Recognition.
And gods help me—that felt intimate.
Like maybe he knew, maybe he understood what it was to exist inside your own head too much.
We walked quietly for several moments, boots crunching softly against damp stone pathways.
Wind moved through the dark trees surrounding the Institute grounds, carrying the distant hum of ley line energy beneath the earth.
Beside me, Sten moved like he belonged to this world in a way I never would.
Quiet power.
Danger held carefully in check.
Everything about him fascinated me.
The mystery of him.
The loneliness of him.
The way he always seemed halfway between staying and disappearing.
Curiosity finally won.
“So,” I hesitated, knowing this kind of question wasn’t exactly proper. “What exactly are you?”
Smooth, Amrin.
Very subtle.
His responding snort did nothing to calm my embarrassment. I mean, it was rude of me, but I just had to know.
“Gunner called you a Hobgoblin,” I rushed onward. “Which was supposed to be an insult. So I’m guessing he was probably wrong. But it made me wonder. And, of course, now I sound insane,” I rambled, because that was what I did when I got nervous.
Rambled without reservation, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“Is that what you think I am, Luna?”
Sten’s voice was deep and rough, but he didn’t sound angry. That was encouraging.
So I continued as if the Monster beside me couldn’t destroy me with a flick of his might.
“I don’t know,” I admitted softly. “You hardly talk about yourself.”
“Do you want me to?” Sten asked.
The question hit me square in the chest.
Because yes.
Gods, yes.
I wanted him to tell me about himself.
In fact, I wanted to know everything about him.
What he looked like when he laughed for real.
