Wild Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower #1)(5)

“I follow the rules,” I objected.

“That uniform is designed to keep you safe.” Minka gestured to Briar’s dark blue outfit.

“And yet here I am—safe as houses and no uniform,” I said.

I wasn’t against a uniform on principle. There was a lot to be said for protective gear, especially ours. The Knights of Boudica had taken great pains to acquire the fluid-like magical armor that protected us from the cold, absorbed shock, and was difficult to penetrate, and I appreciated their efforts. I disliked wearing the uniform because it identified me as a knight and I tried to avoid anything that identified me in a crowd or drew attention to me. I wanted to blend with the shadows, the way vampires once did. It was safer for me. Safer for everyone.

While we argued, Trio had wandered over to Stevie’s desk and was currently trying to pull the drawer handle with her fangs.

“I told Stevie it would attract animals if she kept snacks in her drawer,” Minka said.

The drawer popped open and three heads alternated dipping into the stash because they couldn’t all fit at the same time.

“Tell Stevie I’ll replace everything,” I said.

“You better,” Minka said. “She won’t be happy.”

“Shouldn’t have left her desk unmanned,” I said.

Minka went back to her paperwork. “She went with Ione and Neera to shop for supplies.”

“What kind of shopping requires three knights?”

“They wanted a tie-breaker in case of a disagreement,” Briar explained.

“Where’s Kami?” I asked. She was the best option for dealing with Trio.

“Speak of the devil and I shall appear in his stead.”

I spun around to see my friend limping toward us. Kamikaze Marwin was a tough, stocky blonde with a tongue that matched the sharpness of her blade. We met when we were both sixteen and orphaned. We lost contact for a few years when she left the city, but she made a point of finding me when she returned. We joined the Knights of Boudica together.

Minka rushed forward and yelled for Briar.

The shapeshifter vacated her chair. “I’m right here. I can see her.”

“I’m fine,” Kami insisted, nostrils flaring.

“You’re limping,” Minka said.

“Exactly. When I crawl in here on my belly because my legs are broken or missing, then you can call the resident healer.”

Briar gave a slight bow of acknowledgment and backed away.

“How are you injured?” I asked. “You were supposed to be recuperating from yesterday.”

“Sorry we can’t all be part-Amazon and impervious to injury,” she griped.

I popped a hand on my hip. “I’m neither of those things and you know it.” I was only five-nine, hardly Amazonian height, and I’d racked up enough injuries in my early days as a knight to earn the nickname Gash, which quickly fell out of favor when I threatened bodily harm.

Kami dragged herself to the nearest chair and sat. “It’s a funny story I’ll share when I’m in a better mood.”

“I guess this isn’t the ideal time to ask for a favor,” I said.

Kami flicked her gaze to the beast currently devouring a bag of pretzels. “I don’t suppose your favor involves three heads and an Olympic-Sized pool of acidic slobber.”

I clasped my hands in front of me. “Speaking of funny stories…”

Kami raised a hand. “Save it. She’s cute. I’ll take her.”

“I owe you one.” I whistled and Trio trotted over to us. “Trio, this is your new friend, Kami. She’s going to take good care of you.”

Kami grunted. “Don’t expect a warm bed and hot food. London only means that I’ll introduce you to some other friendly critters who know where the good hunting is and you can roam the streets together.”

There was safety in numbers even for a beast like Trio. At the very least it would save her from getting commandeered by a man like Fergal again.

“Now that the dog’s sorted, I’ll see you all later.”

Minka frowned. “Where are you going?”

“I have to drop off the booty to our client so we get paid and then I have a meeting.”

Minka glanced at her desk. “I don’t have anything on the schedule.”

“Because I didn’t tell you about it.”

Minka moaned her exasperation. “That’s not how we do things, London.”

“No, but it’s how I do things.” The meeting had been scheduled by Mack Quaid, a knight from one of the more acceptable banners.

“You need to tell me when you’re moonlighting so I can make a note of it.” Moonlighting was permissible under the rules, but Minka was overly obsessed with documentation in my opinion.

“I don’t know yet if I am. Depends on the job.”

Minka fixed me with an insistent stare. “But you’ll let me know as soon as you decide?”

“Of course.”

“She’s lying,” Kami said, flashing me a mischievous smile. Payback for ditching her with Trio, it seemed.

I smiled back. “Briar, I think Kami’s in more pain than she’s letting on. You might want to have her strip down and take a hot bath whether she wants to or not. She can be her own worst enemy.”