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Vadisk wondered how they would respond to his explanation, and for a split second, he considered downplaying his specific job duties. Then he reconsidered. He’d fucked up enough with these two. He refused to add to that by hiding who he truly was from them.
“The knights of each territory are the police. And sometimes the judges. They maintain law and order. Make sure rules and orders are followed. The security officers operate differently…outside of the law. We do what needs doing. Eliminate external threats…and we employ any means necessary.”
“Special ops,” Montana said quietly.
Vadisk nodded.
“Wow. That sounds morally gray as hell,” Dahlia muttered.
Vadisk grimaced. “I don’t want to hide who I am from you. I’ve done things in the past that the two of you might find…disturbing, but I promise you they were necessary.”
Dahlia’s expression tightened. “It sounds like a dangerous job.”
Vadisk nodded. “It is at times. For the past year or so, what my territory needed was slightly different. I’ve been serving instead as my admiral’s bodyguard, protecting her, keeping her safe, so that she can do the work that needs to be done. Ensuring her safety is priority one for me.”
“You admire your admiral,” Dahlia said.
He smiled. “Very much so. Nikolett is exactly what Hungary needed, strong, brave, intelligent. She stepped into a hornet’s nest, following Petro’s death, and she’s made the territory better. She’s given me a great deal of responsibility and support because she believes in my ability to serve.”
“The perfect boss.” Dahlia pushed her hair over her shoulder and out of her eyes, blown there by the warm breeze coming off the sea.
“She is.” Vadisk respected his admiral and he was grateful to Nikolett for the trust she’d bestowed on him. “She was the one who recommended me to the Masters Protection Force.”
Vadisk was met with a blank expression from Dahlia, though this time Montana nodded.
“Now the MPF, I know,” Montana said.
Dahlia shot him a curious look. “I don’t.”
Vadisk wasn’t surprised. There were very few people who weren’t associated with the MPF aware of its existence, so he wondered how Montana knew about them.
“The MPF is a joint task force between the Trinity Masters and the Masters’ Admiralty. Whenever danger arises that threatens both societies, the MPF is called in to eliminate it,” Vadisk explained to Dahlia.
“So you work with them as well?” Dahlia leaned forward, clearly fascinated.
“Yes. Each territory has one person on the task force, and I represent Hungary. I’m hoping…” Vadisk paused.
“You’re hoping you can continue with the MPF, since it’s a joint force between our two societies,” Montana finished for him.
“I am.”
Montana sighed. “It’s not a foregone conclusion that we’ll wind up in America. The three of us will make that choice together. You need to stop viewing this as a two-against-one situation. You’re assuming things about us without even getting to know us.”
Vadiskhadbeen doing that. It was why he’d been such an ass. “You’re right. I do need to stop doing that. I’m sorry.”
Dahlia beamed, her smile wide. “I want to hug you right now, but I know I can’t.”
Vadisk returned her grin. “I want the same thing. More than I can say.”
The three of them looked at each other, letting the first genuine spark of warmth settle over them, and some of the heaviness that had been weighing him down fell away.
“I like that the Masters’ Admiralty has a dedicated security force. Is being a security officer your full-time job?” Montana asked.
“Yes,” Vadisk said. “Most territories have security or consulting companies that act as the official employer for the knights and security officers.”
“That’s their cover, since they can’t say they work for a poly secret society.” Dahlia’s tone was warm with a smile.
“We should have something like that instead of the Warrior Scholars,” Montana said.
