Page 47 of Out of My Flocking Mind

And somehow, I’d even missed Ruben with that severe expression.

“And you will remain here?” Harrison asked from my left.

“You know, I’m not a kid who’s going to get lost. You don’t have to act like I have babysitters.”

Harrison glanced to the side, at Ruben and Beth—a Mind there to ensure my lovely little stalker couldn’t get access while Harrison was gone.

“They’re not my babysitters,” I muttered under my breath, pouting.

“I will ensure she is fine,” Ruben said, like a date reassuring my father before taking me out.

If only this was a date. It would be just as awkward, but at least a date had the chance at sex at the end. Beth was pretty good looking, and I could go for a threesome.

Harrison narrowed his eyes, the look telling me he’d guessed what I’d thought, then shook his head. I only smiled back widely. At least he didn’t push the conversation—probably because he knew it wouldn’t do either of us any good, and I could argue all fucking day if I wanted to. He turned and walked out, leaving me there with Ruben and Beth in Ruben’s office.

Somehow, having Harrison gone let me breathe a little easier. It wasn’t fun spending all my time with a man who could read my mind if he really wanted to, who seemed to tell my thoughts and feelings with just a glance. It made me feel constantly on edge, and I hadn’t fully realized the toll it took until it was gone.

Harrison had needed to attend a meeting today. He’d put off most of his official responsibilities to focus instead on me and our investigation. However, as the head of the Mind Clan, a lot of people relied on him, and it seemed this task couldn’t be put off any longer. He’d spent the morning hemming and hawing over leaving me, but eventually, his job won out and he’d agreed to go only if he left me in Ruben’s care.

The task would take all day—possibly until tomorrow morning—and I was rather looking forward to a little time away.

Ruben took his seat, behind his desk, and started to flip through the papers there. I’d seen this from him plenty of times, the way he could drown out the rest of the world in favor of whatever work needed doing.

“You’re the worst entertainment,” I complained before I plopped down on the couch in his office.

“I’m busy. You said yourself I wasn’t your babysitter, didn’t you?”

I rolled my eyes, then turned my attention to Beth, who looked more than a little uncomfortable. She appeared to be in her twenties—younger than I would have expected Harrison to leave me with. Then again, age had little to do with power for Spirits. If she was here to keep an eye on me, she must have been rather powerful. She hadn’t said a word to me, and barely responded to Harrison when they’d seen each other. Not that he’d spoken to her either, treating her like an underling, the way he did to most people.

“So your name is Beth, right?” I asked, then patted the couch beside me.

She turned her gaze to Ruben, as though asking for permission.

He looked over at us, his expression tinged with annoyance. “I would tell you to be careful around her, but what is the point? Grey does as she wishes, so just make sure to keep your wallet close by.”

“That was one time.”

Ruben lifted his eyebrow.

I crossed my arms, slouching. “Fine, it might have been more than once, but if I’m stealing your wallet, you clearly don’t pay me enough. Besides, I only steal from people I like. Or I really dislike.”

“Imagine my distress as I wonder which I am.” He waved his hand, like shooing us away. “This floor is fully warded, so as long as you don’t leave this floor, you are safe here. Perhaps if you take her on a walk, she’ll behave.”

I stuck my tongue out at the fact Ruben spoke about me like I was a pet. Somehow, I’d moved from a child needing a babysitter to a puppy needing a pet sitter. I was always moving downward in life, wasn’t I?

Still, no reason to look a gift horse in the ass or whatever the saying was, so I hopped back to my feet. “Come on, Beth. Let’s have coffee.”

“I said this floor,” Ruben reiterated.

“Yeah, yeah. We won’t leave.”

“Then where are you getting coffee?”

I smiled, then took Beth’s hand as though we were five-year-old BFFs and headed out of Ruben’s office, Beth in tow. I made a point of slamming the door much harder than needed, smirking at the idea of how Ruben would be glaring at the now closed door.

“Is this your first time here?” I asked.

“At the council headquarters? No. I’ve attended meetings with Harrison in the past.”

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