Page 87 of In This Iron Ground
“That is so far away from what I meant I’m surprised you survived the leap in logic. My brother has never been able to do casual. And now he’s, what…just sleeping with you? I refuse to say the word sex in relation to Hakan. Urgh, wait, I just did. Oh God, the intrusive images. Make them stop.”
“Stop imagining things!”
“I can’t control my thoughts, Damien! Oh, God! Ew!”
“Jesus—let’s just leave it at the fact that it’s casual, whether you think that’s possible or not.”
“If you say so,” Koko drawled, sharing a look with Gonzalo and Olive.
“Stop that,” Damien said, waving a hand between the three of them.
“Does someone else have a sexcapade with a little less drama?” Olive asked. Damien sighed in relief, glad for the spotlight to be taken off him.
He took a deep breath. The secret suddenly being out had shaken him more than he’d let on. He’d have to make Koko promise she wouldn’t say anything to anyone else. As unsubtle as she could be, he knew he could trust her with a secret.
They were stepping outside of the café when Olive pulled Damien aside. He looked at her curiously.
“About Hakan…”
“Olive.”
“Just—I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. You two…I mean, I know I haven’t spent that much time with him, but the way you talk about him…”
“I’m good. I swear.”
Olive looked at him for a moment. “Okay. But if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”
“Maybe you should look into bounty hunting, because I totally believe you,” Damien said, giving her a grateful smile.
Olive’s expression turned thoughtful. “I do like shouting at people and kicking ass…”
Damien laughed.
**********
The new semester started with Damien’s attention focused on the mission Mia had set him on. He had read the package of information with Nova during the holidays and continued researching the topic as he returned to Eketon. He communicated with Mia and Nova, making sure that any additions he made to the information were approved by them. In the end, he’d studied that package as if he were preparing for midterms and knew the information inside and out.
Hakan had insisted on accompanying him on the trip. Damien had agreed easily. Sending someone who was actually in Mia’s pack would be a sign of respect that could only strengthen the ties between the two families.
Unsurprisingly, the Niles pack lived in a rural area, surrounded by long fields showcasing the green leaves of the sweet potatoes burrowed underground. The Nileses were generational farmers, their houses dotted around their land in clusters that were all close enough to feel like a community.
Damien parked the rented car in front of a Midwestern-style house, which always looked to Damien as if several smaller houses had fused together, creating a hydra of many roofs.
A woman came out to meet Damien and Hakan as they got out of the car. She was compact and sturdy, her dark blonde hair streaked with grey. Her face was a picture of her life, wrinkles telling of days spent working in the sun, of laughter and joy, of sadness.
“Hello. I am Camille Niles, Kephale of the Niles pack. I am honoured to have emissaries from the Salgado pack on my land. I welcome both of you and hope our time together will be fruitful,” Camille said, her formal words bellied by her large smile.
“I am Damien, messenger from the Salgado pack. I am honoured to be welcomed onto Niles land. I trust the moon will guide us towards prosperity,” Damien replied formally, tilting his head slightly to the side in a show of respect to the Kephale. She nodded, and then all formalities broke as she embraced them both.
“Now that all that formal nonsense is over, I’m very glad to meet you, Damien. Mia has told me great things about you,” Camille said. Damien smiled, sure that Mia had talked Damien up so that it wouldn’t seem strange she was sending him instead of one of her pack.
“It’s a pleasure to be accepted into your home. This land is amazing!”
“Why, thank you. You should see it in spring. My, everything comes to life. And, Hakan! You probably don’t remember me. You were just a dot when I last saw you.”
“I don’t, but I’m glad to see you again,” Hakan said a little stiffly.
“Well, let’s get out of the cold. Alice is making us some tea inside.”
