The soup smelt like puke.

  Cira stared down at the bowl, her stomach turning as the lukewarm broth sloshed with every faint movement of the table. Thin strands of meat and unidentifiable vegetables floated in the murky liquid, none of it looking particularly edible. She sighed, resting her chin in her hand, her spoon lying untouched beside the bowl. The clatter of utensils and muted conversation filled the dining hall, but she felt isolated, like a ghost in the corner of a bustling room.

  The Godhunters weren’t particularly welcoming. Even now, she could feel the weight of their stares—curious, suspicious, or outright hostile. No one sat near her. She wasn’t sure if it was because they didn’t trust her or because they simply didn’t care. Either way, she had grown used to the solitude in the few days she had been there.

  Her eyes drifted over to the other tables. A group nearby was laughing over some shared joke, their camaraderie a stark contrast to her own loneliness. Across the room, Aren sat with Liora, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. Aren caught her eye for a brief moment, offering a small nod before returning to her meal.

  Cira exhaled and picked up the spoon, forcing herself to take a sip of the unappetizing soup. The taste was as bad as the smell, but she swallowed it down. She couldn’t afford to waste food, not here.

  ?Not much of an appetite??

  The voice startled her. She glanced up to see a tall man with dark, curly hair standing beside her table. He wasn’t one of the few she had met yet, but his grin was easy, his posture relaxed. He carried his own tray of food, slightly less offensive-looking than her soup, and gestured toward the empty seat across from her.

  ?Mind if I join you??

  Cira hesitated, her grip tightening on the spoon. She wasn’t sure if this was an attempt at friendliness or something else entirely. But refusing would only make her seem more standoffish.

  ?Sure,? she said, her voice quieter than she intended.

  The man slid into the seat, setting his tray down with a casual clatter. ?Name’s Evran,? he said, picking up a chunk of bread and tearing off a piece. ?You’re the

  Red Hood, right? The one who took a shot at Cain.?

  Her heart skipped at the name, but she kept her expression neutral. ?Cira,? she corrected. ?And it wasn’t a shot. It was a knife.?

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  Evran let out a low whistle, smirking. ?Even better. That explains why everyone’s so jumpy around you.?

  Cira frowned, stirring her soup aimlessly. ?I’m not here to cause trouble. I just… ended up here.?

  ?Yeah, that’s what Taros said.?Evran leaned back in his chair, studying her. ?Still, taking on Cain and living to talk about it? That’s not nothing. People are gonna notice.?

  ?I didn’t do it for attention.?

  ?Good thing, too,? Evran said, taking a bite of bread. ?Attention here isn’t always a good thing. You’re better off keeping your head down until people stop whispering.?

  Cira studied Evran for a moment, unsure what to make of him. His tone was casual, almost too casual, like he was trying to put her at ease without coming off as suspicious. Still, his words carried a weight she couldn’t ignore.

  She let her spoon clatter back into the bowl and leaned back, crossing her arms. ?Why are you really sitting here? Trying to warn me off, or are you just curious??

  Evran raised his hands in mock surrender, the grin never leaving his face. ?Hey, no ulterior motives. Just figured you looked like you could use some company. This place has a way of turning the silence into something… heavy, if you let it.?

  Cira didn’t respond immediately, her gaze drifting to the other tables again. He wasn’t wrong. The isolation was starting to gnaw at her.

  ?So, what’s your deal?? Evran asked after a moment, breaking off another piece of bread. ?Most people here are running from something or chasing something. Which one are you??

  Cira hesitated, her jaw tightening. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to share her story with this stranger. But then again, it wasn’t exactly a secret anymore.

  ?Chasing,? she said finally, her voice low.

  Evran arched a brow, leaning forward slightly. ?Cain, right??

  Her stomach churned at the name, and she gave a small nod.

  ?Well,? he said, sitting back again, ?you’re in the right place for that. Plenty of people here would love to see him taken down a peg or two.?

  ?And you?? Cira asked, her tone sharper than she intended.

  Evran’s grin faltered for the first time, and he shrugged. ?I’ve got my reasons for being here. Cain’s not exactly at the top of my list, but I’m not a fan of the Ascended in general.?

  She studied him, noting the way his expression hardened ever so slightly. There was more to his story, but she wasn’t about to pry.

  ?Anyway,? he said, shaking off the momentary seriousness, ?if you’re sticking around, you might as well get used to the place. Taros doesn’t let just anyone in, you know. That means you’re either valuable or entertaining. Maybe both.?

  Cira frowned. ?I’m not here to entertain anyone.?

  Evran laughed, the sound light but not unkind. ?Relax, Red Hood. I’m just messing with you.? He stood, picking up his tray. ?See you around. And maybe try the bread next time. It’s slightly less terrible than the soup.?

  She watched him walk away, his casual demeanor already drawing smiles from others as he passed their tables.

  Cira sighed and looked back down at her bowl.

  The soup had gone cold.