Abandoned Things: An MM Sci-Fi Enemies to Lovers Urban Fantasy by Chani Lynn Feener

Author:Chani Lynn Feener [Feener, Chani Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 18:

“What are you doing here?” Rook didn’t like it. What’s more, he didn’t like that he didn’t like it.

Sage had always been one of his least favorite people on the planet—or any planet, for that matter—but his presence here was grating his last nerve and he didn’t understand the why of it.

The two of them were seated at one of the rectangular tables by the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the quad. Since it was around dinner time, the cafeteria was packed, with throngs of people loudly chattering and the frequent clattering of utensils and plastic trays. There was a rich, meaty aroma in the air, which Frankie had clearly enjoyed since he’d instantly perked up when they’d entered and mumbled something about cheeseburgers.

They’d gotten in line and he’d helped them make their selections—more so Sage, who didn’t recognize most of the menu items—and then had escorted them to the corner table by the windows, clearly trying to get them as far from the crowds as possible. Not that there was a real chance of that with how many students were currently there.

After that, he’d left the two of them at the table alone, after much hesitation, to go to the bathroom. Just before he’d turned away, he’d sent Rook a pointed look.

As if he’d take the aardwolf’s silent threats seriously.

Sage, who’d been staring at a French fry, looked at him from across the table. The interest in his eyes dimmed, and he glowered, dropping the uneaten morsel back down onto the grayish-blue tray.

“Frankie mentioned Neko is here,” Sage said. “I wasn’t comfortable sending him back to a world where a man like that was left lurking in the shadows.”

Rook stiffened slightly, but otherwise kept his cool. “He doesn’t need you here to protect him.”

“Why?” he snorted. “Because you’ll do that? Please. We both know you aren’t the sort.”

“Have you forgotten about all of the times I’ve protected Lis when you weren’t there?” Rook retorted, only partially regretting it once the words were out because bringing her into this was pointless.

“More like she protected you,” Sage snapped, but it was obvious Rook had hit a nerve, and he just couldn’t help himself but press on it further now that he had.

“We protected each other.” That was mostly the truth in any case. He’d come to her aid and she’d come to his. The fact that she had, that she’d helped him at all, was one of the reasons he’d been drawn to her in the past.

Up until that point, he’d believed all of Gold and Silver to be his enemy, every single citizen cut from the same pretentious cloth. Lis had proven that prejudice wrong. She had the ferocity of the Silver people, but she hadn’t turned her back on Bronze innocents when they’d been attacked by Gloom.

She’d been passing through one of their villages, on her way to carrying out a mission for Sage, when it had happened. Fortunately, Rook had also been nearby and had arrived in time to help stop the madness and prevent any casualties, but he hadn’t made it soon enough.

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