(Kaelen)
Theron leaves at dawn for the northern summit.
Two-day trip, maybe three — border representatives, the same ones from before, a follow-up that couldn't be rescheduled. He tells me at breakfast, the early one, our kitchen at six, and I nod and ask which enforcers are going with him and he tells me and I file it.
"You'll have Joss," he says. "And Cael's team on the western perimeter."
"I know." I look at my coffee. "I've been here six months. I know the security rotation."
He looks at me. Something in his expression — not quite a smile. "I know you do."
"Then stop briefing me like I'm a guest."
"Old habit." He stands. Comes around the island and stops beside me and I look up and he puts his hand on my jaw, the gesture that's his, and I let him.
"Two days," he says.
"I know.
