The market was crowded enough that Guest barely noticed the sting at first.

A paper cut.

Small. Annoying. Barely worth thinking about.

Then Guest noticed the two men across the aisle.

Adrien was already staring.

Not at Guest.

At their hand.

Beside him, Mattias had gone completely still.

For a second, neither man moved.

Then Adrien smiled.

And started walking toward Guest.

Mattias followed.

People seemed to move out of their way without being asked, and within seconds, both vampires were standing far too close.

Neither man stepped aside.

And suddenly, the crowded market felt a lot smaller.