Killian
Harnessing his skills as the Hunter, he kept to the shadows to remain unseen. Ivy’s bright-red dress was a flashing neon sign, but he obscured her with the sheer bulk of his body. He only needed to hide her from one pair of eyes, anyway.
He used shortcuts through the club to make it out to the street in a matter of minutes.
He slowed his pace once they were a safe distance away from Lunarian.
He released Ivy’s hand and felt her fall into step beside him.
His car was parked a few blocks away, and he used the side streets and avenues to get to it without being tracked, should Voresta already be in pursuit.
He looked over at Ivy and drank in her appearance.
Her features stood out more sharply in the moonlight, as though she were born for the night.
Her black hair fell in waves to her waist, and he was mesmerised by the way the silken tresses shimmered and swayed as she moved.
Her red dress clung to her curves in a way that made his heart race, but he stuffed those distracting thoughts down and put his mind to the task at hand.
“So, what now?” Ivy peered over at him. He raised an eyebrow at her as he pointed the car in the direction of North-Central Boulevarde.
“This was your idea. You tell me.”
“Voresta will find me in any of the places I suggest.”
“Have you ever been outside of Zentroa?”
Ivy shook her head, curiosity lighting up her features. Killian ignored the way his stomach flipped at the sight.
Killian responded with a crisp tsk tsk sound, and teased, “Almost a year in Noctis and you’ve never left the city? I’ve got just the place.”
He drove towards the northern entrance. Zentroa was ringed by a tall stone wall, with an archway at the north and south ends that fed travellers onto the Central Boulevarde.
Once he’d passed the city walls, he accelerated harder, and the car shot forward in the direction of Diarom.
It was a short drive at the increased pace, but its difference in style made the smaller city feel like it was miles away.
Diarom was gritty and austere by comparison to the classic architecture of Zentroa.
The buildings were sleek and modern, with taller structures clustered in the centre of the city, and the smaller ones scattered towards the outskirts of town.
The streets weren’t busy at this hour, but most were lined with parked cars and the occasional individual could be seen walking the pavement that lined the roadway.
“This place looks like Ternewell… but more vibrant. Where are we?” Ivy was staring out the window of the car, absorbing the details of the city that flashed past.
The mention of Naum’s main city took Killian by surprise. “I see what you mean. This is Diarom.”
Diarom shared Ternewell’s modernness, but that was where the similarities ended.
Diarom embraced magic in all its forms. This city was also more pleasing to the eye as almost all the streets were lined with trees that were in a perpetual autumnal state—the russet leaves that adorned the trees and littered the streets made the city feel warm and welcoming.
It was one of Killian’s favourite things about Diarom, and it was the only slice of comfort Killian had in a cold world filled with cruelty.
“You’ve spent time in Naum?” Ivy asked.
“In a past life.” Killian’s admission invited an unwelcome barrage of memories. He drew in a deep breath. He needed to keep his mind on the present. He watched the road as he weaved through the city streets, but he could feel Ivy watching him.
They eventually reached Killian’s apartment building, and he steered the car down a ramp that led to the basement garage.
His building was one of the larger ones in the city.
An elevator transported them from the basement to the seventeenth floor.
The lower floors contained several apartments, but the uppermost levels had two apartments per floor.
Killian moved towards the door on the building’s northern side.
Killian led Ivy into the apartment, tossing his keys onto a side table by the door before moving through the space. The lights gradually illuminated as he moved, sensing his presence and revealing the spacious apartment to Ivy for the first time.
“Wait, you live here?” There was surprise in Ivy’s voice.
Killian turned to face her and noticed she’d also slipped her shoes off by the door and was walking barefoot across the space.
She stopped before the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the view.
He ran his fingers through his hair and got a sense of satisfaction out of the awe-struck look on her face.
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Where did you think I was taking you?”
“Well, I didn’t expect to be taken into the Hunter’s lair.”
He kept his tone light. “Voresta won’t find you here.”
Ivy turned from the view to face him. A playfulness appeared on her features, and he felt the predator within him stir as she started to move in his direction.
“What do you plan to do with me now that you have me here?”
His eyes raked up and down her body as she approached, and he had to fight to keep his mind on the task at hand. She stopped just outside of his reach, and her viridian eyes started to shimmer with gold as she stared at him.
Oh Ivy, where do we begin?