She gives a curt nod. "The one."
"Thanks for the clothes," I offer, trying to be polite.
"Don't mention it."
No extra words. No smile. Not unfriendly, just efficient. A warrior through and through.
Then a young man behind Astrid steps in. Late twenties, maybe. His long black hair is tied back loosely, and there's something calm and grounded in the way he holds himself. Warm-toned skin, sharp cheekbones, and thoughtful eyes. He wears a soft gray flannel and jeans, a quiet contrast to Astrid's tactical vibe.
"I'm Tomas Chaska," he says with a polite nod. "You can call me Tom."
"Pfft," Donna says, munching on a chip. "Nobody calls you 'Tom,' Tomas. Ever."
He only smiles at her words.
So, this is the vampire Asher turned. There's a faint rhythm to the way he speaks—measured, deliberate. I catch the respectful distance in how he introduces himself.
"Nice to meet you, Tomas. Asher mentioned you," I reply, opting for Tomas despite his invitation.
"He hasn't told us a thing aboutyou," Astrid cuts in, voice dry as gravel.
"All in good time, Astrid," Asher says smoothly. "We're still waiting on the others."
Almost on cue, the front door swings open again. Jace enters first, a little more subdued than before. He gives me a glance and a quick nod before heading straight for the couch. With him comes a woman who looks like she walked out of a windswept forest—long ash-blond hair, soft gray eyes, and a floaty, absent expression. She moves like fog. Gentle, but not harmless.
She drifts up to me and touches my hand lightly.
"I'm Eira," she says, gaze sweeping me slowly from head to toe.
The banshee.
"Nice to meet you," I say, careful with my tone.
Eira tilts her head. Her pupils narrow. "Your aura… it's alive. So alive." She breathes out. "It's unusual."
I stiffen. "Is that… a bad thing?"
She shakes her head slowly, backing away like I've startled her. "No. Just… rare."
Without another word, she floats over to the edge of the couch and sits with a glass of sparkling water, watching everyone with that otherworldly focus.
"All right," Asher says, stepping toward the center of the room. "You've met Jace before, and now the rest of the inner circle—"
The door slams open again.
Kayden.
He stalks in with boots muddy, shirt splattered with something that doesn't look like wine. His eyes scan the room, bright with a dangerous kind of glee.
"Oh, you started the kumbaya circle without me?" he drawls.
Donna sighs and shovels more chips into her mouth. Tomas visibly tenses. Astrid doesn't bother hiding her sneer.
"He's stillhere?" she mutters under her breath.
"Is that…" Donna points with a chip. "Blood? On your shirt?"
Everyone looks. Yeah. It's blood.
