(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260: Taylor’s spidey senses are tingling

Kellen and Brent were a little late getting to their last class, and Brent had to leave part way through for a guiding session, but everything went smoothly. The last class went off without a hitch, the evening ended well, the last few of Kellen’s guiding sessions went well, and Kellen made his way towards the Medical Bay for his monitored guiding session with the Captain.

Kellen felt a little stronger with his leg today. The cream had worn off at some point in the late afternoon, but Kellen didn’t mind. He didn’t feel as unstable, and having to walk to the door to answer it for his Mom had proven that to him.

He wanted to stop in and see if his Mom and Dad were doing okay, and if his Dad had liked his gifts, but he could do that after. He didn’t want to leave Taylor and the Captain alone for too long.

Not because he was worried that the two of them didn’t get along, but because they were both very busy people.

Kellen knocked and before he could open the door, someone else was opening it. It was Taylor, who looked exhausted, but still happy. The deep dark circles under her eyes told him that much, but her eyes were bright.

"I heard from Pamela that you have several temporary Guides in the works?" She asked as she stepped back, letting him enter the room. Kellen chuckled.

"Yes. A few, at the very least. They all agreed to the contracts I sent to their Guiding Centers too, so they are aware that if they do anything like the last Guides we are allowed to take whatever actions we deem appropriate." Taylor’s gaze widened slightly before she laughed.

"Hmm, why do I feel like that’s in really tiny fine print?" She teased and Kellen laughed. He glanced over at Rhys, who was already here and topless. He looked like everything was okay, but Kellen had a feeling that he was going to be messed up inside today.

"Maybe because you know me well?" He replied and Taylor smiled at him, her eyes warm.

"Yes, I do. Which is why I know it was you who sent your Dad Casper and that other little twig. Why didn’t you call me when you brought him in? I had to hear about him from one of my people?" She sounded hurt and Kellen frowned.

"Taylor, you run this place. Why would I always go to the head honcho for something like a checkup?" She narrowed her gaze, before gesturing around the room. He flushed. "T-This is different! This also relates to the Captain of the Guild’s health, so of course you would be involved! But for a regular Guide?" He looked away, a little embarrassed. "Plus, I didn’t want to bother you. You were probably doing something important, or sleeping, and you need both." Kellen’s cheeks were warm as he looked over at his friend.

Taylor was frowning at him, her hands on her hips. Her hair was in a messy bun, she looked like she needed three pots of coffee, and even her frame was slightly thinner than it should be. She needed her rest, she needed a good meal, and she needed a good guiding session.

Kellen hated that he couldn’t give her two of the three things she needed most urgently.

"Kellen, just because-"

"And you saved my Dad." Kellen said and she shut her mouth, her lips firm. "So, yeah, I’m going to let you rest if I can. You’re still in the process of saving my Dad. Don’t think that you’re free from payment just because the Captain pays you a salary. You already know that both Dad and I are going to hound you for years to come for this." Her pale face flushed with colour at Kellen’s words.

They weren’t supposed to be a threat, but maybe they had the energy of one.

"It was my job." Kellen nodded.

"And you did an exceptional job." Her lips firmed again.

"Honestly, no, I didn’t. If I had more time, more access to a Guide, I could have-" She shut her mouth. "No, I’m not going to say that. No one is at fault besides those fuckers who betrayed us. I am not going to make you feel bad." She muttered, more to herself then to Kellen. Kellen chuckled.

"I don’t feel bad for disciplining them. I feel bad for not demanding that I take over getting more Guides into the Guild and instead letting the overworked Casper keep it on his plate." Taylor seemed relieved at Kellen’s words.

"Oh thank goodness. I was worried that my words were putting pressure on you." Kellen shook his head.

"No. Something like that wouldn’t." Kellen thought back to his embarrassing moment with the stairs and cleared his throat. No. There were other things that would put pressure on him, but Taylor’s words weren’t on that list. He knew that she didn’t mean them in a way to belittle him. She also knew how hard it was to recruit others. She ran her own department.

"Do you need help undressing?" Rhys’ voice piped up from nearby and Kellen froze. Oh, he was in a hurry. Shit.

"Oh, uh-"