapped me to attention. “He’s back?”
Normally, he would have stayed overnight in Wast instead of travelling at night. After finding his cabin empty earlier, I’d expected him to arrive tomorrow at the earliest.
Orion groaned and closed his eyes. “I knew that was the wrong thing to say the moment it came out of my mouth.”
“Sorry.” I flashed him a sheepish smile. “Raincheck?”
“Of course.”
10
Blake sat on an old log by the firepit outside his small cabin. He lived on the other side of Perga from me, but it didn’t take me long to slip away from the bonfire to make my way to his place. Even in the dark. I knew the path well.
Blake looked up at my approach and groaned.
“I just got back,” he said.
I understood Blake’s weariness all too well. The burden of constantly communicating with the queen’s court lay heavily on his shoulders. Normally, I’d wait until morning, but the urgency of the situation outweighed any desire to provide Blake a break.
“Sorry...”
“No, you’re not.” Blake’s tired gaze flashed with a mix of curiosity and resignation as he motioned for me to sit beside him on the log. The fire crackled and danced, casting shadows across his face. “What do you have for me?”
I held out the message, the wax seal proudly presenting my guardian crest. “It can wait until early tomorrow morning.”
“But you couldn’t?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t want to risk missing you before you headed out.”
Blake nodded and plucked the letter from my hand. He studied my face in the flickering light, his frown deepening with each blink. “Are you okay?”
My mind immediately went to my wolf familiar’s injury, and then to Maria plastering her beautiful body all over Ace. “I will be.”
Blake opened his jacket to slide the message into an internal pocket and turned back to me. Normally, I would’ve already made my way home, but I made the mistake of sitting down.
My feet felt so heavy, my eyelids droopy. Why did I talk myself into going to the bonfire party tonight?