Six
AURIN
Everyone wasto gather at the café, which made sense. Otis and Pania were putting on a bit of a feed, apparently, which Aurin was most grateful for.
Aurin walked in first, holding Salem's hand. He wanted to show Ciaran that he and Salem were a united front. Sawyer was there, of course, leaning against the table, smiling as always. From the noise coming out of the kitchen, Aurin deduced that Ciaran was helping Otis, and Aurin was glad to catch Sawyer alone.
“Hi,” Aurin said.
“Hey,” Sawyer said, greeting them both. He focused on Aurin. “You feeling better?”
“I think so,” Aurin said. He then gestured to the plaster cast on Sawyer’s arm. “And your arm? Is it healing okay?”
He looked at the offending cast. “It is. And my hand. Had broken bones in both. The cast is a pain in the arse, though, and it itches like crazy. But—” He wiggled his fingers, just a little. “—it’s getting better, and I should have the cast off in four weeks.”
“I'm sorry I never had a chance to ask before now,” Aurin said. “And I’m sorry she hurt you.”
“Oh, don’t apologise. It’s not your fault,” he said with a kind smile. Then he looked at Salem. “Nice to meet you officially.”
“Yes, it is,” Salem said. “You were always nice to me. You’d talk to me and not at me.”
Sawyer chuckled. “You looked like you understood me.”
Salem smiled fondly, his cheeks pink. “You offered me cheese.”
That made Aurin laugh. “He loves cheese.”
“Same,” Sawyer said.
“Ciaran’s here,” Aurin said, glancing back toward the kitchen.
“He’s supposed to be helping, but I’m sure Otis would disagree.”
Aurin’s smile faded. “Is he... is he mad?”
“At you guys?” Sawyer’s eyes were wide with surprise. “Not at all. He was worried, and he’s happy you’re both okay. His whole consortium is back in Tenebrae, so he’s stoked.” Then he made a face. “He does have questions, though.”
Aurin’s relief untied a few of the knots in his belly, reminding him he was hungry. And right on cue, Pania and Ciaran came through the doors, carrying plates and trays with all kinds of food.
“Ah, here he is,” Pania said. “The one who loves pizza, or so Otis told me. Come sit down and eat before the others arrive and mow through it all.”
“Hi,” Aurin said with a laugh. They went to a table, and Aurin pulled out their chairs. “It’s so nice to finally meet you properly. How are you liking Tenebrae?”
“Oh, I love it,” she said with a flourish. “Great people, and no humans.”
Sawyer raised his hand. “Uh, one. One human. Sorry.”
Pania laughed. “Oh but you’re one of us, so I forget about the human part.”
That was fair, because Aurin often forgot Sawyer was human too.
Then Pania put one of the pizzas on the table and patted Aurin on the shoulder. “Sit, boys, and eat while you can.”
Ciaran had put plates of pasta and salad down, and then he made sure Sawyer had a plate and helped him serve up some food, fussing over his broken arm and hand until Sawyer shooed him away. Then Ciaran turned to face Aurin and Salem, probably about to ask if they were okay, but saw Aurin had half a slice of pizza shoved in his face and was still shovelling more in.
Salem laughed as he took a sensible bite, but oh boy, the pizza was sooooo good, and by the gods, Aurin had never been this hungry before.
He looked out over the cove, at the grey skies and mist covering the water, and saw Fray and Tobin coming out of Fray’s house, which was actually now Fray and Tobin's house, Aurin supposed. The wind whipped their hair, and they laughed as they talked, Fray using his hands to describe something, Tobin looking the happiest Aurin had ever seen him.
