Free The Scent (The Bryn and Sinjin Series Book 2) by H.P. Mallory Page B

hands felt clammy. I was nervous. I could feel the anxiety in my body—the way every one of my nerves practically announced its presence. But I wasn’t sure why. Gus, in general, wasn’t the type of person who could have gotten under my skin. ’Course that was then and this was now …
    “Yes,” he answered, taking a few steps closer to me and leaning against the drab, brown kitchen counter. He didn’t say anything else as he studied me. His expression suggested he enjoyed knowing information to which I wasn’t privy.
    “Okay,” I started, eyeing him impatiently as every nerve throughout my being twitched apprehensively. “Now would normally be the time when you start explaining,” I finished in a facetious tone, which only served to irritate him. I could tell by the frown that deeply furrowed his brow.
    “You might want to drop the attitude, Bryn,” he fired back at me, crossing his arms against his chest. “You aren’t exactly in any position to have one.”
    I narrowed my eyes and stood up, not enjoying the feel of him looking down at me. If he wanted to play hard ball, that was fine with me. I folded my arms over my chest and gave him the same glare he was giving me. “Why are you here, Gus?”
    “I’m here to inform you that you’ve been demoted,” he announced. The change in his tone of voice, which took on a lilt, suggested that he enjoyed being the bearer of bad news.
    “Demoted?” I laughed, like it wasn’t a big deal. And, really, it wasn’t. I figured it would just be a matter of time until I was stripped of all my former titles and accolades. It was par for the course. “And what have I been demoted to?” I asked, sounding bored. I flipped the top of my sandwich off and poked at the grey turkey, half wondering if I might find a stray leaf or two. “Or, wait, let me guess.” Then I drummed my fingers against my chin and pretended to be deep in thought. “Maybe janitorial staff? Or dog walker? Maybe shoe shiner to his royal holiness?” Of course, I was referring to Luce. Based on the sudden tick in Gus’s jaw, he knew it too. If Gus were anything, it was “professional ass-kisser” where Luce was concerned. As soon as I remembered that bit of information, Gus’s unannounced visit started to make more sense. “So was this visit of yours part of your compensation package for being Luce’s lap dog? You get to tell me about my demotion?” I asked, no longer able to keep my temper in check.
    “Laugh now, but you won’t be laughing in a few seconds,” Gus spat back at me, his face scrunching up into an even more unpleasant expression. Although far from handsome before, now he appeared downright ugly.
    “Try me,” I managed, my jaw growing tighter.
    “Where to start …” Gus said, glancing up at the ceiling as if he were trying to recall a long list.
    “Try the beginning.”
    Bringing his eyes to mine, his were ice cold, soulless even, and the exact clones of Luce’s. It suddenly dawned on me that were I to look any of my fellow tribe members in the eyes, I’m sure they would all have revealed that same hollow emptiness. Why? Because they were all automatons, obeying the orders of Luce and the Daywalker leader, Nairn. There was not an original thought to be found among the lot of them. I was suddenly glad, no , thrilled , that I no longer was considered one of them. For the first time ever, I could say that I was my own person. For the first time, I understood what true independence felt like. And I relished it.
    “You have been fully stripped of your former title as Trainer to the Soldier Recruits,” Gus started, a smile sounding in his words.
    “Boo-hoo!” I faux cried with an angry laugh but then the laugh died on my lips just as quickly as it surfaced. “If Luce expects me to give a shit about my title as trainer, I don’t. And you can tell him that yourself.”
    “Done,” Gus said, but the smile on his face promised more bad news.
    “What’s next?” I demanded