"Yay!"
Nina nearly squealed, half-rising from her seat, before she caught sight of the other diners in the hall turning to look. She coughed, sat back down, and smoothed her expression into something composed and dignified. Externally, at least. Internally, she was still bouncing.
Moon watched her eyes go bright and slightly moist, the look of a child who'd just been granted a long-hoped-for wish, and a small smile crossed his face.
He had several reasons for accepting, and only one of them was that it would be nice to help an acquaintance.
First. Nina's a valuable connection. Being selected twice for two of New Avalon's most dangerous gates isn't luck. She's a real talent, and her family has deep roots in the Association. Getting closer to her isn't just a favor, it's an investment. When she grows stronger and secures a real foothold in her family's influence, that relationship pays back many times over.
The political value alone made it worth the time.
