Definitely not Riley.
He was definitely not laughing.
If anyone asked who would become the centerpiece of supernatural gossip in under twelve hours, it certainly wasn't supposed to be him.
Because while he'd faced many flavors of fear since starting this job—physical danger, social embarrassment, magical combustion, the usual—nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared him for this.
This was new.
This was worse.
There were eyes. So many eyes. Eyes glowing, blinking, some even squinting like they couldn't quite believe what they were seeing. Most were fixed on him with a mixture of awe, alarm, and... yes. There it was.
Pity.
Pure, heartfelt pity.
And Riley had no idea why. Not until he stepped foot into the lobby.
Not until the realization smacked him like a celestial frying pan.
Because, unknown to him, just moments before his perfectly innocent attempt to check in for attendance, something… unprecedented happened.
