Chapter 129

Rhye jerked around, meeting Dimitri’s steady gaze with an undisguised surprise. Holy crap. He hadn’t seen that coming. “A Ranger?”

Dimitri leaned back in the chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he studied Rhye. “It’s rare that I find a warrior of your skill and loyalty. When I do, I’m smart enough to insist upon their service.”

“Loyalty?” Rhye shook his head, wondering if the man was suffering from dementia. What else could possess the usually intelligent werewolf to make such a difficult offer? “In case you’ve forgotten, I don’t follow orders.”

“Loyalty is different from blind obedience,” Dimitri disputed.

“I often send out my Rangers on delicate tasks. I need soldiers who can think for themselves and make decisions when they can’t contact me.”

Rhye snorted. “I’m about as fragile as a war hammer.”

“Sometimes a mission takes a rapier, and sometimes it takes a war hammer.” Dimitri tapped his fingers on the glossy surface of the desk. “It’s my