(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 383

Chapter 383: What do you mean by that?

Kellen didn’t realise so much time had passed as he chatted with the Guides until he felt a shift in the air. Kellen turned before the hand landed on his shoulder, and he met Rhys’ slightly surprised, but happy gaze.

"Oh. I was planning to sneak up on you and surprise you. I wanted to embarrass you in front of your students." Rhys teased and Kellen felt his cheeks warm as the other Guides laughed.

"That is simply unnecessary." Kellen told the other man and Rhys laughed. He bent, wrapping his arm around Kellen’s shoulders and pulling him against him. Rhys let out a deep sigh as Kellen checked his status. He was stable, he was okay, and he hadn’t used much power in between the time he had last seen him and now.

"It’s okay, Captain Thatcher. Everyone knows how lovey dovey you two are." One of the Guides said.

"That’s right! We got to brag about it on the front lines to the Nemesis Guild members. We rubbed it in their faces that their Captain wasn’t paired up. It really made them mad." Another male Guide piped up, chuckling. That brought all of the Guides alive, chatting to each other about their paired Captain and their teacher.

Kellen was more embarrassed that they were bragging to another Guild, especially Captain Sergei’s Guild.

"I know that you, as members of the Saturn Guild, have a bit of a rivalry with the Nemesis Guild, but I am actually on rather good terms with Captain Sergei. I am actually surprised he hasn’t brought this up in any of the emails we’ve exchanged." Kellen muttered, and Rhys’ arm tightened around his shoulders.

"You exchange emails that frequently with him?" He prompted and Kellen tilted his head back, looking at Rhys’ slightly pouting expression.

"Well, yeah. I use him to check in on everyone, and what the gates are up to." Kellen said. "Captain Sergei is quite reliable in that regard. He is also the only one on the front lines who forked over the huge amount of money to have an actual base out there." Rhys’ expression darkened at that and it didn’t take Kellen more than a few seconds to realise he’d messed up. "Uh, of course, that isn’t a mark against you, Rhys! I just meant-"

"I know what you meant. You like nice and rich Espers, don’t you?" Rhys was clearly pouting, but wouldn’t take his hands off of Kellen. Kellen was floundering as the other Guides watched on, amused.

"I don’t-that’s not-even if I was, that doesn’t take you out of that type, does it? You are a nice and rich Esper." Kellen pointed out and Rhys ’harrumphed’.

"Yeah. But not as rich as Sergei is in your eyes." Rhys muttered darkly. "I could do that too, you know. I could have a permanent base out there. There just wasn’t a reason to when we only really have four Guilds out there at any given time and Sergei is always out there, more than we are." Rhys defended and Kellen raised his hand, patting it.

"Yes, of course. I know that. This isn’t a hit against you. Both you and Sergei met any crazy demand I had when I made contracts. Only Sakura was crazy enough to try to negotiate discounts because we were friends in high school." Kellen tried to comfort him. Someone let out a slight gasp.

"I-I always wanted to ask about that, but...you went to school with Captain Sakura, Guide Woods?" It was the girl Kellen had been comforting before. Her eyes were big and sparkling as he glanced at her and Kellen sighed.

"Yes. I did know her in high school."

"So...you knew her before she was a she?" Kellen froze. It wasn’t the girl who asked, but another guy. Not even one of his Guides, but an Esper who had been listening in. Kellen didn’t like the look on his face, and Kellen didn’t hide his displeasure.

"Yeah. I knew her when she was still figuring it out. Why? Is that a problem?" Kellen was immediately defensive. Where Rhys had been clearly jealous before, his grip tightened on Kellen’s shoulders, his breath fanning Kellen’s ear as he let out a soft, but firm exhale.

"Oh? I didn’t mean it like that, you know? I was just curious about what she would be like. You know, before she became so...girly and shit. You know, when she was a he?"

"Kellen." Rhys’ soft way of calling his name made sure that Kellen didn’t get up and punch the smug little smirk off of his face. It was clear from the shock on several faces around him that they didn’t know about Sakura’s situation. Kellen hated people like this the most.

"A safe space? It’s full of girls. How is that a safe space when someone like her is-" Kellen’s hand snapped, gripping the other man’s jaw and forcing him into silence. The Esper’s eyes widened as Kellen realised his face was bathed in a blue light.