Chapter 8: Contractual Partners

Slamming the door behind him, Cazer Krane was seething with rage. The moment she appeared before him disheveled, battered, and dirty he began to rue the day he’s agreed to Chiri’s probation.

Uncertain whether to be more furious at his misplaced faith in her or Chiri’s relentless propensity to dive headfirst into chaos at the first possible opportunity. Cazer’s muscles tensed as he fought to regain control over his next physical outburst of anger. The vein in his neck retaliating, it throbbed in agitation under his collar.

Alone now in the Director’s private chamber, Chiri reached protectively for her arm. Knowing the injury would only serve to incur Cazer’s wrath further, she did not wish to reveal it to him. However, the defensive action immediately aroused his suspicions. His eyes narrowing on where Chiri seemed so eager to conceal, he backed her into the door. Roughly unfastened the cloak, he yanked the garment from her grasp swiftly. Unveiling the bandages covered in grime and mud still wet with blood, his expression darkened.

Unable to withhold his anger, Cazer struck the solid wooden door. Cornered against it, Chiri did not so much as flinch, as the nearby fixtures shook from the impact. The lights and fixtures on the shelves still rattling nervously, she gazed into his dark eyes impassively. The color of deep sapphire pools, they enticed those who them to sink into their depths. Immune to their call, Chiri brazenly glared back at Cazer. Remaining like this for a short time, she noticed his breathing begin to calm.

Still agitated, he yelled “Damn it to hell Chiri! How dare you allow yourself to be injured.” Before throwing the door open to order one of the guards outside to summon a medic. After this was done, Cazer pulled her away from the entrance and onto a velvet couch. Giving Chiri a stern scowl that warned her not to move. He walked away, retrieved a pitcher of water sitting beside the desk.

Plopping down in the space next to her, he seized a blade from her belt. Deftly cutting away the makeshift bandages, they were quickly discarded onto the floor. Although considerably displeased, Cazer was slightly relieved to find that it merely to be a physical injury. The likes of which, could easily be mended by a Dawn Gate physician. If it had been a wound inflicted by magic, it would have been far problematic and could have potentially life-threatening complications.

The flesh on the upper section of Chiri’s left arm gouged by the claws of a large animal. The torn skin igniting his rage once more, he secretly made a mental note to himself to kill the creature once he had the chance. Unable to remove his eyes from her, Cazer ignored the towels in the adjoining room. Instead, he removed the silk handkerchief from his top pocket. Plunging it into the water he began dabbing at the gash attentively.

Made uncomfortable by having him tend to her, Chiri shifted her weight on the couch. Receiving another warning glare from Cazer, she settled in her seat before deciding to break the tense silence between them. “You’re disappointed.” She observed, her smooth voice sounding inherently calm.

“That doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Cazer grumbled, wringing out the dirtied handkerchief.

Watching him tend to her, Chiri felt deserving of his bitter disappointment in her after having burdened him again. However, she did not regret pursuing the beast that had killed Harold Pierce. Nor, did she repent the deplorable means she had used to apprehended it, as

Cazer or the Alliance would have barred her from acting otherwise.

After a brief pause, Chiri said softly “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry, how?” Cazer snapped grudgingly, as he had now moved on to gently wiping the stains from Chiri’s hands. “Sorry, as a subordinate who undermines my authority? Or sorry, as my reckless wife who runs away and hides from me?” he asked.

“I already apologized for the first one.” Chiri answered, resting her head on his shoulder.

Although an unlikely pair, they had chosen to be coconspirators, in a place where people would stop at nothing to achieve power or claw their way up to a more advantageous social standing. Forming a strategic alliance between them, Cazer Krane was Chiri’s warden as much as he was her wings.

Despite receiving overt hostility from her peers, their spousal agreement allowed Chiri liberties that otherwise would have never be afforded to her as a Dhryzic. Cazer also benefitted from their union. Securing the role of Director earlier than was anticipated in his career, Chiri’s undeniable power had meant that no one within the Night Gate could even dare to surpass their combined abilities.

Cazer turned her hands over in his. Deep in thought, he brushed his slender fingers over her palms. The scars on their pale surface mapping the hardships of her past. Tracing their small lines, the hurt of her recent betrayal returned to Cazer. He continued draw his fingers slowly over them, as doubt and uneasiness festered inside of him.