Zane rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep, as Mira grabbed his wrist.
"Wait—wait, what's happening?" he yelped.
"What's happening," Mira snapped, yanking him toward the door, "is that you're incapable of doing the bare minimum. Like waking up."
Before Zane could protest, she was already hauling him down the hallway. His boots scuffed the floor as he stumbled along behind her. "This feels illegal! I demand my lawyer!"
"You don't have a lawyer."
"…Well, I could have one. Hypothetically."
They passed the inn's lobby, where Mira's coworkers happened to be gathered. Every single girl turned their heads the moment Mira stomped past with Zane in tow.
"Ohhh?" one of them sang, leaning on the counter with a sly grin. "Mira, is this why you've been smiling since last night?"
Another giggled, whispering loudly, "She actually dragged a boy upstairs. And look at him—he's kind of cute!"
Zane blinked, confused. "Wait, what's happening? Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
One of the ladies gave him a bold wink, and another blew him a kiss.
"Oi!" Mira barked, her cheeks flaring red. "Shut it, all of you!"
Her coworkers only laughed harder.
"Don't forget to take breaks on your way to the Academy!" someone shouted.
"Breaks?" Zane tilted his head, still utterly clueless. "Breaks from what? Walking?"
Mira wanted to sink through the floor. "For the love of—come on!"
She yanked him outside, where a line of carriages waited. The morning light was already bright, and merchants shouted in the streets. Mira, muttering curses under her breath, shoved him into one of the carriages before hopping in herself.
Zane adjusted himself on the seat, finally free from Mira's iron grip. "You know, for someone who claims men are the problem, you're doing an awful lot of kidnapping right now."
Mira shot him a withering glare. "If you opened your eyes before noon, I wouldn't have to."
The carriage jolted forward, heading toward the glowing portal gates that shimmered faintly in the distance. Zane leaned against the window, eyes widening at the bustling city streets passing by.
"…Huh," he muttered softly. "Guess this is really happening."
Mira glanced at him, then away quickly, arms folded. "Yeah. Don't fall asleep again before we get there."
Zane smirked. "No promises."