He stood there for a moment, breathing hard, the ache settling deep in his ribs. Wondering if any of this was even worth it. Now that he knew what happened to his sister, maybe he should tell his friends, start planning something real, and find someone who actually knew how to help. Fishing out the phone, he smashed the keypad with orders to his friends to start looking into shamans with the information he gave about Khem.
It wasn't the work he hated. It was Kian. The arrogance. The authority. The silence. The way he acted like Xal was just there to serve him, and this was only day one.
But mostly, what ticked him off was the way none of the jobs he had been helping out led to finding Khem, or at least a single clue.
Thoughts wrecked his mind, unable to decide if this is the right path or not. Grumbling under his breath, Xal climbed back into the car, grunting as he buckled the seatbelt.
Kian was still silent.
"Where to?" he asked.
"To my house, we are done for the day," Kian said, flashing his phone screen to show the location again. Xal saw him stealing a glance at him before leaning back to the car seat. If it were someone else, he would name that look a worried one, but this was Kian. There is no way he was concerned about him.
Typical.
A bodyguard isn't supposed to be protected or cared for because it was his job. Maybe because of how understanding and kind Kian acted when they met, he had expected him to be at least a bit considerate. Now he knew that this dude was just like any other employee who didn't give a shit.
When they reached Kian's place, he told Xal to take the car home and pick him up the next morning.
Xal's jaw tightened. Great. Now he was the driver too.
He reached home in about twenty minutes. Bruises were already darkening under his shirt. He'd have to hide them from his mom. After losing Xahelya, she'd become even more protective of him and Dad.
He couldn't blame her, but he wasn't a kid anymore. He could handle himself.