Layena hadn't expected anyone to welcome her to her new place. Not even Ethan.
Yet there he was, standing amidst all the effort he had poured into making her arrival at her new residence feel special.
"Before you think I intruded, I was ordered to help move in the furniture this morning," Ethan said hurriedly. "So when I got here, I figured doing a little extra here and there wouldn't hurt." He smiled, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in his eyes.
Layena usually disliked noise and celebration when they revolved around her, but dismissing or reprimanding him after all the effort he had gone through felt unnecessarily cruel.
"Thank you," she said. "But why did they send you of all people? Especially when you were injured."
Layena had heard from Hannah that Ethan had faced a ghoul the previous night. Regardless of the outcome, one could expect a Second Grade Nightwalker to come away at least somewhat battered after fighting a high-ranking monster.
