Page 20 of Mountain Summons

“I mean it.” Her fingers tightened around his. “I don’t think I’d still be here if it weren’t for you.”

His throat bobbed, but he didn’t look away.

“Tristan…”

He squeezed her hand again. “Get some rest, Lena. I’ll be right here.”

Her lips parted, ready to argue that she wasn’t tired, that there was still so much to talk about, but the exhaustion was already creeping in. Whatever they’d given her to take away the pain was also making her drowsy.

She let her eyes drift shut, holding onto the last thing she felt before sleep claimed her—the warmth of his fingers laced through hers.

9

Tristan

“You look like shit.”

It didn’t seem like Beau’s words required an answer, so Tristan didn’t give him one. It was bad enough that Beau had pulled him into one of the meeting rooms, he didn’t want to piss the man off further.

He squared his shoulders and stood to attention, waiting.

“You went against a direct order, Tristan. I had no idea if you were okay, or if something had happened—if I needed to send another team after your stupid ass.” Beau let out a long breath. “If something like this ever happens again, you won’t have a job. This isn’t just your life on the line. It’s the lives of your team.”

It was the longest speech he’d ever heard Beau make, and it hurt. Because Beau was right. His teammates would never have left him up there. By ignoring orders, he’d put them all at risk. He’d thought only of Lena. Of finding Lena. He’d thought he was capable of staying objective, but he’d been lying to himself.

Tristan forced himself to stare straight ahead, but inside he burned with embarrassment. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him—the exhaustion still clinging to his muscles, the adrenaline crash making his head pound, the shame curling low in his gut. And still, he couldn’t regret anything that happened, because Lena wassafe. But the way he’d gone about it had endangered all of their lives.

“You’re right,Commandant. I’m sorry,” he finally said.

Beau’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Are you?”

“Yes, sir,” he said, forcing the words out.

Beau studied him, his sharp gaze unwavering. “Then answer me this. What’s going on with you and Madeleine Pelegrin?”

Tristan’s gaze flickered—just for a second—before he forced himself to look straight ahead.

Beau’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Don’t even think of lying to me.”

Tristan exhaled sharply, lowering his gaze to the ground. “It’s… complicated.”

Beau sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Complicated,” he repeated, his voice flat.

Tristan winced.

Beau let out a long sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. “Jesus Christ, Tristan.”

Silence stretched between them.

“I didn’t know her last name, and I certainly didn’t know who her father was, Beau. I didn’t even know the colonel had a child. We met in town and went on one date together, and … I like her, okay?”

“Youlikeher?” Beau sounded like a man struggling for patience. “You’d better know what you’re doing, Tristan. This is the colonel’s only daughter we’re talking about.”

“I didn’t know who she was,” Tristan repeated stubbornly. “But she’s a grown woman, Beau. She can make her own decisions.”

“Tell that to the colonel.”

“Have you spoken to him?”

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