I reached for his hand, and he helped me up. “Big-girl panties?”
He laughed as we returned to the ladder. “Did I say that right? It can be a struggle to keep up with language when it changes so frequently. English isn’t my native tongue, but I’ve always found it colorful.”
“Thanks, Niko. You know… for not giving up on me.” I hesitated, still holding his hand. “Can I hug you?”
A blush tinted his brown cheeks.
I let go of his hand. “Sorry, that was a little weird.”
“Apologies. I’m usually not asked. People give hugs freely, or haven’t you heard?”
When he drew me into his arms, I wanted to weep against his shoulder like a child. It had been so long since anyone had hugged me—not since my father. I stepped back before he sensed my anguish over such a benign gesture.
Niko took my arm and we continued our leisurely stroll toward the ladder. “I was once as lost as you. Sometimes we have to be lost in order to find ourselves.”
“Viktor saved you?”
“No. It was long ago. I’ll walk you somewhere—a hotel.”
I stopped at the ledge. “I’m not leaving just yet. There’s something I need to do first.”
He bowed. “As you wish.”
When I saw he wasn’t following, I stopped at the top of the ladder. “You’re staying up here? Is it because of those guys in the bar?”
“It’s a night of celebration. Let Viktor know where I am. I’ll rejoin them when they’re ready to leave. It’s a nice evening, and I like the idea of sitting under the stars.”
I glanced up at heavy clouds aglow from the city lights. “There aren’t any stars.”
He smiled and looked skyward. “Clouds don’t make stars disappear; they only hide the brilliance of their light.”
“Stop being so profound. We might have to start writing those in fortune cookies and open up a store.”
Niko bowed, amusement dancing in his eyes when he looked up at me. “See you later, alligator.”
I smirked. “After a while, crocodile.”
* * *
Istruttedthrough Flavors with purpose, grateful that Niko had shown up when he had. He didn’t just save me from a Mage who threatened to overpower me and juice my life, but he saved me from myself.
When I reached Viktor’s table, I sat in the vacant seat across from him. Claude was throwing darts, missing almost every one.
After a few beats, Blue and Gem stood up to leave, tapping Claude on the shoulder and coaxing him to follow. Aware that a Vampire could be listening in, I chose my words carefully so as not to mention Keystone.
“I’m collecting my favor.”
Viktor’s head jerked back in surprise. He threaded his fingers through his hair and then stroked his beard. “Continue.”
“What we discussed earlier? I’m okay with it, and I’m not about to beat a dead horse. I’m in need of some basic training to sharpen my skills, and it’s not something I can do on my own.”
When he shook his head, a long section of his hair fell over his face. “I cannot. It’s too much—”
“Only for a week,” I insisted. “That’s all I’m asking for. One week. This is probably the easiest favor you could hope for, all things considered. You don’t know what I might have asked you for down the road. Give me seven days, and then you can scrub my memory.”
Viktor raised his drink and grimaced after polishing it off. He was dressed in a knit sweater jacket with large buttons up the front. It was loose with a wide collar, and the sleeves were pushed up to his elbows. The laid-back style suited him—like a distinguished gentleman you might find sitting before a fire and drinking a glass of brandy while reading Dickens. Despite his silver-and-dark-grey hair, Viktor wasn’t old. He looked like a robust man in his late forties or early fifties who’d lived a hard life, but that was how Shifters aged.
“I cannot send a trainer into the city. You realize the dangers,” he said.
