5. Homecoming. Kaiden.

I read the short letter one more time, crumpled it, tossed it into a metal bowl, and ignited it with a flick of power just enough to make the flame devour the paper in seconds. I didn't like rushing this assignment. 

After the train crash, I'd been sent straight to the city to extract all records of Professor Demare's research before the others could get their hands on them. I'd managed to break into the Demare mansion and take the professor's notebooks. My standing at the Academy had gotten me past the gates, where I chatted with former instructors and slipped into Demare's office, only to find it already scrubbed clean. 

That left the bank vault. And the only way in was through Anna. 

I hated this part most of all. 

Over a year had passed since we'd last seen each other. I'd vanished from her life without a word. My original mission had been simple: earn Professor Demare's trust and uncover everything about his research. Anna had been an unforeseen complication. 

She stirred in her sleep. I slipped back into bed, pulling the blanket over us, and held her tightly against me. The bare skin of her back and arms felt cool to the touch. She murmured something under her breath and took my hand. I kissed her neck, her shoulder. When my lips reached her ear, Anna shivered and giggled. She turned to face me, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. 

"Stop it." 

"No," I kissed her instead. Held her so close it was as if I feared she might slip away and vanish in an instant. We reveled in each other The way she said my name, the scent of her, the way her fingers traced my skin. I have missed her so much. And I knew, with crushing certainty, that I would have to leave her again. Betray her.

Afterward, we lay tangled together, talking about nothing, watching as another gray day began. The sky had clouded over again, heavy masses rolling across the horizon, gusts of wind plucking yellow leaves from the trees and sending them spinning before casting them to the ground. 

Anna was soft and warm, so achingly familiar. The thought that I was betraying her never left me. Again and again, with every touch. I longed to stay forever in this gray predawn moment–before the new day brought its obligations and worries–when we could simply lie here, side by side.

"I'm hungry," Anna murmured, slipping out from under the covers. I took one more lingering look at the gentle curves of her naked body.

The night before, I hadn't dared hope I'd get to stay with her. She'd made it perfectly clear she didn't want me anywhere near her. I'd had to deploy every ounce of charm–well-timed jokes, those grave, sorrowful looks. Probably the latter had worked best, because even after shutting the door in my face, Anna had returned moments later to open it again and let me in. 

We were sitting by the fireplace, where months earlier I'd been sitting with her father, Professor Demare, discussing ways to transfer power without using stones. Now Anna was flipping through some journals, and I watched her. Then we talked. First about trivial things, then, after finishing a bottle of wine, we poured out all our grievances. And oh how furious she was with me! Deservedly so. I felt relief, but guilt gnawed at me too, hollowing me out from the moment we'd met in the park. 

When we grew tired of talking, Anna turned on the phonograph. The stone on the panel glowed faintly as her fingers brushed it, and quiet music spilled from the speakers. We drank wine in silence. I watched as Anna swayed her head to the rhythm, flipping through records. A fierce longing to touch her again, to pull her close, tormented me, but any move might shatter the fragile balance between us. 

I was spellbound by her movements, so unhurried. Sometimes she'd pause, absently tracing her fingers along her neck and collarbone, lost in thought.

"You're still wearing those earrings," I noted.

Those were the small crystals I'd given her in our earliest days, glinting in her ears. 

Anna paused, her hand drifting up to touch one. 

"Yes. I'm loyal to things that prove reliable," she said, voice edged with reproach. 

"Good to know." I stepped closer, reaching out. But the moment my fingers grazed her cheek, she retreated a step, offering only a tired smile. 

"It's late. I'm going to shower." 

She went upstairs, and I stayed in the living room with the music and an empty glass. I tried to figure out my next move–how to convince her to take me to the vault–staring into the fireplace flames when she suddenly reappeared before me wearing nothing but a towel. 

I looked up. Anna cupped my face in her hands, leaned down, and kissed me softly. I responded immediately, surging up from the couch to crush her against me. The scent of her skin, still warm from the shower, was intoxicating. My heart raced wildly. 

Soon, the towel and my clothes lay scattered on the floor. I savored every touch, every gasp, every glance. I'd starved for this. For her.

Now she stood naked in the kitchen, rummaging through the wall cabinet while absentmindedly humming to herself. 

"Don't you want to put something on?" I suggested as I entered. 

"Why?" 

Her answer disarmed me. 

"Are you bothered that I'm not wearing clothes?" She glanced over her shoulder with a sly smile. 

"Not at all. The view's quite nice," I admitted, my gaze tracing the soft curves of her body. 

"Enjoy it then!" She turned back to inspecting the food. "Hmm, seems all I've got are some dried cereal, day-old pie, and something unidentifiable in a jar." After a moment's thought, she added, "We could steal milk from the neighbors." 

