"A hero," he mused, leaning back in his seat as his gaze flicked playfully toward Arya. "Heroes are loved by everyone.. and fans."
Arya's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, but her smile didn't waver. "Lots of it. I think you already have a few followers."
"And are you one of them?" Zaeryn teased.
Arya looked away, her blush deepening. "No, I'm just your guardian," she said, though in truth, she'd been thinking about him far too often since their kiss. Part of her wished she were more than that.
After that, silence took over as the cruiser hummed through the city, its sleek frame gliding past towering spires that pulsed with Vitae-infused light. Inside, the air was thick with the weight of Zaeryn's revelation.
Mireille and Arya were still processing his explanation. Understanding him meant understanding what he was capable of.
