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He grinned. “I noticed your company vanished. Mind if I fill the void?”

His eyes were orange like Reina’s. A gorgon born from the Gnaw. Not one that needed escence since its Flares were bonded, but there were those like Aarin who still took the drug to heighten their blessings. This man’s hair was light brown, skin washed-out, but his body had a strong build, features broad and attractive. The confidence he gave off suggested he knew it too.

“Why bother asking? You already are,” she said.

“I appreciate it.” While the tender’s back was turned, he leaned over the bar top, snagged a dark bottle, and poured himself a glass. “I’m not familiar with this area, and you look like a regular.”

“I’m not. I’m here for an… acquaintance.” She struggled to find the least derogatory word for Aarin. The man pushed a second glass filled with alcohol in her direction, but Lily only flicked a glance to it. “I won’t be here long.”

“No? Well then I’d better make use of my time wisely.”

Lily smiled behind her own cup, turning back to the crowd.

“I can get something different. Anything you’d like.”

Lily rocked her cup, listening to the empty space. She had vowed not to drink too much, but that promise happened when she was mostly sober. Turning down free alcohol was foolish, and gods knew she needed it.

She turned fully to him. “Silver dew elixir, if you’re offering.”

The man smiled again, leaning over the bar to get the tender’s attention this time. She eyed the muscles that stretched the material of his burgundy jacket thin as he spoke. Her mind strayed from the charming words coming out of his mouth to what else he could do with it. If it were any other time, she’d be entertaining this far more intricately. When he turned back and offered Lily a new glass, she lifted it by the brim.

“Thank you…?”

“Neir,” he said, raising his own.

Lily’s lips barely brushed the sweet liquor. “Are you from the top of the city or the bottom?”

He pointed a finger up as he took a drink.

Lily raised a brow. Some Dusk shades inherited their status from the loyalty of past families and often worked for Dawn nobility. It wasn’t unheard of for him to be from up top.

“What brings you down here? Lose a bet?”

He hummed as he set his glass down. “It’s quite embarrassing, actually. I was uh, looking for a pet.”

“A pet?” Lily snorted. “I think you’re in the wrong establishment for that.”

“No, no!” He laughed. “My mistress’ cat got out a few days ago. She’s been inconsolable without the thing, and I’ve taken it upon myself to track down the little monster.” He scoffed, bringing the cup back to his mouth. “Anything to stop her crying.”

Lily laughed. “I didn’t think they had any real problems.”

“You’d be surprised.” Neir bit his bottom lip and stared hard at Lily. “I’ve about given up. I’m thinking I’ll bring back a new one and hope that satisfies her.”

Lily diverted her gaze to a scar on the back of his right hand.

“Curious?” he asked.

She looked to him as he lifted and flexed his hand, displaying the pattern of a vine curling around a disconnected circle like a wreath.

Alcohol coursed warm through her veins. “That’s an older service mark.”

He smiled. “I suppose it is a bit out of date.”

Lily frowned. At the height of the Reapers’ War, only Guardian and Vulpes shades were permitted in their military, and he wasn’t either. His eyes should be gold or red. The passing of time could account for that though. To a loyal immortal looking to reproduce, a soul was a soul, no matter the color. If his bloodline was respected, he may have faced some harassment, but he was alive, and that was a miracle in and of itself.

The mark was still odd. Current service marks were the sun insignia like the one on the thief this morning.

“How about you?” Neir asked, slowly making eye contact. “Keep any old treasures?”