Page 16

“Bees?” Ben places a hand on my knee and squeezes lightly. “Everything okay?”

Mitri’s eyes are narrowed, and I might be paranoid, but he looks suspicious.

“I’m good,” I squeak out and take a long drink of coffee. I stare out the windshield and hope I look passive. After a few glances from Ben and Mitri turns away from my ignoring him, the voice returns.

“That was close. We need to work on your acting.”

Who are you?

“Peacemaker. I’m pressed against you. Hi, well met.”

I blink uncontrollably as that rolls around and processes. I glance down where my thigh touches Ben’s. Then I look over to Mitri’s and see his gun holster.

He’s a gun. A talking gun.

“I am currently in the shape of a gun,”He replies with a bit of snark.

The Artificer was wrong. His work is impeccable and I’m never questioning it again. Sentient weapons. I don’t even know what to say.

“You say, ‘Well met’ and be pleasant.” The amount of sarcasm in his tone makes my eyes narrow.

I’m not pleasant. Ben thinks I am, but he may be mentally compromised due to his parental influence. Not that I’m complaining.

“Yeah, the mug says it all,”he relents with a chuckle.

I look down at the cup in my hand to reread it. It’s the ‘I’m not insulting you’ one. He can see?

“I see what he does. He read them all and found them fitting for you.”

Huh. Oh shit, canheread my mind?

I trynot to look at Mitri as sweat beads across my forehead. If I don’t look, I can pretend this isn’t happening.

Peacemaker: “No! Stop panicking. I’m not supposed to be talking to you, and I don’t know what will happen if we get busted. Just act calm.”

Okay, take deep breaths, Beatrice. Fake it ‘til you make it.

Peacemaker: “Good girl.”

I’m not a dog.

Peacemaker: “You don’t have to be a pet to be sweet.” He laughs.

At first I’m irritated but it fades pretty quickly. If you were your only company, you’d have to laugh at your own jokes or lose your mind. I know. I’ve been there for years. I can’t imagine how long the gun has done it.

“So, tell me about yourself.”

I’m internally cringing at the awkward thought. I can’t even have small talk with a gun. What’s wrong with my social skills?

Peacemaker: “You’re doing great. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Okay, that’s just sweet.Or he’s desperate.

“Why can’t he just give me to you already?” He makes a sound similar to a sigh.

“He needs you,” I respond without considering it.

Peacemaker: “Doesn’t feel like it.”