Something Fane fully believed.
Swallowing a curse, Fane tossed aside his sweaty towel. Damn. This wasn’t the distraction he’d been wanting.
Wolfe was dressed in jeans and a loose cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had his arms folded over his chest and was studying Fane with an expression that warned he wasn’t pleased.
Around them the gym went silent as the other Sentinels pretended they weren’t straining to overhear the potential confrontation.
“I heard through the grapevine you’ve taken a position as a trainer,” he said. That was Wolfe. Always straight to the point.
Fane scowled. It’d been less than twenty-four hours since he’d made the decision to seek a position as trainer in a monastery halfway around the world. How the hell had word spread so fast?
“The grapevine should mind its own business.”
The ebony eyes narrowed. “And I shouldn’t have to listen to gossip to learn when one of my Sentinels is leaving Valhalla.”
Fane met his Tagos glare for glare. “I have no direct duties here, at least not anymore. I’m allowed to return to the monastery without clearing it with you.”
The air heated. Sentinels’ body temperature ran hotter than humans, and when their emotions were provoked they could actually warm the air around them.
“Don’t be an ass. This isn’t about duties, I’m worried about you.”
Oh hell.
This was exactly what Fane didn’t want.
He’d rather be shot in the head than have someone fussing over him.
“There’s nothing to worry about. You know that I was a trainer for years before coming to Valhalla. I’m simply returning to my brothers in Tibet.”
“You’ve just endured the removal of a long-standing bond. A traumatic experience for any guardian,” the older man ruthlessly pressed. “And we’re your brothers, you thankless son-of-a-bitch.”
Fane gave an impatient shake of his head. Wolfe was a hunter Sentinel, not a guardian, which meant he could never understand the truth of the bond.
“I know what you’re thinking, but you’re wrong.”
Wolfe slowly arched a brow. There weren’t many who had the chutzpah to stand up to him.
“What am I thinking?”
“Callie and I never had a sexual relationship.”
“Did you want one?”
“No,” Fane growled. “Jesus Christ. She was like a sister to me. She still is.”
The dark gaze never wavered. “And it doesn’t bother you that she’s with Duncan?”
“Not so long as he treats her right.” Fane allowed a humorless smile to touch his lips. “If he doesn’t . . . I’ll rip out his heart with my bare hands.”
Wolfe nodded. They both understood it wasn’t an empty threat.
“Good,” the Tagos said. “But that wasn’t my concern.”
Fane surged to his feet, his tattoos deepening in response to his rising temper. It was barely past noon, but it’d already been a long day.
“Does this conversation have an end in sight?”
Wolfe stood his ground.