The God & The Shadow

Chapter 80

VERONICA

"Hey, boss. May I come in?"

I lifted an arm and pointed a finger upwards to silence him as I watched the long hand of my watch strike 12 and the short hand move to 2.

Lunch was over, and Hermes and the others were definitely not coming. I didn't know if I should feel relieved or bad about it, but I didn't have the time to worry over it. I'm sure he was telling them how much he hated me for the shit I pulled last night.

"What is it?" I dropped my arms to my side and turned on my heel, facing away from the window that showed the skyline of London.

Jordan coughed into his fist before placing his hands in front of him. "The frequencies of the channel to the Twelfth Realm are unstable again. Should we send a team to check on them?" He held up a visual aid of the frequencies that backed up his claim of them being off the charts.

I sighed. Of course, it's unstable again. I grabbed my coat draped over my leather chair and shrugged it on. "No. I'll check it myself." I removed the elastic off my left wrist and quickly tied my hair into a high ponytail before shoving nodding at Jordan. "Anything else?"

"That is all, boss." He coughed into his fist once more before he rubbed his arm. Around me, he was always fiddling with whatever and coughing.

"Find a healer for that cough of yours, Jordan." I grabbed the leather gloves on the table and put them on.

He shook his head. "I'm not sick, boss. It's just a thing I do."

His statement gave me pause and he shrugged when I looked at him. From what I remembered, he just turned eighteen a week ago and was given his first official mission a few days ago. Warren himself watched his unit like a hawk and made sure everything was in order for the rooks. It reminded me of the time Tarrin did the same thing for us, too.

No. Don't go there. "Are you free, Jordan?" I said with a surreptitious head shake to rid my head of any prying thoughts.

"Y-yes, boss." I felt his trepidation dripping from his words.

"Good." I rounded the table and walked over to him. Giving him a smile, I extended my gloved hand to him and wiggled my fingers. "Join me?"

He looked at my hand as if it were a threat, but he took it anyway. Satisfied, I closed my eyes and opened them to the Twelfth Realm surrounding me. I quickly let go of Jordan's hand and shoved my hands into my pockets as he took in the new environment with pure awe on his face.

"Welcome back." A voice greeted. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was starting to miss you, Persy."

I snickered and gave her a quick nod of my acknowledgment. "And I can't... say the same."

Azura feigned disappointment and gestured to follow her out of the doorway. "Bummer." She led us out of the receiving room and led us down the hallway, "Who's the kid?" She asked with a tone almost bored.

"Midas Agent. New recruit." I gave Jordan a nudge on the shoulder and he took the opportunity to introduce himself with a few coughs and stutters here and then.

"Jordan, eh?" I could hear Azura's smirk in her tone. "Say, Jordan, do you know about the history of the realm you walk on now?"