Julian left the private room later than he intended.
The night air outside felt cooler than it had earlier, and for a moment he stood on the sidewalk just breathing it in. The city was quieter now. Fewer cars. Fewer people moving through the streets.
His wrist still carried a faint ache.
The marks from Lucian's fangs had already faded, but the memory of it remained sharp enough that Julian was aware of it every time his pulse shifted.
He started walking.
At first he didn't think about where he was going. He only needed distance from the building, from the room, from the quiet intensity that always seemed to follow Lucian.
A bus stop stood half a block ahead.
Julian slowed near it, checking the empty street out of habit. A few lights burned in nearby buildings. Somewhere farther down the road a taxi passed without slowing.
He leaned one shoulder against the metal post beside the stop and looked down at his wrist again, he let out a slow breath.
