[Bonus chapter] All the Logic, None of the Sense

~ STARK ~

Hildie rolled her eyes to heaven, as if pleading for strength. "Of course, there's no possible way I could watch over my people without your fiercely masculine and very unemotional presence to support."

"That was not what I meant at all."

"Oh really?"

"Really! I came to assist you, not check up on you. I wouldn't have put you in this position if I didn't believe you could be trusted with it!" I growled, the frustration of the past few days rising to flames in my chest. "For fuck's sake, Hildie, every step I take is not a conspiracy to underestimate you! I would have done the same—for different reasons—for a new barracks full of young men, as well."

She leaned back against the tree, just like she had with the wall in the bar and folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"Believe what? That I patrol young soldiers to ensure they're acting as they should? Yes!"