Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
“I absolutely would. Try me.”
Lark makes an irritated sound but huffs out of the kitchen, storming up to her quarters. I can’t really boot her from the program—not when we need five—but I can make her life miserable if she tries anything.
I finish my apple and then eat a wedge of goat cheese and a handful of nuts before heading out of the kitchen, just in time to run into Magpie at the base of the stairs. She blinks at me, her eyes glassy. Her hair is messy and her face flushed. She’s wearing a wrinkled guild master uniform, her heavy sash dripping with pins, and runs a hand over it as she gives me a distracted smile. “Did I miss recruitment?”
Irritation bubbles up inside me and I try to ignore it. “Two days ago, aye.”
“Oh, bury me.” She almost sounds upset. Then she pauses. “Am I drunk or did I hear a cat earlier?”
“I don’t know, are you ever not drunk?”
“Ouch.” She moves past me, heading to the kitchen. Her steps are even, which might be a good sign that she’s actually somewhat sober for once.
Doesn’t matter if she is. I follow after her, anger simmering in my chest. “We need to talk, Magpie.”
“I need to eat something. We can talk after I’ve had a snack.” She enters the kitchen and slices a bit of cheese off the wheel, then sits atop the counter and eyes me as she eats. “Rough day? You look beat.”
I cross my arms over my chest. It’s either that or reach out and strangle her. “You do know what you missed, don’t you?” When she gives me a blank stare, I realize she doesn’t. She truly has no idea. “I had to take your students to the hall for enrollment without you, and everyone noticed.”
Her eyes widen, and she chews slowly. “Huh.”
“That’s all you can say?”
“Well, I’d like to say hearing that really makes me want to get another drink, but I think you’ll lose your shit if I do.” She takes another bite of cheese. “Was Rooster pissy about it?”
“To say the least. He said if your class doesn’t pass this year, you’ll be stripped of your guild rank and cast out.” My anger builds, especially when her expression doesn’t change. “What do you have to say to that?”
“He’s just bluffing.”
“He’s not bluffing! I talked to him! I saw his face! He’s just as tired of your excuses as I am! You need to get your shit together, Magpie. Having a Taurian for a teacher isn’t good enough for the guild. You know that. They don’t respect me and now I’m forced to work with the mess you’ve pulled together as students.” I gesture at the door. “Have you seen that crew?”
She squints, as if trying to concentrate. “There’s one of them lizard-thingies, right? With the little legs?” She waggles two of her fingers back and forth. “Cute buggers.”
Indignant, I gesture at the shell in the corner that she’s clearly missed.
“Right.” Magpie blinks at it, then at me. “So he’s a lizard. You’re a bull-man. What’s the problem?”
“You also gave me Lark,” I hiss.
She grimaces. “Was that this year?”
“YES.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll talk to her. What about the others? They any good?”
“Two more women and a priestess.” I tug on the ring hanging from my nose, agitated. “What am I supposed to do with this team, Magpie? If you get booted, I won’t get the chance to pay my hand back—”
“I’ll handle it,” she tells me easily. She hops off the counter and for a moment, she looks just like the old Magpie. “I’ll pull back on the drinking. I’ll talk to Lark and anyone else you want me to talk to. It’ll be fine.” She moves in front of me and puts her hands on my arms, then pats my biceps. “You worry too much.”
“You don’t worry enough,” I grumble. “I mean it. You need to get it together.”
“I’m trying.”
I don’t know that I believe her, but I need to.
* * *
We talk for a little longer, me discussing the class and potential issues, and Magpie distractedly pretending to listen. I can tell when she’s no longer paying attention, as her gaze wanders and her responses slow. Something tells me she’s waiting for me to shut up so she can go find herself another drink, and my mood sours. I head off to bed, because tomorrow’s going to be a long day and I doubt I’ll see Magpie for the morning’s class, despite her assurances that she’ll be there.
It’s when I get back to my quarters that I realize something important.
I have a wife now. And she’s not here.
Not that I want to fuck her tonight. Well, part of me does. But that part is easily ignored, this week at least. No, she needs to be in my quarters because she needs to get used to sleeping with me. Even if we only fuck during the Conquest Moon’s rut, we still have to make people believe we’re married for normal reasons. That means she needs to stay with me. We need to act like a married couple to a certain extent.