Stronger Still (No-Man's Lander Book 2) by D. N. Bryn

Author:D. N. Bryn [Bryn, D. N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Kraken Collective
Published: 2023-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

family matters

I RUN INTO A lurking Tavish as I leave the Citadel’s secret entrance. He shifts awkwardly, looking as though he can’t decide if he should enter or not. The tension floods out of him as I press my hand to his shoulder with a soft hello, but it just seems to rush into me instead.

“How did you get here?” I ask.

“I trailed behind a few of the officers returning for supplies.”

“That’s dangerous right now.” I almost add, and you know it. But since he does know it, mentioning so would only be a further jab, and I’m not looking to fight with him over this.

“We’re in danger more often than not. I have my cane-sword.”

“When swords will ward off bullets, that might actually make me feel better,” I grumble, and weed my arm through his. “You know, sulking out here is not going to mend your issues with Teodor.”

“And invading her apartment will?” he huffs. His grip on me tightens, his body edging closer like he’s looking for blood. “Not all of us can fix our problems by barreling mindlessly through them.”

“It worked out.”

“This time.”

As we round the building, I guide us along the wide path that cuts through the foundation’s central gardens. With the electricity out, the area is unusually quiet and dark, stoic trees silhouetted against the stars, branches rustling in a light breeze. The stone path beneath our feet reflects the night sky dimly, meandering between the park lawns as it carries us toward the dark silhouette of the old, lone building at the foundation’s center.

Tavish still seems to stew, his pace agitated and the swish of his cane faster and more abrupt than usual.

I give his arm a tug. “Fine, tell me what other choice I had? Should I have just let them lose that memo entirely? Or waited for you to step in? I certainly couldn’t have talked sense into them. Neither Zuane nor Iseppa listen to me—they both hate me, I’m pretty sure.”

Tavish’s nose wrinkles. “You could have started by not setting us up to have half the city’s most powerful individuals dislike us. Because you are certainly right—they do hate you. And I don’t blame them. You began your association with them as a spontaneous battering ram.”

I let go of him, half tripping over my own feet as I try to process it all. “You’re saying I did what?”

“You were needlessly aggressive.” Tavish waves his cane like he’s dictating an orchestra. It smacks me in the thigh.

I grunt, batting it lower. “Is that a demonstration?”

He sighs and tucks the aid under his arm instead. “I mean that when you meet someone who doesn’t immediately butter you up, you have no idea how to speak with them in any manner other than confrontational.”

“That’s not fair!”

“But it is true! You can be quite the arse.”

My left fingers curl and open, the missing lengths on my right hand protesting as they fail to do the same. I need something to toss, to throw. Me,

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