Sapphire: The Gemstone Series

Chapter Nine

As the sky began to darken, a soft purple hue settled over the camp, signaling the time for dinner. The scent of grilled food wafted through the air, mingling with the salty tang of the sea nearby. Soldiers and Vessels gathered around the tables, their conversations filled with laughter and the low murmur of voices as they settled into the evening routine.

Sapphire walked into the dining area with his usual quiet grace, though his attention was fixed on the food in front of him. A plate sat waiting at his designated spot—an assortment of rice, grilled squid, kinilaw, and lato seaweed. The colors of the dish were vibrant, but Sapphire stared at it with thinly veiled suspicion, as though it was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. His brow furrowed as he prodded the food with a fork, clearly debating whether or not it was worth the risk to even try.

Adrian, sitting beside him, noticed the hesitation and leaned in with an encouraging smile. "It's a local dish. Nothing fancy, but it's really good once you get used to it," he explained, pointing at the different parts of the meal. "That's grilled squid—perfectly done, I might add—and this is kinilaw, raw fish cured in vinegar, lime, and spices. And this," he said, gesturing to the green strands, "is lato, seaweed. It's really refreshing, like little bursts of the ocean."

Sapphire glanced at Adrian, grateful for the explanation but still unconvinced. "Raw fish," he muttered under his breath, glaring at the kinilaw with disdain.

Across the table, Cruz had been listening, and with a quick look at Sapphire's plate, he chimed in with his usual bluntness. "You only had one meal today," he pointed out. His voice carried just enough bite to catch Sapphire's attention, even though he wasn't looking at him directly. "Stop being picky and eat. You're not going to die from it."

Sapphire's eyes shot up, locking onto Cruz with a sharp glare. The rest of the table fell silent, sensing the familiar tension between the two. Cruz leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his gaze challenging as he waited for Sapphire's reaction.

Sapphire's retort was immediate. "I didn't know you were my dietitian now," he snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I don't need your advice on what's edible and what's not."

The quick comeback brought a few amused chuckles from the soldiers and Vessels nearby. Cruz's lips twitched into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk, but he didn't respond, letting Sapphire have the last word—for now.

However, not everyone found the exchange so entertaining. Juno, seated a little further down the table next to the general, felt a hot wave of anger rise in his chest as he watched Sapphire effortlessly hold Cruz's attention—even as they sat opposite from each other, several feet apart. Juno's eyes flickered between Sapphire and Cruz, jealousy gnawing at him. He had been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to make his own move, and now seemed as good a time as any.

With a practiced smile, Juno leaned toward Cruz, feigning interest in something completely unrelated to the current situation. "I was wondering," he began smoothly, trying to change the topic. "What kind of training regimen do you have for your soldiers here? They seem pretty well-disciplined, considering the circumstances."

Cruz barely spared Juno a glance, still too preoccupied with Sapphire's sharp retort. But Juno pressed on, angling his body slightly toward Cruz to create the illusion of casual conversation. "I mean, you must have a specific strategy in mind to keep them in line. It's impressive."

Cruz finally turned his head, his expression neutral but his patience clearly wearing thin. "Discipline isn't a strategy. It's earned," he replied curtly, his tone dismissive. But Juno wasn't one to be easily dissuaded. He continued to hover near Cruz, trying to draw him into further conversation, hoping to steer the attention back toward himself.

While Juno's attempts to engage Cruz went mostly unnoticed by everyone else, Sapphire had a different distraction. General Montreal had arrived just moments after Sapphire, but instead of sitting at his usual spot with the soldiers, he chose the empty seat next to Sapphire. His presence was unmistakable—broad-shouldered, muscular, and commanding in every sense of the word. His uniform was crisp, despite the long day, and his sharp features caught the last rays of sunlight, casting his face in an almost regal light.

Sapphire, still fixated on the food in front of him, didn't immediately acknowledge Montreal's presence. But when the general finally spoke, his deep, rich voice broke through Sapphire's internal debate. "Not a fan of local cuisine, I take it?"

Sapphire turned his head slightly, meeting Montreal's gaze for the first time. There was something unreadable in the general's eyes, a mix of amusement and something more intense. It was clear that Montreal was studying him, not just in passing but with the kind of scrutiny that made Sapphire feel like he was being sized up for something.

"It's not that," Sapphire replied after a beat, his tone careful. "Just not something I'm used to."

Montreal chuckled, leaning back in his chair as if settling in for a more relaxed conversation. "You seem to be a man of particular tastes," he observed, his gaze briefly flicking over Sapphire's clothes, still pristine and out of place among the rugged camp attire of the others. "But you might surprise yourself. Sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow."

Sapphire offered a thin smile, though his fingers still toyed with the fork in front of him. He wasn't sure if Montreal's words were genuine advice or something more calculated. The general had a way of speaking that suggested he always knew more than he let on.

Before Sapphire could respond, Cruz's voice cut through the conversation once again, clearly directed at him. "You're not going to get out of this, brat," he said, his tone impatient. "Eat. Now."

Sapphire bristled, turning to glare at Cruz. "You really have a way of ruining a meal, don't you?" he muttered under his breath, though it was loud enough for those nearby to hear.

The tension between the two had the table's attention again, and this time, even Montreal seemed amused by the dynamic. "Seems like you two have quite the rapport," Montreal commented, his eyes shifting between Cruz and Sapphire with mild interest.

"Hardly," Sapphire shot back, pushing his plate away with a small huff. "I don't take orders from anyone, least of all him."

"Could've fooled me," Cruz replied coolly, clearly enjoying the banter despite his earlier irritation. "But if you want to pass out from hunger, don't come crying to me later."

The table erupted into soft laughter, and even Adrian shook his head in amusement. Sapphire, however, wasn't in the mood to be teased further. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he met Cruz's gaze with defiance. "I'll be fine. Trust me."

From across the table, Juno's eyes darkened. His subtle attempts to get Cruz's attention had been utterly ignored, and now, watching Cruz and Sapphire bicker like an old married couple, his jealousy reached a new peak. He clenched his jaw, his smile fading as the conversation continued without him. He wasn't used to being overshadowed, least of all by someone like Sapphire.

Montreal, amused by the dynamic, leaned back, watching the interplay with a knowing smile. His interest in Sapphire hadn't waned, and his eyes lingered on the Vessel longer than was necessary. Sapphire, oblivious to the effect he was having, returned to poking at his food.

Juno, however, was seething. Every glance Cruz spared for Sapphire, every teasing comment, only made his envy burn hotter. And to make matters worse, Montreal seemed equally drawn to Sapphire's effortless allure. Juno hated it—the way Sapphire commanded attention without even trying, the way Cruz and now even General Montreal couldn't seem to keep their eyes off of him.

As the evening wore on, the tension in the air only thickened, each interaction between Cruz and Sapphire stoking the embers of jealousy in those around them. Sapphire, unaware of the growing undercurrents of rivalry and desire, remained focused on his food, while the others watched him—some with envy, others with admiration, and one with a dangerously amused gaze.