Page 163 of Cerulean Truth
“How do you know? I haven’t analyzed all the data yet?” I asked confused.
She smirked, pointing her finger upward. “There’s light coming from there. I’m willing to bet those are our accommodations.”
Fuck me.I almost grinned sheepishly, before I remembered I didn’t do anything sheepishly. Nor did I grin.
We trekked another mile uphill until we reached a small cabin, where Julian greeted us already waiting. His demeanor was anything but calm, triggering my Offensive instincts.
“What is it?” I inquired.
He shook his head, muttering, “Bringing her here was a mistake.”
People, let us all take a good look at the newly crowned king of stating the obvious.
I rolled my eyes at him. “No shit.”
“Guys, I'll be fine,” Emma interjected, her voice carrying a hint of determination. “I've got Cyclos's First Offensive and the world's oldest magus on my side. Plus, I'm pretty badass myself, remember?”
Emma's words were meant to reassure, but I caught the flicker of doubt in her expression. We were walking into an unknown situation and every fiber in my being screamed at me to turn around.
“First sight of danger, we’re out of here,” I seethed, cursing myself for agreeing to this ridiculous venture. “We’re not taking any unnecessary risks.”
Emma sighed. “Coming here without any intel was already risky. Let’s just find out why we’re here and work with what we’ve got.”
Her head held high, Emma led the way to the cabin, with Julian and me trailing behind.
I noticed Julian's fidgeting and frowned.
“What's with you?” I whispered sharply.
“Nothing. I'm just worried about Emma,” he replied, visibly agitated.
“No,I'mworried about Emma, and that’s because I don't know what we're getting into,” I retorted. “You look nervous because youdo.”
I halted, my voice strained with tension. "Do you?" I asked, my gaze piercing, the threat of retribution simmering beneath the surface. If he somehow lured us into a trap, I’d pull out his testicles through his mouth.
Julian snorted dismissively. “You don’t have to trust me, James, but at least trust that my intentions toward Emma are genuine. I wouldn’t want a single hair on her head harmed.”
“I'll believe that when I see it,” I muttered, unwilling to entertain further conversation with him.
Entering the cabin, Dennis Dale and the Maumars sat around a table, clearly waiting for us to arrive.
“Good. You’re all here,” Dennis Dale began. “We've brought your belongings upstairs to your rooms. Take some time to settle in, and we'll reconvene down here in an hour. The Board has been notified of your arrival, and we'll escort you to them once you're ready."
His address was directed solely at Emma, a fact that didn't escape my notice. I narrowed my eyes, recalling every shitty thing this man had ever done.
A petite woman in her late fifties then entered the room, warmly welcoming us into her home before leading us upstairs.
“This will be your room,” she said, gesturing towards a door, her attention clearly directed at Emma and me.
“I’m sorry, mine or hers?” I asked, feeling a wave of confusion wash over me.
The woman blinked in surprise. “They told me you’d be sharing a room?”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly parched.
“That’s fine,” Emma replied, her voice barely audible, her gaze fixed on me expectantly.
I gave a brisk nod, suppressing all my emotions and locking them away in a tight, small box.
