How long could she avoid her adoptive parents, evade Kit,andkeep her heart in check? It beat steadily—for now.
Rin’s watch beeped, alerting her to low Nova readings in the area.
Outside the alleyway, moonlight reflected off high-rises. Boarded-up shops lined the streets. She caught her reflection in a window as she passed by—her white hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, her Hunter’s uniform a bit baggier than she remembered it being months ago. The Soul Searcher at her back was like a ghostly shadow.
"You got my message, right?" Rin asked to break the silence between them.
"I did." Auren’s expression shifted subtly.
Her breathing was heavier than she’d like it to be. She’d have to start meeting her rigorous training hours again—but even thinking about it made her tired. This was only the beginning. Her heart would only weaken.
"Why didn’t you reply? I was worried. I can take care of myself, but I don’t… want to be alone," she said softly.Like you will be once I’m gone, she thought silently, glancing at her watch to see she was on the right track.
She hoped the Nova wouldn’t affect her so badly, but that was another reason why Auren was with her. If things went—bad, he could portal her straight to Lucien. The idea of harmony made her feel conflicted. A part of her wished to feel that connected to Lucien again, yet…
Auren looked away, his pale cheeks tinged with red. "I could not figure out how to respond. I have never used an Earthendevice before. I’ve had no need, no one I wished to talk to." His arm brushed her shoulder. "Until you."
She paused midstep. Auren kept walking, for only a second, a breath. He was so attuned to her that he sensed her pause and mirrored it.
"Vesperin?" Auren said her name with such precision, just as he did everything else.
Maybe this was how they could grow closer. Not through words or tea. But hunting. It was what they were both made for, after all.
Rin smiled at him, a bit sad. "I’ve spent lifetimes waiting to meet you again, Auren. Thank you for never stopping searching for me."
Maybe not all was doomed. Right now, this was what they had.
The arrowon Rin’s watch pointed straight out. Her gaze tracked up, from the small point of the blinking red arrow, to the lonesome building before her.
"The Rogues are in there?" Auren stepped beside her, holding his scythe out. His gaze constantly roved over the dark, empty streets. This area of the Financial District was smaller, with fewer buildings.
An empty coffee cart rested, boarded up, next to a dim lamppost. The light flickered just once. It cast shadows on the ground, and she held her breath.
"Yes. Director Ilsa told me they had a call to the Hunter’s Hotline hours before my assignment posted. Rogues were spotted in the area. My scores place me with lower skills than those needed to take down a midlevel. Sabine and Talor know I’m back," she said pointedly.
"You believe they set up this assignment to eliminate you?"
Rin unhooked her sword from her back, feeling the weight in her palm. She stared at the dark building. "I’m sure of it."
No building could truly be lockedto a Hunter.
But with a Soul Searcher at her side, Rin was nearly unstoppable in terms of where she could go.
Auren swiped his scythe at his back, closing the portal.
The grand lobby was dark. Past the receptionist’s desk, there was a security check-in. Beyond that, wide steps led up to each level of the building. The way they curved hindered their vantage. If they took those stairs, they’d be in the dark. Easy prey.
Rin felt her training and years of studying kick in. It was almost too easy as she began to search for a maintenance stairwell they could take. Anything that wasn’t out in the open.
When she found it, tucked in a back office hidden behind the receptionist’s desk, she and Auren silently walked up the narrow stairwell. The steps were molded to the walls, a thin viewpoint right in the middle. The landings had doors, and as they passed by the first, Auren shouldered in front of her, scythe at the ready. "Please, let me go first. I cannot bear the thought of losing you again."
Rin kept staring over the metal railing, craning her head both up and down, ears straining for noises, all while keeping a close eye on her watch. They were getting closer.
Another landing, another door, and Auren met her eyes, a silent question within them.
She shook her head. "Not here. We need to go further up."
Auren hissed out a breath. "Each floor we surpass puts us at a greater risk. How did the Rogues get so high?"
