Hajin glanced at Juna before answering, and the question Allen dropped between them suddenly felt very loud.
She sat beside him with her ears pricked toward the desk, waiting to see which word he picked for her. His sleeve still hid the Ring, but no sleeve could hide whatever an old soldier sensed buzzing right between them.
'Lie to a guy who smells bonds like a hound, sure, great plan, zero ways that backfires.'
"Yeah, she's an active summon," he said, planting a hand on his knee, "and the bond's the whole reason we fight the way we do."
Allen's fingers froze beside the quill, and his attention swung back to Juna with fresh interest.
She lifted her chin and met his look instead of letting two men discuss her like furniture, "Together."
"That's the word, so remember it while you decide which folder you're shoving us into."
"What she said," he snickered, jabbing a thumb at her, "I was just getting there."
