By the time they made it to the outskirts of Downtown, the sun was blazing high in the sky. It was getting unbearable, even for Aeryn, so she knew the other three couldn't be doing well.
Not one of them complained though. They didn't mention the heat until Aeryn commented that maybe they should find some place to rest until the sun went down.
"Where can three Rahktar and a human go to rest that will not raise suspicion?" Kristianna asked, arms folded across her chest. They'd moved into the shade of the trees, hoping it would help some.
"I may know of a place." Casper said from his spot against a tree.
Claudia, who sat above him on a branch, scoffed. "You may? The one who frequents Downtown the most may know of a place?"
"Okay, so I do know of a place. It is a hotel I go to when I do not wish to bring company home." He crossed his arms. "It would look strange if all four of us go into there at once though."
"Claudia and I can wait a bit. You take Aeryn in there first, act like she is your girlfriend or something." Kristianna suggested.
"Act like? That will not be too hard for him. He has barely stopped touching her since we left." Claudia laughed, jumping from the tree and landing perfectly, hands on her hips. She laughed again when Casper glared at her. "But I agree. You go in first, Kris and I will join you after we feed."
Casper rolled his eyes but nodded in agreement as well, pushing off the tree. He took Aeryn's hand, pulling her through the Downtown and ignoring the snickers from his sister.
They walked in silence for a while, Casper keeping a hold on Aeryn's hand. When they made it to the hotel the clerk's face lit up. She was a cute girl, a Shifter, though Aeryn couldn't tell which animal she was. She had freckles spread across the bridge of her button nose and her green eyes sparkled as she looked at Casper. She moved a hand to twirl her blond hair around a finger.
"Casper. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. What are you doing here?"
"I need a room. My usual." Casper noticed the way the girl's eyes moved over Aeryn, and a look of disgust flashed on her face before she was smiling at Casper again.
"Just one room?"
Casper resisted the urge to sigh. "Yes. I only ever get one room, you know this."
Her eyes moved to examine Aeryn again and this time Casper quirked an eyebrow in annoyance.
"Rebecca. A room. Now."
Both Aeryn and Rebecca looked at Casper in shock, neither having heard that tone of voice before.
"Unless you have have a problem with my choice in guest? Then I will gladly take my business elsewhere."
"N-no! No problem." Rebecca began digging around until she produced a key. She handed it to Casper, the look on her face showing that she didn't want to lose his business. Or stop seeing him. "You know where the room is."
Casper took the key in one hand, taking Aeryn hand in his other and pulling her behind him towards a spiral staircase.
She stayed quiet as they walked, and after what seemed like forever they finally reached a landing. Casper paused in his walking, releasing Aeryn's hand and running his own through his hair.
"The room is right down the hall." He said as he began walking again.
Aeryn wasn't entirely sure what just transpired, or why. For what little time she'd known him, Aeryn had never seen Casper so serious.
YOU ARE READING
Once Upon a Midnight: Wanted
Fantasy"Us humans, we ain't liked for some reason. I don't know what they did years ago, but we're paying for it now, which means we don't get to have some luxuries like dreaming of life beyond the Wall, okay? It's best if you just put that thought out o...
