We were back in Ausmane’s Toyota, speeding down the highway in unresolved silence. We’d avoided each other’s gazes to resist temptation or even think about what we’d done in the kitchen. Wearing masks worked great to keep our mouths out of sight. So much for being careful around each other.
Thrice so far, I’d seen him without a mantle; once at the forest, once going to my parents' house, and now. The back of his coat was like any other back without those weird, protruding slits. Darian had alluded to them being part of the Guardian uniform.
It was pointless confirming now. I kept my eyes on the road ahead and the city lights emerging below the setting horizon. We had to cut the street through the main city to go to the airport, but I didn’t complain. Downtown was marvelous at night. Ev
