Eryx POV
I sit behind my desk, elbows resting on the wood, flipping through paper after paper. Territory disputes. Supply counts. Guard rotations. Names I recognize. Names I don’t. I sign where I need to, make short notes in the margins, push finished files to the side. The room is quiet except for the soft rustle of paper and the ticking clock on the wall.
I check the time. My jaw tightens.
I was beginning to miss Rachael.
I flip another page. Close it then Open a new file. Read the first line and shove it aside without finishing. My fingers tap once on the desk before I stop myself. I had told her I would stay but she told me to go attend to pack matters.
The door opens without a knock.
I look up.
Lincoln steps inside. His shirt is torn at the shoulder. There’s dried blood near
