Page 48 of A Love of Wrath and Rapture

No. I won’t.

I’m not the one who severed our relationship. I’m not going out of my way to gain her approval.

Renee casts her line of sight behind me, pulling a neutral expression as she walks by. No scoff, no glance, not even a whisper of a threat.

The lump in my throat swells with pain. Even if she is a traitor, it still hurts to be ignored by someone I once called a friend.

Maybe I should just get used to it. I might never win this settlement back.

“Good afternoon,” I greet upon sintering the guardpost. “I’ve brought lunch for you all.”

“Thanks, just set it down there,” the captain says.

As I place the tray on the table, another guard enters the building.

“Captain, just wanted to give you the hourly report. No signs of the waira today, but we’ll continue our watch.”

“Very well.”

Today?

“Have they been seen close to the settlement?” I ask.

The captain turns to me, his eyebrow raised as if I’ve just asked an offensive question.

“Nothing to worry about, citizen. Now be on your way.”

I return to my workstation, taking my rest with a bowl of warm soup. Thea joins me.

“Do you know if the waira threat is drawing nearer?” I ask her. “I heard the guards mention it at the gate.”

A grave look of concern falls over her face.

“So the rumors are true,” she mutters.

“What rumors?”

“Some of the hunters said they saw them nearby while out scavenging. I guess the guards are trying to keep it a secret so no one panics, but word spreads quickly around here as you know.”

“Do you think they’ll attack?”

“I hope not. We have the guards, but who knows what the waira are capable of?”

“We also have Xeros now,” I say, upbeat in an effort to reassure her.

“Yeah,” she laughs. “It's a bit weird to think we have a monster working with us, but I’ll take it. How is he doing, by the way?

“Just like me, struggling and putting up with prejudice.”

“You two are perfect for each other then.”

Smiling, I exhale a long sigh of exhaustion and recline back in my seat.

But the sudden screams coming from the gate make the bowl of soup slip out of my hands.

“What was that?” Thea yells.

“The waira are attacking!” a guard exclaims, running from the direction of the gate. “Everyone get inside your homes!”

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