“Oh, pardon me,” a male voice came from my left. I turned to see Ban’s arm shoved against the dude’s chest, as though acting as a barrier between him and me. “Wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Ban lowered his arm and glanced at me. Yep. He must’ve stopped the man from bumping into me.
“You must be someone of great importance to have your own force of guards,” the man told me with a smile. Lighter strands mixed in with his dark blond hair, and his brown eyes had faint wrinkles at the edges, like he’d smiled a lot in his life.
“Nah. They’re just protective.” I nodded to the stack of leatherbound hardbacks in his arms. “That’s a lot of books.”
“They’re grimoires,” he responded, patting the top of one. “Just picked them up. I put in several requests for these to be found and rushed over as soon as I received the news.”
Ah, that’s right.The guild offered combat-oriented quests, like fighting monsters or giant boars, but other requests could be placed as well, like gathering specific ingredients or locating objects. Briar told me he put in requests for herbs sometimes when he was too busy to gather them himself.
“Are you a mage?” I asked. Grimoires held various spells and recipes for potions. Only those with magic had any use for them.
“I am. A professor of magic, actually. I teach at the nearby magic school.” His gaze lingered on my face. “Have we met before?”
“Nope. I’m new in town. Got here today.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “You’re the young man everyone’s talking about. The one with the café.”
“You’re famous, Ev,” Callum muttered with a light nudge to my side.
“Like he really is a little lord,” Duke added, wiping fake tears from his eyes. “Look at how far he’s come.”
I rolled my eyes at them and looked at the mage. “Ignore them. I’d offer to shake your hand, but your arms are full. I’m Evan.”
“My name’s Xavier.” His gaze roamed my face again. “Are you certain we haven’t met before? You seem awfully familiar.”
“Positive.” I’d remember meeting a hottie like him. The bookish types did it for me. But so did the muscled ones. And gentle ones. And smart-ass redheads like Rowan. “Maybe I just have one of those faces.”
“Perhaps.” He gave me another lingering gaze before half smiling. “Well, I should be on my way. Enjoy your stay in Exalos.”
After leaving the guild hall, my three shadows and I continued through town. My mind spaced for a moment, and I misjudged the distance when trying to step down from the sidewalk, nearly crashing to the ground.
Callum caught me by the arm. “So clumsy.”
“Sorry.” I regained my footing. “Probably low blood sugar. It’s been forever since we ate. I hope the inn has food.”
“We should get back, then.” Callum led me farther down the street. Holding his hand like this had become sort of normal. Natural.
A hand came around my bicep and gently squeezed. Callum and I stopped walking, and I looked up into the face of the owner of that hand.
Ban’s gray eyes caught the fading daylight, reminding me of a ray of sunshine piercing through a stormy sky. More noticeable? The depth of concern in those stormy eyes.
“Um. Hi. Is everything okay?”
He tipped his head toward a cluster of shops and released me. I followed where he’d nodded to. Two women walked inside a building, amplifying the clatter and voices before the door closed and muffled them once more.
“A tavern?” I asked.
He grunted.
The sound made me smile. What made that smile bloom bigger? Knowing he’d searched for a place for me to eat. Yeah, there was definitely more to the mountain of a guard. A caring nature beneath the muscle and scowls.
Callum looped his arm through mine. “Shall I escort our little muffin lord for some fine dining?”
“Why, yes, my good sir.” I stuck my nose up in the air. “Only the finest establishment will do.”
“It’d be my pleasure, milord.” He chuckled and led me toward the tavern.
Boys’ night out, here we come.
