Page 59 of Flock This

Did he seriously think I was going to just ride around in his pocket like a pet? I was…well, something, but the one thing I knew I wasn’t was a pet!

His expression didn’t change as he stared at me. “Judging from Ruben’s feelings during the meeting—muted though they are with Justice’s—he suspects you’re around. I believe he will waste no time in searching for you now that the meeting is over. Would you really prefer to be here for him to find?”

Talk about shitty choices. It felt like one of those ‘the devil you know’ situations. I could hang around and likely get caught by Ruben—who evidently had a warrant for me now—or I could risk heading off with this asshole.

The idea of getting myself tossed in a cell by Ruben sounded dreadful, so against my better judgment, I fluttered over to this man, sliding my body into his coat pocket. It wasn’t a comfortable fit, and I ensured a good peck or two to his chest just to make sure he knew I hated it.

I wasn’t that small of a bird, but between his sweater and the lapels of his coat, it wasn’t immediately apparent he had something in his pocket. It was even easier when he shifted his scarf to rest over my body.

And for my part, I felt the way his heart beat, a steady rhythm that showed no signs of concern. It didn’t race, didn’t speed, making him seem even less emotional than before.

The pocket ended up being far more comfortable than I expected—not that I’d ever admit that. It kept me from getting jostled as he left the council room, and I’d even call it downright cozy.

No one remained in the hallway as we went, but it was more so than when I’d gone through. It felt so empty it seemed as if everyone were told to specifically stay out of the way.

Why?

The beeping of the elevator gave me our location, and when the doors closed and the elevator started to move, something stroked over me.

At first, I worried he’d forgotten I was there and might smoosh me, but quickly I recognized the gesture as something even more upsetting.

He was petting me.

And worse? It felt sort of good… In fact, it struck me as so odd, I searched my feelings to see if he were affecting them. He was a Mind, right? I doubted he could read my mind, but what if he were somehow causing my feelings to gentle? Empaths could do such things, after all…

However, I found no signs. Did I just find the feeling calming?

That was far worse than him manipulating me with his powers.

And to make my point, I bit at his hand, through the coat and scarf. I doubted it hurt, but when he stopped, my point must have been made.

He let out a soft chuckle just as the doors opened. The sound of doors opening and closing, of the man’s steps against the ground, they all gave me clues as to our location. I’d expected the man to use a portal, as most of the council members did, but finally a breeze along with the squawk of a bird suggested we’d gotten outside.

“Harrison.”

I almost groaned at the sound of Ruben’s voice when I was so close to sweet, sweet freedom.

The man stopped and turned, at least giving me his name. “Yes?”

“You should be very careful.”

“I am always careful.”

“Someone managed to kill a sitting council member. People don’t do that unless they have something much larger planned.”

“Someone? Don’t you mean Grey?”

“We both know it wasn’t that girl, and until we know who did it and why, we all sit at risk.”

The fact that he still believed in me made me regret breaking into his office, and sneaking out, and about all the other times I’d annoyed him and made his life harder.

But only for a moment before I remembered how often he pissed me off, too.

We’ll call it even.

“Seeing as you are the Justice here, I believe that falls on your shoulders, doesn’t it? Perhaps instead of worrying about warning me, you should find the actual culprit.”

I didn’t need to see Ruben’s face to guess his expression. In fact, in my head, I could see his tight jaw and the little lines that would appear on his cheek. He didn’t show emotion like others did, but I’d known him long enough to read him.

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