“It wasn’t planned.” Araya stepped toward them, her gaze flicking between Serafina and the stranger. “Who’s this?”
Serafina hesitated, a faint flush coloring her cheeks. “He’s?—”
“Finn Greenvale.” He stood, extending his hand. “I’m a friend of Serafina’s.”
“Araya Starwind,” she returned, shooting another look at Serafina. “I’m…another friend of Serafina’s.” One who certainly should have known about him—seeing as they’d lived together for the better part of three years.
“A pleasure,” Finn said easily, though his sharp brown eyes were calculating, and there was a weight to his words, like he was filing away everything about her. He glanced at Serafina. “Thanks for meeting me—I’ll let you two catch up.”
He stooped, grabbing a familiar bag from under the table before sauntering toward the door. He moved too gracefully for a human, despite his rounded ears. A casual observer might have been fooled,but Araya had spent enough time around half-fae to recognize the way they carried themselves.
“That was subtle.” Araya slid into the chair across from Serafina, not bothering to wait for an invitation. “Who is he really?”
Serafina sighed, rubbing her temples. “It’s not?—”
“—anything I need to worry about?” Araya finished for her. “You realize that just makes it soundmoresuspicious, right?”
Serafina pressed her lips into a thin line.
Araya drummed her fingers against the tabletop. “Is he a Healer?”
Serafina tensed. “He’s a friend.”
“Right.” Araya let the word hang between them. “And am I supposed to pretend I didn’t see him picking up a bag full of supplies you stole from the Aetherium?”
Serafina’s flush deepened. “It’s not what you think?—”
“You don’t have any idea what I think,” Araya retorted. She shoved back her chair as the waitress approached, intending to take her food and storm out—but as she did, the room tilted sharply. Her vision blurred, the edges of her sight going dark as she grabbed onto the table to stay upright.
“Araya!” Serafina was on her feet in an instant, coming around the table to steady her.
“I’m fine.” Araya forced a small smile, waving off the concerned waitress. “Maybe I stood up too fast?—”
“Don’t try to deflect with me,” Serafina snapped. “You’re pale as death.” She caught Araya’s wrist, pressing two fingers to her pulse as her gaze sharpened with the same clinical focus she used on patients. “Are you in pain? What?—”
“No pain—” Araya closed her eyes, willing the room to stop spinning. “It’s just magic depletion. I’mfine, Serafina. I just needed a minute.”
“That’s a diagnosis, Araya—not an explanation.” Serafina scowled. “Magic doesn’t just deplete like this—not on its own. Tell me what happened.”
Araya hesitated, biting her lip. But Serafina just stared at her, clearly prepared to stand there until Araya told her the truth.
Araya exhaled, her shoulders slumping. “Jaxon siphoned too much,” she admitted.
“Hewhat?” Serafina’s voice was too calm for the rage blazing in her eyes.
“It’s not usually like this,” Araya said quickly, already regretting saying anything at all. “I just… upset him last night.”
Serafina inhaled through her nose, holding the breath before letting it out slowly. “He drained you,” she said. It was a statement, not a question. “As a punishment.”
“It wasn’t—it’s just—” Araya shook her head, struggling to find words that didn’t stick in her throat as a lie. “He was upset. I pushed him too far. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He didn’t do anythingillegal,” Serafina said flatly. “That doesn’t mean it wasn’twrong.” She stood abruptly, picking up Araya’s bag of food. “Is your carriage outside?”
“I walked,” Araya stood, careful to move more slowly this time. “Really, I’m fine?—”
“I’m not letting you walk all the way back to Kingswalk alone in this state,” Serafina cut her off. She took Araya by the elbow, guiding her towards the door. “I’d be a bad Healer and a bad friend if I did.”
“Are we still friends, then?” Araya asked, the bitterness in her tone surprising even herself.
