Page 73 of Guiding Desire

Orrey shrugged. “It was just luck. Us being there.”

“Luck looks different,” Loquin said. “We’ll be leaving together, I’m hearing, with your new Conduit, Guardian Senlas.”

“That’s the mission plan.”

Loquin nodded, finished his drink. “I like the thought of that. I always like a person on my team who can spot danger like you can, Conduit Orrey. I think we’ll be lucky to have you with us.”

“I’m just doing…my duty. And I’m with Conduit Coldis’s team, I’m afraid.”

Which had Col laugh like an evil but flawlessly dressed villain. “There goes my little brother. If anyone gets to corrupt him, Loquin, it’s me.”

Loquin shook his head, amused. “We’d best leave the pitcher and find us another before we try to out-corrupt each other. Garyu, come on. Friends, thank you for sharing a drink with us. See you around.”

The two of them wandered off. Karmine wove the fire’s flames into spirals and circles. “They’re not half bad.”

“Nicer than Guardian Alesa,” Orrey said, so quiet Senlas only heard because he was paying close attention to him.

Senlas knew Alesa well enough. He’d been three years above Senlas, Coldis, and the others, but unlike them, hadn’t gone for extra schooling, had instead worked his way up into the Agri Team and eventually become its leader. Senlas knew the stories and knew what Col had heard from the other Conduits, so he could guess the encounter had gone one of two ways.

“Don’t worry about Alesa. Did he charm you or offend you?”

“The latter,” Orrey said after a pause.

“Can I kiss your head?”

Orrey looked at his hands. Nodded.

Senlas kissed the stubbly hair, hoping Orrey would grow it out until it was long enough to bury his fingers in. “If you want me to beat an apology out of him, you tell me, understand?”

Orrey spun. “But you can’t do that!”

Senlas shrugged. “Someone offending my Conduit makes me do all sorts of things.”

“You get in line.” Vin kicked at Senlas’s arm with his foot. “I get first swing at him if we’re going that way.”

“But,” Orrey said, but was rudely interrupted when Col started into the chorus ofWeather Vane.

“…and you’ll be my stooorm, and I’ll beee your nooorth. You’ll be home, and I’ll be its hearth!”

“Coldis, keep it the fuck down.”

“Senny, I’m singing. With the pitcher.”

“I’ll hold that for you, Col-Col,” Taros offered.

Senlas rubbed Orrey’s side. “Kitten, if you want to go home…”

“Well, actually, I think I know that song. Col, should we sing it together?”

Col pointed, looked at them all. “This one. I like him. A lot. My little brother.”

“Now you’ve done it,” Karmine mumbled.

Orrey scrambled out of Senlas’s arms. Senlas had to actively fight the urge to pull him back, but all Orrey did was grab one of the untouched water bottles and open it.

“Col, you drink this, and then we sing, okay?”

Col poked Orrey’s chest. “I see what you are doing. But fine.” He took a drag from the water bottle, shifted into a sober mood. “You won’t forget, right? Who you protect?”