“Why is that the first thing you say to me? Where’s my,Hello, dearest little brother, how are you?”
“Hello, my dearest little brother, are you back at the Academy?”
“No, I’m with Rui.”
“Flouting the curfew for a detour date before you go back to campus? I didn’t think she was your type.”
Shit.Yiran had forgotten about the curfew. “I don’t have a type,” he said. “I’m calling because I’m at The Reverie.”
Caught off guard, Ash made a surprised sound.
Yiran beamed at his own reflection in a glass cabinet. “So youhaveheard of it. Tell me more.”
“Why are you there? Did you meet the owner?”
“Madam Meng? Yeah, I did. Why?” His discomfort grew when he thought of the foreboding old lady. Zizi and he had one thing in common: scary grandparents. “I’m here because Zizi needed to be. We, uh, ran into him, and I sort of maybe gave him a ride here.”
“How did you run into—wait, never mind. Get back to the Academy and keep your ass in your room. There’s a Hunt starting right now.”
“Sorry, you must be busy,” Yiran said, mentally kicking himself.
“Yeah... things haven’t been going well for us.”
“But you picked up your phone—”
“Because I saw the caller ID, my dearest little brother. I have to go.”
“Be safe,” Yiran said. But Ash had already hung up.
Yiran spun in a half circle, pondering Ash’s slip. What was it about this hotel and its owner that got him so worked up?
There was a clink of china.
“Here’s your tea,” said the concierge. “You may wait here until it’s time for you to leave.”
“Can I take a tour? See the presidential suite, perhaps?” Yiran smiled winningly. “Please?”
She was unmoved by his charm. “The garden is open for viewing, but everything else is restricted for non-guests.”
Yiran took his drink. The concierge spared him no attention as he sauntered out the front doors.
The night was quiet. Cradling the cup of tea in his hands for warmth, Yiran walked until he found a stone path leading to a bench near the edge of the hill. The city’s lights twinkled in a sea of ink. Since the curfew was on, the highways were empty except for the occasional vehicle. He had toget going, but he couldn’t leave without Rui. Deciding to check on her in a few minutes, he sipped his tea and sat down, staring out at the view.
Things haven’t been going well for us.
Ash had sounded uncharacteristically ruffled by what was happening at the Night Hunt. Yiran was suddenly appalled by how unconcerned he’d been in the past whenever Ash went out on an expedition. He’d grown up with the idea that his half brother and grandfather were invincible. Put them on a pedestal, worshipping them in his own way like small gods.
But they were only human. Fallible and mortal.
Ash will be fine.He was a gifted Exorcist, and his team had his back. The Hunts were meticulously planned to keep casualties low. Ash would be fine.
“You seem troubled.”
Yiran jumped in fright and dropped his cup. The grass sizzled and smoked in spots drenched by the tea. He clutched his stomach, wondering what he’d just ingested. It wasn’t poison, was it? He felt fine.
“Sorry about your tea,” said the little girl who had appeared out of nowhere. She was about eight years old, with a crooked smile and eyes bright with an uncanny cleverness. She did not look the least bit apologetic.
“It’s okay,” Yiran said. “Are you lost?”
