Durance by Lyn Gala Page 0,32

information about a potential war to find its way up the chain of command. Unfortunately he didn’t see a way to stop it.

Chapter Eleven

Kavon heard voices before he reached the open door. “Bruh, I can't leave you alone without you getting yourself in trouble. You just about scared Anita out of ten years of life,” Les was saying.

“Yes, I'm sure that's what he's concerned about. Me.” Anita’s voice was desert-dry.

“I'm also concerned about the fact that my buddy keeps getting himself in trouble.”

As Kavon came around the corner, Darren spoke. “It's not like it was my fault. I was just walking down the street.” Never before in his life had Kavon been so happy to hear someone’s voice. Darren was clearly hurting, but he was awake and talking, and able to exchange quips with Les. That was enough for Kavon.

Kavon let the door close behind him, and he felt the whisper of magic as a privacy spell settled over them. Guilt washed through him as he saw Darren’s bruised and swollen face. He walked straight to the bed and caught Darren’s hand in his. “How are you feeling?”

Darren smiled. “Like I was in a car that got thrown into a building.”

“Let’s avoid repeating that.” Kavon squeezed Darren’s hand.

Darren squeezed back. “Right. No more getting thrown into buildings. Should I add that to the informal employee handbook Les and I have going?”

“Put it on page one.”

“On it.” Darren shifted, and grimaced.

Kavon felt a ghost pain in his own side, and he hurried to support Darren as he moved to a more comfortable position.

“Don’t push yourself,” Anita said.

“I’m fine,” Darren said with a smile, but Kavon felt the ghost pain. Darren was usually better at hiding his injuries.

“No, you aren’t,” Kavon said. “Don’t argue with her.”

Darren sagged back against the pillows.

Les patted his leg. “Sucks when they gang up, huh?” he asked. “So.” Les clapped his hands together. “Since Coretta is stuck on scene coordinating the cleanup, she sent me to get the full story about what happened out there.”

Kavon tensed. He knew everyone in this room could be trusted, but he still had that bone-deep unease at talking about these issues. “How strong is the privacy spell on this room?”

Anita answered. “My guide and I are very good with privacy spells.” Anita’s monkey guide appeared at the end of Darren’s bed. It jumped up and chittered.

“You’re feeling friendly,” Anita said to her guide before giving Kavon a stern look. “Either that or you’re resenting the fact that someone is challenging your ability to do a simple privacy spell.”

“Our enemies are far more persistent than the normal patient would have to worry about,” Kavon said. “And monkey guides are not known for their innate skill with privacy.”

“Monkey?” Anita’s voice was sharp with anger.

“Oh boy,” Les said, his tone edging toward amusement. “You’ve totally stepped in it now.”

“Hey, no killing Kavon,” Darren said with a laugh.

Anita appeared the only one not amused. “She’s a chimp, not a monkey, and for your information, Agent Boucher, chimps are the most highly evolved of all the animals. They have cultures and create tools. They are, in fact, ninety-eight percent human, able to grieve, aware of themselves, and masters at learning new skills from watching.” Anita crossed her arms, and Kavon thought about how frustrated he got when someone called his guide an ox. His guide was not a castrated farm animal, and he was ashamed of making that mistake with another’s guide.

“I apologize,” Kavon said.

Darren snickered. Some days his immaturity grated just a little.

Worse, it set Les off. “This shit is great now that I’m not on Boucher’s team anymore,” he said with a cackle.

Kavon gritted his teeth. “I wouldn’t punish you for laughing at my mistake, although I might have sent you for a refresher on team dynamics and personal leadership skills.”

“And that would be the punishment,” Les said. “But hey, at least this way she has someone new to be angry at.”

“Oh no,” Anita said as she transferred her glare to Les. “I can still hold it against you that you made the same damn mistake, Kaleolani Gillette.”

Les flinched. “So, back on topic,” he said with exaggerated enthusiasm. “What happened out there?”

Technically no one had answered Kavon’s question about the strength of the spell, but he decided to trust rather than to verify. He reclaimed his hand from Darren and tried to find a professional facade he could plaster over the fear. “We were attacked by a guide.”

“A guide? Not a shaman?” Anita immediately