"That sounds like a crime," I chuckled, stepping closer. "Don't get me wrong, I love seeing you like this, but maybe you could get dressed and we'll go find food that doesn't require theft?" 

"Do you have any kind of problem with my nudity? It doesn't meet your standards?" 

"It's... distracting." 

"From what?" 

"Everything." 

Anna laughed and finally relented: 

"Alright, alright, I'll put something on." 

When she finally returned dressed, we grabbed our coats and set out. It was noticeably colder than yesterday. I buttoned up my coat and shivered slightly as we headed toward the city center. 

Along the way, Anna entertained me with talk of books and local gossip she'd picked up from her friend Olivia. We had breakfast in a tiny café with just a handful of tables, then continued our stroll through the city. Casually, I tried to probe about the bank. 

"Am I keeping you from anything important?" 

"No," she waved it off. "I'm just waiting for approval to access the vault. Other than that, nothing urgent. Can you believe our family has its own bank vault?" Her tone suggested she'd had no idea. 

"You need special permission? I thought it was just lockboxes with keys," I said, feigning indifference. 

"Apparently, yes. They have to verify all the documents and make sure I'm not some deer in camouflage." 

I smirked, then tested the waters: 

"Any idea what's inside?" 

"Not a clue. You think it's something to do with Father's work?" She glanced at me, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "I'm hoping for something more interesting than dusty papers."

"Maybe money bonds or a secret family cookie recipe?" I chuckled good-naturedly, though my pulse quickened with nervous energy. 

"Unlikely. Baking was never our family's strong suit," she shrugged. "A treasure map, though? That'd be nice..." 

I reached for her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. Anna shot me a thoughtful look and smiled. We continued down the nearly deserted street. It's curious how the foul weather had quickly driven off all but the hardiest pedestrians. 

"Anna!" A familiar voice called from behind. 

We turned to see Olivia hurrying toward us, as impeccably dressed and perfumed as ever. She embraced Anna in greeting before finally noticing me, her expression shifting from curiosity to surprise. 

"Kaiden? You're back?" 

"Didn't expect it myself," I laughed awkwardly. 

At that moment, an Inquisition officer joined our group. 

"Officer Kiron," he extended his hand toward me in greeting. 

Anna's fingers tightened warningly around mine. 

"Kaiden Williams," I returned Kiron's handshake. 

"Where have you been? How could you vanish without a word?!" Olivia pouted with exaggerated offense, as if she were the one I'd abandoned a year ago rather than Anna. She possessed that remarkable tactlessness unique to the wealthy,

an ability to make every grievance sound like a spoiled child's tantrum. 

"Long story," Anna interjected, squeezing my hand again. It was either to warn me to keep quiet or to offer silent solidarity against Olivia's interrogation. 

"What brings you out in this weather?" Anna asked with forced brightness, steering attention away from me. 

"We wanted to check on the engagement party preparations," Olivia trilled, her lovestruck gaze fluttering to Kiron. The naked adoration in her slightly manic eyes, all directed at the Inquisition officer, churned something dangerously close to nausea in my gut. Keeping my expression neutral required considerable effort. 

"Ah, the engagement... Right..." Anna visibly darkened. 

"You are coming, aren't you?" Olivia clutched at Anna's coat sleeve, then shot me a withering look. "You can bring him along." 

"I'm honored by your trust, Olivia. Thanks for the invitation." 

Anna snorted. "Of course I wouldn't miss such an important event. You'd dig me out of the ground if I tried." 

Kiron had been studying me intently this whole time. His gaze lingered on our intertwined hands before flicking to Anna, his eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly. For a split second, I thought I glimpsed something unspoken pass between them. 

Meanwhile, Olivia prattled on, words pouring endlessly from her perfectly shaped mouth. Kiron must have nerves of steel or was simply deaf. Otherwise, I couldn't fathom how anyone could endure such relentless chatter. 

My musings were cut short when they invited us to lunch. I desperately hoped Anna would decline. 

"Afraid we can't today," Anna said with convincing regret. Her face was the picture of sorrow at leaving their delightful company. "We really must be going." 

"Suddenly you have plans?" Olivia's latest tactless question hung in the air. 

Anna laughed politely, but irritation simmered beneath the sound. 

"Oh, you know... Gifts to buy for my raccoon friends and such." 

Olivia tittered shrilly. I suppressed a shudder of disgust while Anna maintained her strained smile. Kiron observed it all with icy detachment. When we finally managed to extricate ourselves from the couple and hurry away, I waited until we were safely out of earshot before groaning: 

"Please tell me I don't actually have to attend that farce of an engagement party." 

Anna shot me a look. "She saw you. You're marked now." 

"But she hates me." 

