Bad Blood (Book 4 of The Warden series) (15 page)

“No, sit on that chair right,” he added gruffly when he realized she was still sitting on the arm of the chair instead of the seat.

“No?” She wailed sitting in the chair. He could see the panic in her eyes. She was seconds from rehashing every argument she had used to justify her plan. She took one look at Belus and she clamped her mouth shut and waited for him to explain. He wasn’t quite sure how Belus had managed the magical feat of stilling her protests, but he appreciated it.

“
We
are not going. You are,” he clarified.

“Me, by myself?” Cori stammered.

Cori had never officially been to the wizard world by herself, with the exception of a few minutes here and there. She was smart enough to still fear it, which was good, but if she intended to make weekly trips into the world, she needed to be prepared for the dangers it held. If having fresh vegetables wasn’t worth risking her safety for, then whose safety did she expect to risk getting them.

“With your gun of course,” he added when he thought she might start hyperventilating. “I mean that was the point of getting them wasn’t it. So I don’t have to babysit you all the time.”

“Babysit? I resent that,” she said.

He was exaggerating, but it wasn’t far from the truth. Cori was used to having Ethan and him around to be her security blankets. She obviously had training in self-defense, she took to her gun like a pro, and when push came to shove, she did shove. Her only issue was being too complacent. It was Belus’s main complaint.

When Ethan and Cori were together, she didn’t concentrate on her actions. She also didn’t take his authority seriously. If she knew how many times he and Belus had discussed keeping their duties separate, she would probably be appalled. However, it wasn’t just her safety that was at risk. Ethan was the one risking his life to save her, and with that risk, came the risk of losing his successor. As painful as it would be to lose Ethan, he didn’t know if he had the will to do this all over again.

“You know the risks of this don’t you. If a wizard gets the drop on you that gun isn’t going to do you any good,” Danato offered the worst-case scenario to her just to see if she had really thought this project through.

He could see the dip in her brow. His unsympathetic tone was upsetting her, but he knew it would be short lived. She looked over to Belus as if he might hold the answer to this particular question. She turned back to him squaring her shoulders like Belus had just told her to stand at attention.

“I’ll be very vigilant,” she said meekly as if he had just asked her to scrub toilets. “Do you have any preference as to the location of the garden?”

He didn’t often get a
sir
out of her, but when the occasion demanded one, it made him feel distant from her. She meant it respectfully, but the love he harbored for her was too encompassing for it to feel any less than cold. “I assumed you had a spot in mind,” he said officially passing the reigns to her.

“Yes, sir, I have an ideal location picked out: moist, fertile, and rich with sun.” Her eyes twinkled on the verge of smiling. She was starting to realize how close she was to getting her own way, and that always pleased her.

“Well, have at it, you’re the botanist. I wouldn’t presume to know your job,” he said dismissively. He wasn’t about to dictate to her about growing plants. She clearly knew more than any of his manuals did.

“Thank you, sir.” Her grin finally surfaced and he felt his own mouth try to mimic it. He loved seeing her smile. Cori may have been a pain in Belus’s ass, but as clique and sappy as it was, she was the light in his life. When she was happy, he was at peace with his life, including his past.

“Get on with it then,” he grumbled trying not to let the moment turn sappy in front of Belus. The last thing he wanted was to have Belus lecturing him on work appropriate behavior. “You’ll need to if you’re going to get the paperwork done for it by the end of the day,” he added as she reached to door. It was probably a harsh reality to stick her with, but he certainly wasn’t going to volunteer to do the paperwork for her project. He had enough to do.

She let out a groan at the door before turning around. “No, paperwork; paperwork for vegetables?”

“Paperwork for everything,” he said.

He half expected her to start jumping up and down and whining as disappointed as she looked. “Yes, sir,” she mumbled.

He nearly laughed at her dismal concession. He hated paperwork, but Cori had enlisted Belus as her stand in doctor on more than one occasion to avoid the paperwork of the infirmary.

On her way out, he and Belus both bellowed before the door shut, “Gun!” He heard her growl and the scrape of the pistol leaving the bin. When she was out of sight from the window, he let out a snort of laughter that Belus joined him in.

“That gun is going to get her into trouble one day,” Belus said still chuckling. “I don’t know why you ever let either of them carry guns.” He lost his smile as the humor started to fade from the subject.

“Ethan carried a weapon as a guard. There is no reason he shouldn’t now.”

“There are plenty of reasons,” Belus said. “He isn’t supposed to be putting himself in a situation that requires a gun. He is supposed to direct his men into those situations.”

Danato agreed with that statement, but he also trusted Ethan to make good choices. “You know Ethan would never ask his men to risk their lives, without being right beside them.”

“I understand that and I respect it. That’s why I didn’t object more vehemently when he lobbied for it.”

Danato sat back in his chair. This was going to be a conversation that he needed to look relaxed for, even if he wasn’t. “But?” Danato proffered the conjunction on a platter for him.

“But Cori is not as disciplined as Ethan. You see that she can’t even remember the gun. It’s that kind of blasé attitude about gun safety that makes me nervous.”

“Have you discussed this with her yet?” Danato asked more out of curiosity than anything else.

“Not yet. I’m giving her a little space. For now,” Belus added in case the statement left room for the appearance of surrender.

“I see.” Danato arched a brow. “What prompted that? Don’t tell me you were hurt by her Cactus Toad comment?” Danato smiled still amused by the altercation. Belus didn’t join him, either he hadn’t reached the amusement stage, or he really was offended by the jibe. “I think she got the hint when I made her walk the dragon.”

“Yes, I imagine you would think that.” Belus’s condescension was almost too much for Danato to shake off, but he put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair even farther. Perhaps if he looked calm, cool, and collected, Belus wouldn’t notice the restrained undertones of warning in his voice.

