Bethel's POV
Allari didn't answer right away. He just looked at me — that same unreadable calm he always wore, except tonight there was something sharper underneath it, like he'd already clocked every exit in the building without meaning to.
"You're welcome, by the way," he said finally.
"That's not an answer to why you're *here.*"
"No," he agreed. "It isn't."
Ella reappeared just then, two drinks in hand, ready to interrogate us both, but I cut her off, telling her it was time to go. To my surprise she didn't argue much, just gave Allari one long, assessing look before letting herself be steered toward the exit with us.
"I'll take you both home," Allari said once we were outside, already scanning the street like he was looking for his own car.
"How did you two even get here?" he as
