(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 294

Chapter 294: This isn’t...an intervention, is it?

"O-Oh. Hello everyone." Kellen said as he leaned against his cane. Casper, Rhys and the other Esper were looking over him and Kellen felt himself grow uncomfortable. Esper Blake hung back, giving them some privacy. She had no intention to enter the room from the get go, and from her expression, her position was solidified.

"Care to close the door, Esper Blake?" Rhys called with a smile, and Kellen shivered as Esper Blake did just that. He knew she wasn’t abandoning him, she was just outside of the door, but it did feel like he’d been thrown into a frying pan.

"Uh, why are you two here when I’m supposed to be working?" Kellen asked and Rhys grinned.

"I think Casper is ready to get back to his duties, wouldn’t you agree, Kellen?" Kellen swallowed. Rhys was...being a bit more forceful than usual. Or, at least more forceful than he had gotten used to.

"Uh, well, does he have a clean bill of health from Taylor?" Kellen asked, and Casper held up a piece of paper. Kellen was surprised he hadn’t noticed it, but maybe he’d just been shocked by the two of them showing up in this tiny guiding room. Even the Esper he was supposed to be guiding seemed uncomfortable.

Kellen shuffled into the room, taking the piece of paper from Casper’s hand. It was a genuine written note from Taylor, signed at the bottom with her signature. On it were all of Casper’s most recent labs with green check marks next to them. Kellen frowned. It felt like this could be easily faked, but he didn’t want to accuse either Casper or Rhys of faking something like this just because Kellen had been reinjured.

"Um, Taylor gave this to you?" Kellen questioned carefully and Casper nodded. He pushed up his glasses, and Kellen took his time to look him over. Really look him over.

His cheeks weren’t sunken in, his hair had a slight gloss to it again. His glasses were clean, his uniform and the jacket he wore were ironed, fresh, and spotless. His eyes had some life to them, and even his lips were nice and pink.

The man looked like he had some life to him.

His eyes were a little red, but Kellen couldn’t hold that against a man who had found out a truth about a man he was in love with. So in love with he was ready to throw away his Guild just to break it off.

"She said you’d believe it was from her if you saw her signature." Casper said. Kellen wouldn’t deny that the signature was what really made him believe that this was from her. Sighing, Kellen handed back the piece of paper, a frown marring his features.

"So? Why are you showing me this? What are you two after?" Kellen asked and Rhys and Casper shared a look. Rhys crossed his arms, staring at his pair and Casper swallowed thickly.

"Well, we think you need to take some time to yourself now. You need to shelve yourself, Kellen, and recover." Kellen blinked at Rhys. He wasn’t surprised that they were attempting this, hell, he knew better, but he was surprised at the how and where.

"Um, if I may?" Kellen said, and both nodded. "I’m nowhere near as bad as where Casper, Pamela, or Taylor are or were right now. I’m fine. Just some...relatively superficial wounds." Casper frowned.

"Kellen, I saw the broadcast live. They didn’t look...superficial. And Esper Green told me that you reopened your thigh wound as well." Kellen tightened his grip on his cane.

"I’m not going to argue with you about the state of my body. Unlike others, I am aware of when I need to take breaks. Why did you think I told you that I would revisit your benching after the press conference, Casper? It was because I was sure something was going to happen, and I also know guys like us do better with deadlines." Casper blinked, surprised and Rhys had to turn his head to hide his smirk.

When he turned his head back, he wasn’t smiling.

"So you knew you were going to get hurt?" He demanded gruffly and Kellen shrugged.

"Well, I had a feeling I was probably going to reopen my wound. Can’t really look weak when someone is aiming for your life. That’s a little silly, don’t you think?" Rhys’ jaw tightened, and Casper’s face darkened. "But, that being said, I was considering giving back your guiding duties. On the condition that as soon as the other Guides I’ve selected are finally cleared, you have to divvy up your duties. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you do." Kellen warned, his gaze narrowing and Casper flinched.

"Kellen, your eyes are glowing." Casper told him and Kellen flinched. Rhys moved towards him, wrapping a hand around his neck.

"Don’t worry, we’ll all keep an eye on Casper, and report to you if things get out of control. I appreciate you stepping back willingly, Kellen. I was worried you were going to take this poorly." Kellen chuckled.

"Is that why you staged this like an intervention with our poor Esper friend, an unwitting participant?" Kellen asked Rhys and said Esper chuckled.

"Hell no. They asked ahead of time if they could be in here. I just like the gossip." Everyone chuckled at his words. Casper folded up the piece of paper before shoving it into his pocket.

"So, I take it, I’m back in charge?" Casper asked carefully, sniffing, and Kellen sighed.

"When were you ever not in charge? I was just a temporary replacement. I’m sure everyone is going to be happy that you’re back. You just need to take better care of yourself. I’m now back to being this Esper’s exclusive Guide again." Kellen pointed towards Rhys, who still had his hand on the back of Kellen’s neck, and Rhys grinned.