“Would you care to explain that statement?”

“I need Cori to respect me. I don’t think that I should need to ask your permission to punish her.”

Danato could feel his anger piquing. He didn’t like the word
punish
in reference to Cori. Especially off Belus’s lips. “I think as warden of this prison I should have the right to dictate how my people are being handled.” He hoped that came off as diplomatic and not passive aggressive, even though he meant it that way.

“I understand your desire to control your prison,” Belus seemed to be working the diplomatic angle as well. “I’m not trying to usurp your authority, but we both know Cori is different.” Danato couldn’t respond. Their locked eyes were now the eyes of wild animals prepared to attack. He knew what was coming. He knew how he would respond, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. “She is her replacement.”

The words that spilled out of Belus’s mouth were not meant with malice or accusation, but he couldn’t help but feel like he had just been slapped across the face. The memories that he tried daily to suppress flowed back to him.

Danato didn’t remember getting off his chair. He was grateful that the only thing he had thrown in Belus’s face was his accusatory finger as he leaned over the desk. Belus was up as well, prepared for the battle. He had never truly had a brawl with Belus. The result was far too obvious to bother with, and he would never disrespect a man so much by beating him to the ground with one punch. Belus was a strong man—he was familiar with the virility juice of the dragon, but his size was still too much of a hindrance for a fair fight.

“How dare you!” Danato could feel the shaking in his throat that matched the tremble in his hand. “I will not discuss her with you.”

“Which one?” Belus said it with as much civility as he had the other comment, but Danato knew it was an inducement. He wanted him to say her name, and he wouldn’t.

“I am not having this conversation.” He was impressed at how quickly he shut off the shake in his voice. He removed his finger from Belus’s face. “She has nothing to do with Cori.”

Belus’s mouth dropped open and his calm exterior disappeared in a sea of disbelief. “She has everything to do with her!” He yelled. “Don’t patronize me like I didn’t know her!”

“I will not discuss her. Do you understand? She is gone. Cori, is the issue here.” Danato wanted to add a please, but he refused to beg for what he had just demanded. He needed to keep his authority intact to prevent Belus from bringing this topic up again.

“Yes…she is,” Belus said somberly as he crossed his arms. Again, it was unclear which
she
was being referred to, or which statement he was agreeing with. “Will you allow me to reprimand Cori as I see fit?”

“No,” Danato answered without thinking.

“And why is that?” Belus asked no longer maintain his civility. Danato didn’t answer. “Why is that Danato?”

“Because I don’t want you to.” He was seething with anger, but the response sounded petty.

Unbelievably, Belus continued to push the matter further. “Why can’t I dictate to her, reprimand her…”

“I don’t want you near her.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s mine!” Danato slammed his fists down into his desk, bending the flat center into a trench. He trembled feeling the raw emotions at the tip of his tongue. He wasn’t sure what he was even arguing for anymore, but he was sure about one thing. “Cori is my responsibility. You can train her. You can guide her, but you don’t get to tell me how to deal with her. You have a problem with her attitude, you come to me. You have a problem with her obedience, you come to me.”

Belus’s disappointment was not surprising, but Danato was surprised that he still hadn’t given up even in the midst of his ruined desk. “How can I train her to be Ethan’s second, if you won’t let her out from under your wing?” Belus looked down at his desk and shook his head. “Danato sooner or later, they will find out. You can’t hide your past forever. Cori has a right to know why she is here.”

“She has nothing to do with her,” Danato reiterated.

“I’m not blind Danato! I knew it had something to do with her, the second I saw her outside of that village. I let it go because I figured she would help you get over your grief.”

“Shut-up.”

“How many sorrow demons do you have on that leg now?”

“Shut-up!” Danato didn’t want to hear any of this, not now, not ever.

“No, I won’t shut-up. I’ve shut-up for the last five years. I’m your friend Danato, at least I was, once upon a time. I know you better than anyone in this prison and I think I have the right to say whatever I want to you, without risking my head being splattered like a watermelon.”

Belus pointed at the desk. Danato looked at the paper and pencil filled divot. He knew Belus had a point. His anger and violence should never be used as a defense against his friend, but how else could he make him stop? This violent act hadn’t ended the conversation. Would it stop if he walked away or would Belus just follow him?

“What do you want from me Belus?” Danato said keeping his voice and head down.

“I want you to forgive yourself,” Belus said. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but at least forgive yourself.”

Danato looked up at his friend, his partner, and the man that had lived through the pain of his wife’s death right alongside of him. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Then tell them. Unpack all those horrible memories.”

“Why, so I can relive it all again?”

“No, so when someone does bring up the topic you don’t kill the furniture. You’ve spent too many years harvesting this temper to keep your sorrow under wraps, but clearly it’s still there.” Belus nodded to the wall where his cane was leaning.

Danato knew it was too much to ask, but he also knew Belus was right. Cori had already expressed an interest in the story of his wife. Her curious nature would eventually drive her to find the answers he wouldn’t readily give her.

“I’m sorry, Belus.” He didn’t know what to apologize for first. “I’m sorry for the past five years. I’m sorry I haven’t been the friend to you I once was. I’m sorry I’m holding on to Cori too tightly. I’m sorry that…” He couldn’t help but laugh. When he looked up at Belus, he could see the confusion in his face.

“Ethan came to me other day, and asked permission to have a poker night, and a BBQ. You would have thought the poor boy was asking me if he could go to Acapulco for the winter.” Danato shook his head thinking of how Ethan had simply accepted it when he thought the answer was no. “I’ve been terribly selfish in my sorrow, Belus, and I am ashamed most of all for that. Please forgive me.”