“I need to get my things. And my friend,” she insisted, catching up to him.
“Naturally.”
He had all the time in the world. He was just going round taking in strays and saving women who break into his house. Might as well go on an errand in the middle of the night. It’snot like he had important meetings to attend in the morning. And a full afternoon. And more meetings spanning well into the evening.
“Perfect, we live just inside Demon Row.”
Kieran glared at the back of her pretty head as she jaunted forward. Demon Row? What the hell was a human doing in Demon Row with Cole Hawthorne?
His fingers curled into fists. Miss Blair was a bottomless well of delightful surprises. Next, she would tell him this ‘friend’ was a wanted arsonist or dog strangler.
There was one thing about which Kieran was absolutely certain. He was going to regret this whole arrangement sooner rather than later.
Why would North drop the charges? What was his angle?
‘Saving’ her from Cole was likely a ploy meant to encourage Sera to repay him with whatever terms he deemed appropriate. Favors? Passion? It was the sort of currency a woman with no stable income was used to trading.
She didn’t buy a word of what he said while ‘Captain of the Watchmen Gideon’ hovered over them. No chance North had just offered to be her bodyguard for free. She was losing one chain to gain another. Hopefully he would choose a payment that didn’t make her skin crawl.
Sera eyed North as they waited for his carriage to be brought around. He looked out of place in this predominately human neighborhood. Even attired like a titled lord in a navy tailcoat that fit to perfection, it highlighted proportions that weren’t entirely human. The white strands of his hair were swept in a gentle wave that was a touch longer on top and neatlytrimmed along the sides, the effect made his pointed ears more prominent.
He adjusted his sleeves like he constantly sought an elusive state of perfection, the motions drawing her focus to strong, slender fingers. The sort of hands designed for a piano or other refined pursuits. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he had lessons as a child. That sort of indulgence sounded accurate for the upper class and North’s bearing screamed Upper Ring.
The Ring was a district of the city reserved for affluent members of society. Grand estates encircled the city’s central Spire—a white, jutting tower erected at Unity’s center and the seat of parliament. It could be seen from anywhere in the city, even from her apartment in Demon Row. All her life she’d marveled at the structure of it.
From each new window, in each new living arrangement she could only gaze from afar and guess at how they supported the weight of the top-heavy structure. Why circular? Triangles and squares were easier to assemble and durable, strong shapes. The construction alone had to be approached differently than a standard building. If she had any dreams in this life, it was to one day get to see the Spire up close.
She had only to lift her eyes to see it now, stalwart and regal above the Garrison skyline. Sera had never ventured into the inner streets of the Garrison, and never as far inward as the Ring, which she imagined was full of castles and moats. A dragon or two. It may as well have been fantasy.
North had not spared her a glance since they stepped outside. She had not been shy about watching him, but he seemed determined not to acknowledge her.
Sera fought the impulse to reach out and tousle his hair. First, because she loved running her fingers through a man’s soft hair and North’s looked practically downy. Two, because it was sureto piss him off and serve him right for tricking her into being some damsel-concubine hybrid under the pretense of ‘honor.’
A carriage stopped in front of them and when she looked to North for recognition, he merely gestured with his chin for her to go first. No offer to get the door or even an ‘after you.’ It wasn’t that sheexpectedit, exactly, since she was not from a world where men held open doors. But since he was in control of this situation, it was his carriage, and he dressed, well, like a gentleman the expectation had squirmed into her thoughts regardless.
Sera took a step up and then immediately hopped back to the ground.
“It’s freezing in there,” she snapped.
He did not react. His posture remained rigid and his arms were crossed behind his back.
“I am aware.”
Her nose flared as she tried to swallow a huff. There were very few discomforts Sera couldn’t tolerate. Cold was near the top.
She debated how best to manipulate him. Would he respond to coy? Pitiful? Maybe picking at his instincts to protect and shield a perceived weaker species? Or, perhaps, the right degree of honesty would prompt him to trust her? She didn’t know him well enough yet to decide. He was too well guarded.
She settled on genuine, for the the time being.
“I know you need cold, but since we’re not built the same you can’t expect me to freeze to death in your care.”
He considered her for a long, awkward, silent minute.
Then he took a deep breath—that might have been an exasperated sigh, she wasn’t certain—and turned without a word to disappear back inside Watchmen Headquarters.
Sera’s hands flew to her hips. Indignation rose up her throat.
She should steal his carriage. Not that the driver would allow it, but still, she would trade a lot to see the look on North’s face if he returned and she was gone…
