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I take a cautious bite, mostly to avoid giving either of them more reasons to enjoy themselves at my expense, and the warmth of the food fills my mouth with spice and salt and sweetness so quickly that I forget to hide my reaction.

Kylian’s eyes narrow with smug satisfaction. “You like it.”

“I didn’t say that.” I say taking a bigger bite.

“You took another bite before answering.”

“I was making sure,” I say around my mouthful of foreign meat.

“You are welcome to investigate a third time.”

I glare at him while taking another bite.

After that, he becomes worse. He buys me hot fruit wine that sends warmth down my throat and into my chest, roasted nuts coated in salt and some with sugar, a berry pastry with dark filling that stains my fingers, and a strip of grilled fish glazed with something sweet.

Xavian watches us with amusement, the paper crown still sitting crooked on his head. “At least your bond seems lively,” he says.

Kylian gives him a warning look, but Xavian only grins. “She doesn’t need to hide here,” Xavian reminds him, watching me closely.

“You staring all the time is creepy,” I say when his gaze gets that faraway look like he is peering inside me.

He smirks at my words and shrugs. “Your energy has changed, you don’t fear me at all now.” He looks at Kylian. “You never have, but it’s refreshing being around people who don’t regard you as a king.”

“I think old age is making you soft,” Kylian laughs.

“Too much time does have that effect.” Xavian’s gaze moves to the crowd of people in the streets, and my gaze follows for a moment before Kylian is tugging me somewhere new.

At one stall, a woman sells charms made from dark wood, shell, glass, bone, and polished stones threaded onto thin cords, and I stop longer than I mean to, looking at a small crescent moon carved from black wood.

When Kylian notices, he buys it, then steps behind me and brushes my hair aside so he can tie the cord around my neck. His fingers are cool against my skin, his touch careful enough that the bond warms softly beneath my ribs.

“You do not have to keep buying me things,” I say quietly.

“I know, but I want to. I like seeing how excited you get at trying new things.”

His fingers finish the knot, lingering for half a second at the back of my neck, when fireworks burst above the market. Everyone looks up. Another launches into the sky, red light climbing high before breaking into gold. Blue flame curls into silver rain, and green fire forms wings that spread across the sky, dissolving over the rooftops.

As the city glows beneath the falling light, I stand with Kylian’s arm across my shoulders, and for one small stretch of time, I let myself breathe.

Then I see Arlo. He’s standing near a drink stall with two of Kylian’s crewmen, bringing a cup of something to his lips and finishing it. His cheeks are flushed, and his head tips back as he laughs too loudly at something that cannot possibly be that funny.

My smile fades, and Kylian follows my gaze.

“What is wrong?”

“He never drinks,” I say, watching Arlo sway slightly, his hand reaching out to catch himself on the edge of the stall. “I don’t think I have ever seen him drink.”

Kylian watches him for a moment, and the bond carries the tired weight of his restraint. He raises one hand, and Eagan appears from the crowd almost at once with a half-eaten pastry in one hand and annoyance already written across his face.

“I was enjoying myself.”

“Watch him for me,” Kylian says, nodding toward Arlo.

Eagan looks at Arlo, then back at Kylian.

“You want me to watch the drunk human who hates you, and currently appears to hate walking.”

“I want you to stop him from doing something stupid enough that I have to intervene or where he gets himself hurt. Alessia said she has never seen him drink, and I know how strong the drinks are here.”