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“I wait in horror to see what the two of you combined do to my mental health,” the Paragon griped. “I’m so delicate, perhaps I shan’t survive.”
“Paragon,” I started.
He held a hand up, stopping me. “I jest. However. I want to know the truth of what’s going on. Between you two, with your minions, all of it.” He rolled his shoulders back as he studied Noctus and me.
“Done,” Noctus said.
The Paragon blinked in surprise. “Well, that’s unexpected.”
Noctus shrugged. “I knew what I was doing tonight, and I refuse to live without Chloe anymore. That means it’s not a matter of if we are revealed, but rather how we can do it in a way that gives us the greatest advantage.”
My heart warmed, and I felt a blush burn on my cheeks when the Paragon raised both of his eyebrows and looked at me.
“Interesting,” the Paragon said. “I never pegged you as a romantic. I’m stopping by your place once this mess is cleaned up—be prepared.”
Noctus was silent in his helm.
The Paragon shook his clothes out, then pirouetted so he was pointed up the street. “Okay, let’s pack it up!” He clapped his hands as he strode up the street. “Humans! Let it be known that I’m fae, so if anyone asks, the fae get the credit for this entire rescue operation. Now, who needs tea? That was a rhetorical question, because I already know the answer: all of you.”
I raised my eyebrows at that nifty bit of wordsmithing—the Paragon couldn’t lie, so he’d used implications instead. Pat was the only human who would know better, and he’d go with me on this. For now, anyway, until he made me explain everything.
That’s going to be fun…
I frowned as the meaning of the Paragon’s words dawned on me. “He’s going to use his charmed tea on them, isn’t he?”
“Possibly.”
Noctus’s answer jarred me back to us, and I turned and stared up into his helm—wishing I could see his face or eyes.
There’s maybe one regret I have in all of this, and I should tell him now.
“Noctus, thank you—for coming, and for helping. I had the opportunity to end things, I should have just done it, but—”
“Don’t apologize for who you are.” He took my hand, tugging me a step closer. “Particularly because you shouldn’t have to cross that line if you don’t want to.”
I gulped and nodded.
“That was good thinking, though, with the pendant,” he added.
“Thank you,” I said. “I was desperate, and so relieved it worked. Though I could really go with some mouthwash right now.” I laughed nervously and swung our joint hands—I could practically feel Pat’s eyes boring into my back.
Noctus nodded, or at least I think he did. His gestures were always small to begin with, and with the helm obscuring his face I couldn’t tell for certain.
We were silent for a few moments.
I nervously fidgeted, before I gave in and spoke. “So…what now?”
“I’ll leave with the others. You’ll stay to give your statement to the Curia Cloisters, then call your employer to let her know you will not be in tonight,” he said.
“Okay.” I nodded, trying to act nonchalant even though I wanted to nervously wring my hands.Is that it? We just part again? Does he feel differently about me now that we’ve been apart for a couple months? I mean, we never said I love you or anything, but he asked me to be bonded to him. Wouldn’t that mean something—
“And then,” Noctus continued, oblivious to my inner panic, “you come home. And you bring your siblings.”
“Joy lives in the same building with me,” I absently said. “So she doesn’t need to be brought anywhere.”
“I wasn’t talking about your apartment.”
I froze as I tried to process what I was hearing.Not my apartment? What is he talking about—wait…I come home?“Do you mean—?”
