Page 33 of Red Ruin

That means the Farguard has no commander.

I sway like a black hole just opened in the floor.

I can’t pledge an oath to no one.

Even more, I can’t let the gap in leadership stand.

The badge’s functions are critical to the Farguard’s defense. I may never have held a badge or a title, but there’s no part of managing a guard I haven’t already done while supporting Kevan.

Someonehas to step up before we’re overrun with feral hordes.

Decisively, I connect a silk through the surface of the badge.

The metal sucks up my energy. Information rushes into my brain.

People. Maps. Records.

The Sword Major’s position comes with all kinds of authorities and tools I don’t have the time to play with right now. I cut the flow before I reel any more, then jam the badge into my pocket. My fingers tingle. “Let me hold on to this for you.”

Just temporarily.

I’ll return the badge and the job as soon as Remy is lucid.

By then, the whole Farguard will see the value I bring to their team.

“You.” I point to Vhex. “Go patrol for any monsters that ran over after you steamrolled our walls. Andyou.” I switch my glare to Remy. “Start repairing your damage to the buildings and arrays. We’re defenseless.”

Neither Sentinel moves.

Their energies spike in rebellion.

Instead of soothing their agitating asses, I grit my teeth and force my order through the commander’s badge.

When Sentinels join a guard, they swear their loyalty oaths in blood. The commander’s authority can’t stop them from rampaging, but it has enough juice to enforce a little bit of obedience.

Or itshould.

I nudge them through the chain of command, but the Sentinels don’t budge or even seem to care.

These men aren’t going to make one single thing easy on me.

I have to offer them a little sugar with my stick.

I use what’s left of my split-in-half energy to stroke their souls. “If you don’t secure the base, I won’t be able to relax and guide you. Make it safe. Then come see me at dawn. I’ll take care of everything else you need. Okay?”

I pour on sweetness, but neither Sentinel blinks. Their silks hold tight, hungry and totally unwilling to leave my comforting touch.

“Fine.” I groan.We can do it their way.“Who’s up first? I’ll take you on the desk, but you’d better pump fast if you want to come before we’re interrupted. The monsters will see us fucking from the tree-line.”

Finally, their eyes leave me.

Remy sneers into the darkness outside his office’s floor-to-ceiling sky-hole. “Dawn is far away.”

“Exactly.” I need to shower and sleep before I take on a double-Sentinel session. Maybe even grab a meal and some stitches for my throat. “It’ll take you that long to clean up the mess.”

“Take care of me first?” Vhex palms his still-erect cock.

“Go,” I order hoarsely, trying not to imagine how that bubblegum stick will taste buried in my throat. “And put on pants. Some monster with crocodile jaws is going to think that thing is candy.”

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