"Makes sense," Keir agreed. "But what about her coming out of Torian's room?"
Torian laughed once. "Bracken knows. Oh, and he's Aspen's uncle."
Keir's entire body rocked as if those words had pushed him off balance. "I'm sorry, what?"
Torian merely shrugged. "It's why Bracken's hair is such a cold shade. His mother was a minor Winter noblewoman."
"Yeah," Keir said, turning to me. "You know where you're going?" And he gave me a look that begged me to say no.
"I haven't been in here before," I told him - which was true. The last time, we'd been in Hawke and Wilder's suite, evidently. "Wanna show me?"
"C'mon, Jack," Keir said, leading me to the door and following me into the hall. "Liam and Bracken's apartment is down there." He pointed towards the elevators.
"Got it," I said just as Jack landed on my shoulder. "I kinda did know the way, but you looked like you wanted an excuse."
"I did," he admitted. "Um, before you go, answer me one thing?"
"Ok?"
"Are you ok?" he asked. "I know today was a lot, and you just proved you aren't good, so are you at least ok?"
I huffed. "Keir! I'm fine. Aspen's fine. But you?"
He lifted a hand, holding me off. "I'm fine, Rain. Not good, not bad. In truth, I'm not sure how I feel, but I know I really don't want to go to my room, so Wilder said I could hang."
"And later?" I asked.
"I'll worry about that later," he admitted. "Mostly because I do not want to think about it right now."
"Ok," I said gently, "but if you need me..."
He smiled. "Text?"
"Or call. Or come over. You know, the usual."
"Yeah," he agreed, reaching up to push a strand of hair away from my face. "I'm glad you tried, Rain. For Fin, I mean. He was a dick whointended to fuck with your head, but you still tried. The way I see it, that says more about you than him."
I shifted closer. "Make sure Aspen's ok for me?"
"Yeah, and Torian," he agreed. "I got this. You make sure both of your fathers see you're in one piece. Liam's probably worried sick. Oh, and give Jack some nectar."
"Jack," my crow agreed.
"Ok," I said, but I reached up to cup the side of Keir's cheek. "You know how you helped me put on the armor even when I was freaking out?"
He pressed his cheek against my palm. "I do."
"Thank you," I whispered, sliding my thumb along his cheekbone. "I needed help, and you didn't even make me ask."
His eyes slipped closed, and without moving away from my touch, he nodded. "Take the potion tonight, ok?"
"I will," I agreed, finally dropping my hand and taking a step back. "And I still have my phone."
"Goodnight, Rain."
"Night, Keir."
Before I found another reason to stay, to check on my friends, or anything else, I turned and headed for my dads' apartment. Jack swayed on my shoulder, proving he was as exhausted as me. Thankfully, it wasn't far, just through the double doors and across a small open space. There, I knocked.
