A Dark and Starless Night

Chapter Forty-Eight

"You sighed! That's another drink for you," Ali cheered, grabbing Eve's shoulders.

Eve protested, laughing as Ali placed the knuckle of clear alcohol into her hand. They had been drinking for hours in a quiet corner of the Rusty Arms. Rik and Fin laughed as well.

"You two are making a show of us," Fin said, but his eyes were bright. "At least pretend you can handle your alcohol."

Eve downed the drink, the alcohol burning down her throat. It was a needed distraction. Her thoughts were roiling like a stormy sea, going back and forth between sinking panic and happy elation. Don was free, no threat of the hangman's noose or a lifetime in prison hanging over him anymore. But, the threat of the star eaters remained. And now she had the difficulty of an argument with Don in which she had to convince him to let her stay.

Part of her reasoned that she would be better off out of the city, away from the star eaters. But then she would be without her friends. Without Ali who she had managed to grow so much closer to. And without Rik. Although that might not be such a horrible thing when she wanted nothing more than to kiss him and maybe more, even knowing it could go nowhere.

She managed to suppress a sigh, cradling her mug of wine close.

"Alright, alright," Rik said, reaching into his pocket. "If you all want to lose your money to me, that's fine."

Eve smiled as he shuffled the deck. They played cards for what felt like only a couple of hours, and she managed to forget her troubles. The guards were looking for the star eaters now, it was only a matter of time before they were found. The statement from the palace – co-signed by Rik and his father – had asked the public to remain vigilant, encouraging people to travel in groups and alert the city guards of any suspicious activity; the star eaters would be found. And she would talk Don out of this craziness. She didn't care anyway; if he didn't want her living under his roof, she would buy her own apartment. There were only a few months left in the year. She would be eighteen soon.

Everything would be fine. Everything would be better.

As she drank more, she felt warm and light like none of her troubles could touch her. And none of them could touch her there in that tavern with Ali's bright laughter and Rik's lingering smiles. Even Fin teasing was playful rather than barbed. This could be her life now. Evenings drinking with her friends. Afternoons spent eating lunch with them, May joining them with her gentle kindness. Mornings spent with Ara and Tarlough, pushing herself to do better. Be better.

And Rik would have to marry some day soon. But did that mean that, in the meantime, they had to dowse the flame that had kindled between them? Would it hurt so much to give in to the attraction? And when it ended, at least she would be prepared. The more she thought about it, meeting his eyes when they lingered on her, the more she felt that she deserved some happiness, and that he could give it to her.

She watched her friends as she stood at the bar, a smile stretching her cheeks to near aching. She loved them. But she was exhausted. It was late, and the day had been long in itself. She had barely slept the night before. But she didn't want to spoil their night with a goodbye. She slipped out of the tavern and into the starlit street. The cool evening air wrapped around her, a soothing relief after the heat inside. She considered flagging down a carriage, but she wasn't far from home. She started her walk, laughing to herself at memories of the evening.

Everything would be better. Everything already was.

She felt happy and weightless, buoyed by the love of her friends. By her uncle's freedom. She felt untouchable. Until she realised how empty the streets were. It didn't have to be something so strange, for people not to be out so late. But the Golden Quarter was always full of light and laughter and lingering friends. She hurried her steps, all the while telling herself she was being paranoid. The star eater wouldn't try her again. Not when she had stopped him so many times now.