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“Don’t worry about it. I can afford it,” he flashed a smirk before moving back to our empty table. I sat across from him, pulling my ice packets to me.

“Got too cocky with Father Theo?” Osiris asked, spooning some fruit into his mouth.

“Been through it?” I asked.

He nodded. “I came here already being known because of my older brother. Father Theo knocked me down a few pegs. I thought I was the best around; I was not.”

I smiled, eating my food. “Miren underestimated me, so I got cocky with my fighting.”

He chuckled. “I would pay to see that!”

“I think someone recorded it. I’ll slip it to you for the free meal.”

“Deal,” he glanced down and smiled.

“Mhm,” I sat up, thinking about a question. “Did you join thinking you were going to excel in something, and now you do… what you do?”

“I do research. We measure the Earth and the vibration, trying to figure out where the Revelation came from. Any time there’s a new demon or creature, we figure it out.” He sat up quickly. “Actually, there was a case—one of my first cases—where the animal ate a demon finger, and it changed into a demon. Its blood, its DNA was a demons, though it hadn’t been before. It makes you wonder if something like that has happened to someone or if…” He froze. “Sorry, I’m ranting.”

“And I’m listening,” I was the whole time, eyes locked with his.

He shook his head, sipping his water. “I bore people with my obsessing over vampires and shit…”

“I wasn’t bored. Who fucking told you that? Kier?”

“Nah, Kier supports my weirdness. Used to bring home files of the celestials. He would let me peek through them and study them. On April fool’s day once, he made me believe that there was this creature that was obviously fake.”

I couldn’t hide my smile as my heart surged. Who knew the handsome joker was a nerd and the alchemist hardhead was a sweetheart? “My sister would do the same, but instead, she’d make up cases about the Oracles.”

“So, you always wanted to be one?”

I nodded. “It was supposed to be me and her, here…”

“I’m sorry, Psalm.”

My eyes lifted and I met his gaze. My body tingled with heat as we stared. “I know I barely know you, but I don’t think you are boring. I wouldn’t mind listening to your stories and research.”

He smiled, looking down. “Thanks. I guess when you hear something over and over, you feel it. And I don’t look or act like the nerdy guy I am.”

I raised a brow. “Honestly, thought you were a nerd when I met you.”

“Yeah, okay!” he chuckled.

Throughout lunch, I listened to his funny stories about Kier, which made me miss him more. I missed all the men when I wasn’t around them. Cozen, I was going to miss for a while; it always happened. I missed Abel and Beck’s jokes.

I was without them a day; how was I going to survive? I got too attached way too quickly, but that wasn’t my fault.

By the end of the day, I hung out by the front of the steps, hoping that someone would just come, pick me up and take me home. I was sore, and my brain hurt from all the magic Theron had me learn.

I caught on quickly, but magic had a toll, even on those who could use it well.

My eyes moved through the trees and landed on the driveway where Kier was this morning. Out of all people, I missed him the most. Everyone else I would see or have seen today.

Kier was gone and could be dead right now, though I doubted much could kill him. Osiris told me about the time he broke his hip and kept walking on it.

Pain made us realize we were alive.

“I’m taking you home today,” Osiris said as he stepped down to the last step that I was at.