Zinnia tsked softly at the sound of the voice, clearly recognizing it. Kaiden, on the other hand, glanced around in confusion, unable to locate the source. Before he could ask, a bird swooped low to the ground, flying straight at them. Its wings flapped rapidly, but just a few feet away, it slowed midair and, in a blink, transformed into a woman.

Kaiden’s jaw dropped. The woman looked like a slightly older version of Zinnia, equally as stunning, with the same long chestnut-brown hair and freckles. However, her hazel eyes held flecks of gold rather than Zinnia’s orange, giving her a more regal presence. She wore a deep emerald-green dress with clean lines and subtle vine embroidery along the hem. Fitted sleeves flared slightly at the cuffs, and a polished silver belt cinched her waist, adding a touch of refined authority.

Kaiden wasn’t sure what surprised him more: the seamless transformation from bird to human or the fact that he was now face-to-face with another Petal sister. He still didn’t know the full family tree, and honestly, he wasn’t sure he wanted to. The fewer Petal sisters he got entangled with, the better.

“My little Zinnia,” the woman said, her voice warm but teasing. “It’s so good to see you.”

Zinnia visibly stiffened at the words, her usual confident demeanor faltering. She blanched, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.

Kaiden had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing out loud. She had teased him mercilessly in the dungeon, and seeing her look so timid and flustered in front of her sister brought him endless satisfaction.

“Hello, Marigold,” Zinnia finally said, her tone carefully neutral. “What brings you here?”

“Oh, we’ve got some things to talk about.”

“Of course,” Zinnia said quickly, then gestured toward Kaiden as if to deflect attention. “This is Kaiden, and I’m taking him under my wing starting now.”

Marigold raised an eyebrow and gave Kaiden an appraising look, though her expression didn’t lose its warmth. She shook her head ever so slightly, her smile widening.

“Under your wing, you say?” Marigold said, her tone soft yet bemused. She tilted her head slightly, her warm grin giving off the air of a mother catching a child in some mischief. “Now that’s not going to happen.”

Kaiden wanted to fist pump and bow down to his savior, Marigold, as Zinnia opened her mouth in shock, clearly unaccustomed to not getting her way. For once, Kaiden felt a glimmer of hope. Someone was finally looking out for him. He chastised himself internally for judging Marigold too quickly, assuming she’d be just as unreasonable as her sister. Instead, she seemed like the sensible one—a sharp contrast to Zinnia’s unpredictability.

“Thank you,” Kaiden said, bowing his head slightly, trying to convey the gratitude he felt. “I need to get to my unit.”

Marigold turned her hazel eyes on him, and Kaiden immediately felt like she was studying him down to his very soul. Her gaze swept over him, slow and deliberate, as though evaluating every detail of his being. She didn’t speak immediately, and the silence stretched long enough to make him shift uncomfortably.

Zinnia, however, didn’t give Marigold the chance to focus on Kaiden any longer. “Why not? I kept him alive in that dungeon, and now he needs to pay me back!” Her voice was shrill, tinged with indignation.

Marigold’s expression sharpened, her gaze snapping to her sister. With a single, decisive snap of her fingers, an opaque dome shimmered into existence around them. The barrier hummed faintly, its edges glowing softly as it blocked out the rest of the world.

Kaiden’s eyes widened, a mix of confusion and wariness settling in. “What—what is this?” he stammered, glancing between the two women.

Marigold’s voice ignored his question as it was directed at her sister, firm and unwavering. “You’ve caused quite the commotion, dragging this private along. It’s not something I can just ignore.”

Zinnia crossed her arms, her confusion giving way to defiance. “What are you talking about?”

Marigold sighed, her tone laced with irritation. “I’ve already struck a deal. He’s going back to the military—for now.”

“What?!” Zinnia’s voice exploded, her frustration echoing within the dome. “You went behind my back! You can’t just—”

“I absolutely can,” Marigold interrupted, her words icy and final. Her gaze hardened as she began to pace, her tone laced with authority. “Let’s break it down, shall we? You abducted a private practically on military grounds. You dragged him into a Diamond-grade D-OD that General Thorne entered first—a dungeon that wasn’t even cleared yet. And now, let me guess, since Thorne’s party hasn’t come out yet, the artifact…”

She paused, giving Zinnia a pointed look, clearly waiting for her to finish the sentence.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Zinnia hesitated, glaring at her sister before finally muttering, “Ash got it.”

“Exactly,” Marigold said, her voice sharp with irritation. “And what, you thought no one would notice? That you could just waltz in and out without repercussions?”

“I knew I shouldn’t have told anyone,” Zinnia muttered bitterly, more to herself than anyone else. “If I’d just kept quiet and taken him out right after, he’d be mine.”

“Wrong again, dear sister,” Marigold said, her tone dripping with exasperation. “This is why we leave the planning to me. Do you honestly think one of the most significant D-O-Ds to appear in decades would go unmonitored? That no one would be watching?”

Zinnia’s face paled, and for the first time, Kaiden saw genuine uncertainty cross her features. “I—I didn’t think…”

“Exactly,” Marigold snapped. “You didn’t think. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there. Since Thorne entered that portal, units have been stationed all over the woods, gathering intelligence on anyone going in or out.”

