Page 48 of Guiding Desire
“Can you get the Op-AI to reconsider?” Vin asked.
Col ate two loaded crackers before looking over at Vin. “What do you think I’ve been trying to do for the past two hours?”
“It wants to see how he’ll react,” Senlas said.
“Yeah,” Col said. “As I said, I want you to take care of him. No matter what. Promise me you will.”
“Hounds, Col.”
“Promise.”
Senlas turned so he was fully facing Col, stole a cracker from him, and dipped it into the sorono hummus, then held it up as if to make a toast. “I promise.”
Col nodded, satisfied with that. They drifted off into silence, the drinking game forgotten. Col ended up leaning against Senlas in the way he’d done ever since they both were kids, whenever he’d needed someone to lean on.
ColeventuallygaveSenlasa full summary of his visit to the Judiciary, but he kept it short. His eyes remained on the drama they were watching, his mind, if Senlas had to guess, fully elsewhere.
Later that night, Vin carried Col to bed after the latter had fallen asleep next to Senlas, and Taros woke up before Karmine could carry him anywhere. Senlas cleaned up after them,Seizingeverything at once, an effort much like long division, pleasurable in its structure and apparent monotony.
As he put the leftovers away by hand andMovedeverything else into the fridge—Col had polished off the entirety of the sorono hummus—he thought about that dining table he didn’t have, the one Orrey had mentioned. He should probably get one soon. It would shift their routine, move everything to the table. It could be nice. Maybe.
Senlas left all crumbs to the cleaning bot, who’d get to work once everyone was asleep. He walked to Orrey’s room, carefully opening the door.
Orrey had moved in his sleep and was now fully sprawled on the bed. Senlas smiled. He debated whether to leave, go to his own room, but after buffering and channeling for the first time, it was possible Orrey’d want Senlas near once he woke. Unless it was an emergency, Guardians were expected to take care of Conduits after they’d used their power for them.
Senlas left his clothes on and walked into the room, slid the door closed behind him. There wasn’t really space on the bed for him, not with Orrey stretched out all over it, but the Conduit was easy to move. And there had to be something inside Orrey, some instinct, that had him curl against Senlas within moments, letting out a relaxed breath in his sleep.
“I’ll protect you, kitten,” Senlas said, his voice barely loud enough to be called a whisper.
14
ORREY
Orreywokewithhisforehead pressed against a firm chest. Confusion filled him, not because of the chest, but because there wasn’t any kind of haunting dream he needed to wake himself from, something he’d long come to expect after any event that shook his routine.
Senlas was still sleeping, an arm draped over Orrey, breathing deep and steady. Orrey had time to wonder when the Guardian had put his clothes back on. After the sex, things got fuzzy pretty fast in Orrey’s memory.
Either way, Orrey needed to pee. He slowly moved away from Senlas, froze briefly when the sleeping Guardian growled at the disruption, then eventually got to his feet.
In the bathroom, he looked at his back in the mirror, but Senlas had apparently cleaned him, which was a nice gesture. Yet a shower seemed more appealing by the minute, and he really wanted to wash his face. The burned parts looked paler today, which was hopefully a sign that they’d be healed soon.
Orrey moved quietly when he got back to the guest room, found a change of clothes. His sweats, the ones with the protector logo, were still there, maybe overlooked when his uniforms had been taken.
At the door, Orrey hesitated. Senlas had told him to move around in the apartment like he pleased, but it remained a strange place. Waking the Guardian was out of the question though. It would have been rude.
As quietly as he could, Orrey opened the door and tiptoed outside, letting it slide shut behind him. The place seemed empty, abandoned, but early morning light warmed it, skimming over the movable walls and creating patterns where it spilled over the servi-floor.
Orrey froze when he saw the tall Guardian with the long black hair standing at the kitchen counter. He searched his memory. Vinnie.
“Good morning, Guardian Vinnie,” Orrey said.
The man looked up from what he was doing. “Drop the title. And my name’s Vin. Only Col calls me Vinnie.”
“Oh. I wasn’t aware. I apologize.”
“It’s fine. So you like coffee.”
He finished what he was doing, which had been filling that mechanical grinder Senlas had used.
