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KATERINA ELI

Lorenzo —like always— was in the training room. Did he even sleep in between his rounds?

“What’s up?” I walked toward the pull-up bar, where he finished his last set.

His shirtless chest stiffened as he jumped onto the ground. He ran a hand through his hair, the buzz cut now grown into baby waves.

A familiar softness settled in his gaze. “It’s about Lace.”

“What about him?” The few times I’d spoken to him, something always came up on my end as if the universe itself didn’t want us to talk. I couldn’t help but feel a hole burrow into my stomach at the mention of him.

“The CEG is going to announce a new production for guardians soon. Lace wanted to make sure you knew beforehand.”

“What type of production?” Annually, the CEG upgraded one product for the betterment of guardians. Last year it was the bulletproof vest that’d been changed from its usual plastic polymers to the thick fibers Lace’s middle brother had created. The year before was the guardian suits we were meant to wear during our posts, now more flexible and breathable than before.

“They’ve been developing a series of weapons for a guardian’s kit belt,” Lorenzo said and grabbed a towel from his usual bench, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “It’s still in its early stages, but he knows it’ll get the green signal.”

I crossed my arms across my chest. “What type?”

“Batons, knives, guns. The usual. But they’d be creating them with new material that Lace’s brother discovered, known as silver nitrate. So far, they’ve been able to integrate it into ammunition.”

“The Vampire Ministry and Bureau are allowing this?”

“They’re the ones who suggested the idea ‘cause of the Two-Species Treaty. They’re scared shitless, both sides. If the CEG is pulled into it, then we’ll have some cover.”

“But that’s not what we stand for,” I muttered. “Guardians are neutral. We protect those who hire us. We’re not some special task force for political shit shows.”

“There’s no harm in expanding, Nina,” Lorenzo stated. “If both governments are open to the development, Lace’s family is in.”

“And Lace? Since when has that been his vision?”

I knew the type of future he wanted for the CEG: expansion across all corners of the globe, and further research for half-humans. But never did he say he wanted to upgrade guardians with weapons. We were already disliked. If weapons were added into the mix, we wouldn’t be protecting.

We’d be enforcing.

“People’s visions change,” Lorenzo stated as if that was a good enough explanation.

“But this is different! This isn’t what the CEG stands for— this isn’t what we stand for.”

I would have never changed my mind to join the CEG if it wasn’t for Lorenzo. We wouldn’t be here today if we didn’t believe in the oath the CEG was grounded on: to protect with body and heart.

If our positions went against that, then I couldn’t do it.

“There’s nothing we can do,” he said, his voice softening. “Since I’ve never used weapons before, Lace has recruited me for the training and weaponry trials. After the Christmas Ball, I’ll be returning to the CEG.”

I took a step back as my chest caved and my throat tightened. “So now I won’t see you again for what? Weeks? Months?”

“I’m not sure.”

I shook my head, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. “Look, I get that you want to believe every decision Lace makes is for the better, but you’re just as blinded by him as he is of the pretty picture—”

“Excuse me?” Lorenzo’s eyes widened, and a flame overtook his gaze. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?

“I—”

Lorenzo wasn’t the type to care about crushes. But, it was obvious he felt more than indebted to Lace for what he’s done for us. Especially since they had been working so closely together for the past few years.

It was all in the way hearts practically shut out from his gaze whenever he looked at Lace. The guy was infatuated with him.