"That's why your suffering will bring her even more pleasure," she sneered with malicious glee, then added, "But you could always just... fade quietly into the sunset."

"Touché."

We walked in silence, each lost in our thoughts. Finally, I voiced what had been nagging at me: 

"How did Olivia end up with an Inquisitor? She's always had a thing for sweet, rich boys. Now suddenly it's some ordinary officer and older, too."

"I've been asking myself the same thing for days. Maybe he charmed her to get close to her parents' money? Or to climb the social ladder?" Anna winked conspiratorially. 

"You don't think there's real feeling there?"

"Oh, there's some kind of feeling. The question is what kind?"

"Anna, you..." I hesitated, "you haven't used any techniques unapproved by the Inquisition around this Kiron, have you?" 

She tensed and shot me a quick glance. 

"No." Her answer came too fast to be true. "Why do you ask?" 

"It felt like there was... something between you. Like your energy was flowing into him." 

Anna frowned and bit her lower lip. 

"What did you do?" 

"It doesn't matter. Nothing." 

"What did you do?" I repeated, more insistent this time. 

She drew a sharp breath and blurted out: 

"I might have used a little blood force to heal him after the explosion." 

"You what?" I couldn't believe my ears.

"Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill. Perhaps, he doesn't even notice this residual connection. I certainly can't feel it anymore."

"Well I noticed it! And I'm probably not the only one. Have you completely lost your mind?"

"Kaiden, if he knew, I'd already be in chains. Let's not fight about this."

I wasn't so sure. More likely, the Inquisitors were waiting for Anna to retrieve the vault contents before unleashing their hounds on her.

"Just... please be more careful," I sighed, struggling to contain the anger boiling inside me. It took considerable effort to master my swirling emotions and not continue berating her for this monumental stupidity. Using blood magic in front of a damned Inquisitor! What possessed her to even consider it? After several deep breaths, we continued walking in heavy silence.

We spent the entire day together, and then several more. The first few hours we never left the bedroom. I reveled in her company and her body. Afterward, we talked endlessly about everything that had happened while we were apart, remembering how to be together again. In the evenings, we read, listened to music, I sometimes played the piano in the living room, we went for walks, and even stumbled upon a concert at a small club. 

But anxiety never left me, not for a second. During that time, I received two more messages from my handler asking when I would complete my assignment. Each time I thought about it, a sickening feeling twisted in my gut. 

"Something wrong?" I startled when Anna hugged me from behind, quickly crumpling the note in my fist and shoving it into my pocket. 

"Huh? No, it's nothing. Just forgot I was supposed to meet Nick today." 

I kissed her cheek and pulled away. 

"He's in town too?" she asked absently, heading to the living room. "Say hi for me." 

"I will." 

"Just a friendly drink, then?" Anna settled onto the couch and started sorting through her father's mail, a massive pile heaped on the coffee table. 

"Nick mentioned discussing work at the jazz club," I said. It was actually true and for my stay in the city, I'd considered using it as cover. 

Anna nodded approvingly without looking up at me. I hesitated, unsure whether to press further, but asked anyway: 

"Want to come with me?" 

"No. You boys have fun." 

"You sure?" 

"Mhm. We don't have to be joined at the hip. Besides, I was planning to go to the bank today." 

"The bank?" 

"Yeah, they finally replied, so I can collect the vault contents." She still didn't glance up from the letters. 

"Want me to go with you? For company?" 

"But you're meeting Nick." 

"That's in the evening..." I hedged. "I'm free this afternoon." 

She shrugged. 

"Come if you want. Though I doubt they'll let you into the vault itself. Their rules seem strict." 

I crouched beside her, rested a hand on her knee, and searched her eyes. 

"Are we okay?" 

"What do you mean?" Her brows lifted in genuine surprise. 

"You feel... distant." 

That heartbeat of silence before she answered spoke louder than words. 

"I'm exhausted from all this constant interaction these past few days. I need some space." 

I withdrew my hand and shifted away. Her words stung. Back when we were together before, there were never enough hours in the day to spend by each other's side. Or so I'd thought. 

"Everything's fine," she said, running her fingers along my cheek. 

That gesture sent a wave of cold disappointment through me. She stood and left the room. The once unshakable bond between us had cracked the moment I disappeared. We'd both changed during that time apart, and now it seemed Anna no longer needed me as desperately as before. In that moment, I felt our age difference acutely once again. When we laughed together, we were equals, but whenever we bumped against each other's rough edges, I'd catch that mature look in Anna's eyes, the same one she'd worn when standing behind a lecturer's podium addressing a hall of students, substituting for her mother, the professor of medicine, during her travels. Meanwhile, I'd been a first-year Academy student with orders to become Professor Demare's top pupil. I was nervously tapping my foot under the desk, unable to look away, utterly disarmed by her simple charisma