Page 100 of A Warrior's Fate

After some strategic maneuvering, she was able to get beside him in one of the lines. He was distracted by a conversation with a man on his other side, glancing sidelong at him as he heaped some chicken onto his plate. Isla set her tray down to slide along the metal bar, her mouth watering as she waited and eyed the options for her meal. They’d gone through three serving stations, him leaving the utensil for her every time—but never acknowledging her—before he’d ended his exchange.

After clearing her throat, she leaned over and asked, “So, what’s good here?”

Rhydian didn’t turn. He picked up the serving spoon for the vegetables, a smirk threatening his mouth. “Uh, not the—” The guard looked over and then did a double-take, cutting himself off when he realized who he was talking to. His wide eyes lingered for a moment before he looked forward again. Then stepped to the side.

A smile played on Isla’s lips. “Oh, come on, I don’t bite.”

Rhydian furrowed his brows at the quip as if he hadn’t expected it, and smiled. “My brother may be disappointed then.”

It was just quiet enough for her to hear, and her jerk-back reaction had his grin growing.

“Don’t get the beans,” he advised. Then continued down the way.

With Kai back on her mind, they didn’t interact again until they were at the final station, lined with desserts. Most had forgone the sweets—with the hard day of drills continuing from the afternoon into evening—but Rhydian put a handful of cookies on his plate. When Isla took one off the tray for herself, Rhydian laughed. She wasn’t sure why but either way, she laughed with him.

As her amusement faded into soft breaths, she realized that they were distant from others. There had been a question plaguing her mind since last night. Why not ask?

“Did he really make you go to the border to check on me? To escort us—me—into Mavec?” She wouldn’t speak Kai’s name aloud, but Rhydian knew what she meant. “And then the hotel the warriors were sent to—specifically the one Davina works at?”

His brows lifted at the mention of his mate. “I was on duty,” he tried to reason.

“But at that border?”

“He wanted to make sure you got into the city safely,” Rhydian explained. “He’s protective—of all of us, really—but with you…” He flashed her a knowing look. “I get the feeling.”

Isla smiled softly, recalling Davina and her mating ring. “How long have you been together?”

Rhydian’s features brightened. “Next month makes a year.”

Only a year? That was quick to form a chosen bond.

“You’re fated?”

“Never thought the day would come,” Rhydian chuckled. “It wasn’t the plan, but she changed my life.”

The last sentence resonated in a way Isla wasn’t expecting.

Eventually, Isla followed him to the table with his squadmates.

“Shouldn’t you be with them?” he’d asked, nodding towards the group of warriors sitting alone at the table away from the rest of the order.

Neither Emil, Lavan, Fitch, or Callan had displayed any hesitation in her absence. All four of them, donning their warrior gear as she did, had already made their way down the long service line, acquired their heaps of food, and began digging in before she’d even stepped foot in the hall. Her being lost didn’t mean a damn thing. They were probably hoping she never returned.

“We’re meant to mingle,” she told Rhydian.

As they walked through the hall, Isla noticed the eyes that tracked her. It was because of what she was wearing, what she very clearly was, but there was a small part of her that wondered, that feared, that they recognized her also as what she was meant to be.

The long table they approached had several groups spread over its lengthy bench, but Rhydian had stopped in front of a trio. The band of four beside them took one glance at her before leaving.

Rhydian glowered at them, Isla did too, before the guard gestured to the three that remained. One of them was a young woman, maybe eighteen or nineteen with black hair that went to her chin, she recognized as Thyra.

“Isla, meet the members of unit 37B—Thyra, Belle, and Magnus,” Rhydian presented in mock grandness.

Thyra waved sweetly, while Belle and Magnus both nodded in curt acknowledgment.

“Nice to meet you,” Isla forced out before moving to take a seat across from them beside Rhydian.

“You’re of Io?” Belle asked before her butt had even hit the seat.

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