I groaned, shaking my head.
“You guys go have fun, I’m tapping out for the night. I need to catch up on my notes and get some rest, I’ve got an early lecture tomorrow.”
“I’ll walk you home,” Kieran offered.
It wasn’t lost on me how Hans and Jeremiah exchanged alookover that, though neither of them said anything.
“I hardly need a tour guide to get back to my apartment,” I said quietly, mostly to Kieran. “Why not join the others?”
“Not really in the mood,” Kieran murmured back while the rest of the group began to get up. His lieutenants stretched and groaned over the discomfort of the hardwood benches where they’d been seated, but I had a feeling they’d be fine as soon as they got to The Clover.
“Suit yourself, Captain,” I replied, keeping my tone even despite the fact that I was secretly delighted for the company.
If there was one thing that man didnotneed, it was an ego stroke.
“Thank you, Arken.”
Kieran’s eyes had gone a bit distant as we were walking together, effortlessly weaving through the bustling crowds of the Market District with his guidance.
“For what, exactly?” I teased. “You’re the one who picked up the tab.”
Much to Laurel’s chagrin, Kieran paid for all our food and drink before anyone else had time to even so much as reach for their Lyra. It didn’t escape my notice that he tipped the waitstaff generously. And I found that what was once a simple, if notslightly obsessive,curiosity was quickly morphing into a deep admiration for the man that was Kieran Vistarii.
The more I observed, the more I found to appreciate about this man who was once just a handsome stranger. The more time we spent together, the more I began to wonder why he only seemed to have two people in his life that he was evenremotelyclose with. And the more he and I spoke, the more I had to wonder what mademean exception to a lifestyle that seemed to be so carefully crafted to keep people at a distance.
After a brief pause, Kieran answered.
“It’s rare that I get to see those two so at ease and relaxed. It was good to see them let loose a little. They had fun.”
“I doubt I had anything to do with that,” I replied.
“No, you did. You definitely did.”
Catching my eye and my clearly puzzled expression, Kieran laughed.
“I act differently around you,” he explained. “More like aperson, and less like their captain. And I’ve just been in a better mood lately, which is also arguably your fault.”
I prayed to the Source that the low light of dusk would mask my flushing cheeks.
“Adding you and Laurel to the mix seemed to let them relax. And with how stressful things have been for us lately… It was a relief, to say the least. I worry about them. So thank you, Little Conduit.”
I shrugged, still uncertain if that wasmyinfluence. If anything, it was probably Laurel’s.
“Anytime, Captain. But I’m surprised you didn’t join them at The Clover. They’ll be even more at ease once Laurel gets going. That woman is a menace on the dance floor.”
Kieran chuckled.
“I’m sure, but that’s not exactly my scene. They deserve to let loose without their captain’s watchful eye from time to time.”
“You don’t drink much, do you?” I observed.
“Nope,” he replied. “I’m not a fan of dulling my senses. And honestly? It fucks with my depth perception even more than usual.”
Kieran gestured to his blind eye in explanation. That made… perfect sense, actually. As tempting as it was to ask him how that wound even happened, I held my tongue. There was no need to be invasive.
“So what do you do to unwind, then?” I asked him instead.
He cocked a brow, smirking.