Zinnia’s lips parted, but no sound came out. When she finally found her voice, it was barely above a whisper. “So, he knows?”

Marigold didn’t miss a beat. “Of course, he knows—or, more accurately, he will know everything the moment he comes out. About his mercenary. About the swordsman. About this private—” she pointed to Kaiden, her finger like a dagger, “—and, most importantly, who got the artifact.”

Kaiden shifted uncomfortably under the weight of her words. He didn’t like being talked about as if he weren’t even there, but he also knew this was far above his pay grade. He remained silent, his focus on finally getting to his new unit.

Marigold continued, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “We don’t need the heat. So, he goes back.” She gestured to Kaiden as if the decision was final.

The repeated mention of an artifact gnawed at Kaiden’s thoughts. What exactly was it? Without a doubt, it had to be whatever was inside that marble. But would the General really care enough to track him down later? Would this whole ordeal follow him, even after he returned to his unit? He hoped not, but a nagging feeling suggested otherwise.

Marigold said, “Now, let’s get back to town and discuss a few more details privately.”

“We’re already in your privacy bubble,” Zinnia said, her tone carrying the slightest edge of defiance.

Marigold exhaled deeply, her patience clearly fraying. “Of course, you fail to understand again. I know no one can hear or see into this, but it’s about sticking out.” She snapped her fingers, and the bubble shimmered briefly before vanishing entirely. “Let’s go. I’ve got a location already set.” She set off toward the town

Zinnia grumbled something unintelligible under her breath, but with a reluctant huff, she turned and stalked off after her sister. Kaiden lingered behind, watching them go as a thousand thoughts swirled in his head.

How am I going to get to my unit now? he thought, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle over him. I suppose I should get back to base first. If I follow the road, I could circle back to Camp Thorne… but would it be faster to go through the town instead?

He was still debating his options when Marigold suddenly stopped walking and glanced over her shoulder, her piercing hazel eyes locking onto him.

“Oh, little Kaiden,” she called out, her voice smooth yet commanding. “This way. This includes you too.”

Kaiden blinked, momentarily taken aback, before hurrying to catch up. “Oh, okay,” he mumbled, falling into step behind the sisters.

Inwardly, his thoughts churned. Oh great, another sister who’s going to tease me too.

BREAK

“Eat first, and we’ll discuss things,” Marigold said, her tone calm but firm as she studied Zinnia and Kaiden seated across from her. They shared a table in a quiet section of the restaurant, one usually reserved for Colonel Thorne or similarly esteemed guests. This was a small town, and the restaurant wasn’t anywhere close to the level of luxury she and Zinnia typically experienced.

Still, none of that mattered to Marigold. Luxuries were a distraction she rarely indulged in; her focus was always on business and ensuring the Perennial Petal’s continued success. But as she glanced at Zinnia, she couldn’t help but notice her sister’s faintly dissatisfied expression. She took small bites of her meal, sipping her wine with the slightest twitch of her lips. Marigold suppressed the urge to chuckle. Spoiled as ever.

Then her gaze shifted to Kaiden.

The man was a complete mystery. At a glance, he didn’t seem special in the slightest. He was weak, nervous, and exuded a lack of confidence. Marigold hadn’t been able to get the full details from Hales as to why this private was supposedly so significant. It likely had something to do with an ability he possessed. She filed the thought away to investigate later. Zinnia clearly knew, though—that much was obvious from how insistent she was about taking Kaiden under her wing.

Marigold herself couldn’t think of any ability she might actually need. No matter how rare or powerful, her influence was usually more than enough to find someone with that ability willing to work for her. What others craved or struggled to obtain, she already had in abundance. Normally, she wouldn’t care who Zinnia wanted to take in—she rarely interfered in her sister’s whims. After all, Zinnia’s spoiled nature was largely Marigold’s doing. She’d given her youngest sister everything she could growing up.

Not just Zinnia either. Marigold had practically raised all her sisters, save for one, due to the unique family circumstances they’d endured. Those same circumstances had forced Marigold to grow up far too quickly, taking on responsibilities that most wouldn’t dream of until adulthood. But now wasn’t the time for reflection.

The real problem was the artifact.

Marigold had taken a gamble when she struck her deal with Hales, bluffing him into thinking Thorne wouldn’t care about a lowly private in order to coax more information out of him. It had worked, but the truth was a bit more complicated. Normally, she’d have been right—General Thorne wouldn’t bother himself over someone as insignificant as Kaiden. But now? Now that Thorne wasn’t the one who had secured the artifact, everything had changed.

Thorne would absolutely care, and he would seek Kaiden out for answers—or at least for any scraps of intel the private might have about the artifact or Ashkar. If Thorne discovered that the Perennial Petal had taken his only lead—a member of his Dungeoneer Corps—that would only add fuel to the fire. That part, at least, had been an unexpected complication.

Marigold herself had been genuinely surprised to learn of the swordsman’s involvement too.

The legendary class-holder. Ashkar Gallamond, the Samurai.