Page 94 of Guiding Reason
Senlas’s breath tickled Orrey’s ear. “We don’t have to go right away. I don’t like sharing you with everyone.”
Orrey pulled back, but it took effort. Senlas was too warm, and he tasted too good. There was nothing for it though.
“Senlas, we just left a celebration for me attaining third rank before I should have. You keep saying I have received that rank on my own merit, yet you are trying to keep me from doing my job as an operative on this team. I don’t think that’s very supportive of you.”
Senlas’s lips pressed tight, and he looked at Orrey, blue eyes unblinking. Orrey didn’t either, and in the end, Senlas looked away first.
“Fine. But manage your expectations about getting to sleep when we get home later. They can have you for their documentary, but I get to keep you for the rest of the night.”
Orrey grinned, took Senlas by the hand, and dragged him through the elevator doors that opened with perfect timing. “Yes, oh my Guardian.”
They headed toward the exit, leaving the pool area on their right. The pool and its surroundings were mostly dark but sprinkled with light that scattered into shards across the water’s surface.I might miss being here. A tiny little bit. But then Senlas has a pool as well, and I haven’t really explored that yet.
“You had a moment to talk with Col alone.”
Orrey turned away from the pool and faced his Guardian, whose brows were drawn, not quite concern but the ingredients of it.
Orrey sighed and slowed his steps. “He was delighted to share that Hyran is good in bed. He offered some details.”
Senlas snorted. “That’s what you imprinted Conduits talk about when we’re not around, huh?”
“No. I mean, yes. I think he likes Hyran. Maybe even more than I liked you, this early on.”
Senlas’s face flushed. “What? You didn’t—Is it the thing with the room? That you had to move in the first place?”
Orrey chuckled. The Tower’s doors parted for them, and the outside greeted them with cool night air.
“It’s nothing like that. I couldn’t fathom being with you. I thought you wanted fun with a regular. I didn’t really understand imprinting, and I didn’t think that it could happen to me. Also, you were a lot, all protective and worried about my sunburn. It seems like ages ago although it wasn’t. It seems like I’ve known you for longer than I do. Is that very strange?”
Senlas shook his head. “No. It’s how I feel. Kitten?”
“Hm?”
“I can fly us there.”
“I was about to ask.”
Senlas’s power, which was a shared thing now, at least in Orrey’s head, enveloped them both, and Ferrea underneath their feet stretched into the distance.
At their highest point, Orrey thought he saw a glimmer from beyond the walls, but he had to admit it was likely his imagination, dreading or anticipating leaving those walls.
If it’s not my mind drawing mirages in the air, then it’s people. Or Hounds. They’re enjoying the same night under the same stars, and if they are as lucky as I am, they have someone who loves them right next to them.
TheyFloatedabove the Western Entrance for a while before anyone spotted them, but when they did, the excitement swept through the crowd in shouts and screen lights, in excited shuffling.
Orrey wasn’t sure, but he thought the strict divide between the Grounds and beyond it had faded, and sure enough, the closer they got, the clearer he could see that regulars and protectors were mingling easily with Guardians and Conduits.
This is like the Guardian Parade. Or no, there was no mingling there except for those Guardian chasers who tossed me into my future. Thisisthe future, Ferrea’s future, I hope.
Orrey smiled at the borders slipping beneath his feet, eager to land.
31
ChannelPulse
“Once again, for those just joining the stream now, this is ChannelPulse’s Sinta, and we’re out here by the Western Entrance, following the ice sculpture contest kicked off by Champion Shoda hours ago.
“Please remember, Champion Shoda still offers a kiss to the highest donor, so if you want to up your donation, you can, if you haven’t donated yet, consider doing so and vying for that kiss with all the other donors.
