(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169: An Ambush

Hill rested against Brent’s shoulder, still pouting. "I better be included in that conversation, or so help me, I’ll interrupt you and Captain Thatcher again." She threatened. Brent turned his gaze towards the determined Hill, while Kellen felt his face flush.

"Again? When have you interrupted us?" Kellen questioned, and she huffed.

"You don’t honestly believe that the Captain would have left you alone after guiding yesterday, do you?" Kellen stared at her, and remembered what the Captain had been like yesterday. He wasn’t himself, that was sure. He was jumpy, and irritated. How he had brought up how he was supposed to have the whole evening off and had been super angry with her. What on earth had he been planning if that was the case?

"Well, honestly, if he hadn’t rejected my guiding, you would have interrupted us then, so I guess I can give you that." Kellen told her, which came as a shock to both of them.

"Wait, the Captain rejected your guiding yesterday? Why the fuck wasn’t that brought up sooner?" Brent’s voice was loud, and Kellen gave him a sharp look.

"Watch your volume, Brent. I didn’t bring it up because to me it wasn’t a big deal at the time." That was a bold faced lie. Kellen had already told Taylor that it felt like he had outright rejected him, personally, but after the two of them had talked throughout the night, Kellen knew that wasn’t the case. Rhys had been full of emotions, and was probably too stressed to accept guidance of any kind. "It wasn’t anything unusual. Sometimes when emotions are high, Espers reject guiding. We all know this." Kellen said, feeling mature about his answer. The two stared at him in stunned silence.

"Yeah, but you’re his pair, Kellen. I just can’t even fathom him doing that to you. It hurts like a bitch when it happens. Did you tell him that?" Hill’s eyes widened at Brent’s words, and Kellen wondered how the education of Espers even happened. Did none of them pay attention in class if she was that surprised at what was considered basic knowledge? Everyone should know that rejecting guiding hurts both parties. Espers in the sense that their emotions became more volatile, more aggressive, and Guides with a recoil of sorts. It usually was a sharp pain that radiated from the point of contact that turned into a numbing sensation. Kellen looked away from Brent’s piercing green gaze.

"It wasn’t that bad, especially since I noticed the rejection right away and that he was in no state to be guided. Honestly, trying to guide was harder than the recoil. I felt like I was drowning." Brent seemed thoughtful about his comment, while Hill seemed horrified.

"Drowning?" Hill asked, and Kellen nodded.

"Yes, Hill. Have you never felt that before?" Hill stared at him, shocked.

"Not on dry land, Kellen!" Hill exclaimed, but Brent interrupted her theatrics.

"Huh. Maybe because you two have such a high compatibility the recoil wasn’t as bad. Did you bring that part up to Taylor? About the recoil?" He asked and Kellen shook his head. Glancing away from Brent again, Kellen scratched the back of his neck, unintentionally grazing the marks that the Captain left and he flinched.

"Uh, no. We had other things to talk about." Kellen muttered, before he cleared his throat. "Anyway, we’ve had enough of a break. We should really run through our program now." Kellen kept his tone firm, but he had dissuaded either of them. Both had caught the scent of something juicy, and they wanted a little bite. Brent had a devious grin on his face as he glanced over at Hill, who had a matching grin.