not emerge from the kitche

Keeli chatted with her when she wasn't busy cleaning up, serving food and taking orders. Sera felt for the you

d been a trick of the mind, another instance of her wild imagination taking flight. But for some reason,

the sign which displayed the diner's hours. She jumped off the stool with

double shift a thousand times more bearable!"

she threw down a very generous tip, her eyes

ing stacked met her ears

'll stop by soon to discuss the possibility

r with glee. "That would be won

e Sera,

d if he was listening to their conversation. Wit

y bike as she knew she should, Sera remai

attled with herself

breath. She pressed herself up against the narrow wall and began to move forward. It wa

light emanating from the back door, which was slightly ajar. Sera e

e, but she just needed to see him once more

Keeli exited together. Sera held her breath, her heart pound

she liked him in black even better, but caught herself before her w

to argue but he just pressed the cash into her hand with a scowl and headed off into the inky blac

o make up her mind before she slu

arelessly through the empty streets. The city was dangerous even when it wasn't th

he is the trouble,' Se

a stranger in the middle of the night, but Sera could't help it. The

o the North side of the city--her mother's apartment buildings were o

adjusting to society after time in prison or living on the streets. Hestia never let Sera come with her when she went for inspections,

er mother's over

e of myself

hadowed alley she just turned dow

disap

he lost him. She took a step forward with determination just as hands grabbed

c as she fought against her unknown attacker. But her struggle was usel

" a voice

once again looking into the dang

s lean fingers wrapping around her wrists and press

'd failed at her own game

she demanded wit

h simultaneously loosened his

s," he insisted in

he could feel the tips of his h

't believe we've been formally introduced." He inclined his he

she spat back, her e

e gotten he

. The heat radiating off of him was like standing inside a fu

s hard as she could. He barely winced, but her move distracted him just enough to allow her to free herself from his grasp. She

obably think I deserved it, didn't you? Like anyone who has mone

about me, Zane," she hurled his

lled towards her slowly, closing the gap o

closer," she h

eyes over her body in slow perusal. Sera felt her face flame with color at his boldn

uation was no different. She'd dealt with her fair share of sketchy individuals, she could handle this one...man. Sera straight

ared he

you e

er with confus

r threw his food a

ial?" he barked impatiently, rolling his eyes as

the advantage here. Perhaps this Zan

p forward. He quirked on

that I saw the real you. The one under all of this."

s eyes, but it was gone as soon as it h

what the hell you're playing at, but if you don't want an enemy

. He gave her a strange loo

lking," she threatened, crossing her arms and staring back into his unfathomably expr

n't waste my time again. Run home to your riches and jewels and leave me

to snapping. She let out

im with a sneer of her own. "I did

a safe distance and the next he was once again inches from her face. A low growl emitted from his throat

" he whispered in

ng with anticipation. She leaned in eve

d you, a