Chapter 9: Strangers

“Oh!” I cry, stepping away from the stranger. “I’m not alone, my—”

“No need to be shy,” he says, wrapping his arm around me again and pulling me close. “There are many sights I’d be happy to show you. How long are you in town for?”

I struggle against him, but he just holds me tighter. “Please, I’m not interested, I just—”

“Zephyr, are you bothering these locals again?” a voice pipes in. I look over my shoulder and see a man who looks almost exactly like the one holding me, only his hair is short and coiffed.

The arm around me suddenly releases, allowing me to step away from the two of them. The man who first approached me—I assume the Zephyr in question—holds up his hands and continues smiling. “Eurus, you know I get bored so easily.”

The second man looks me over, cold gray eyes squinting harshly. He then reaches down, pulling my hand up to his mouth and planting a gentle kiss on my knuckles. “I apologize for my brother. He lacks basic manners.”