Daniel smiled down at her charmingly. His hair hung around his face. He was plain looking, normal for an Easterner. But for Vhalla he was handsome with nostalgia, and his voice, worn from too many years of calling across battlefields and training grounds, was beginning to sound smooth. “Come on, to bed with you.”

“Thank you, Daniel,” Vhalla whispered, pausing in front of her door.

“For what?” he asked.

Even drunk, she wasn’t naive. This would be the moment most other men would ask to come into her room. Vhalla leaned against the door with a sincere smile. The glitter of intoxication would fade with the dawn. But the sweet wash of his presence already promised to linger. “I haven’t had that much fun in a long time.”

“Me neither.” Daniel took a few more steps backwards. “If you need anything, I’m upstairs, first to the right on the landing.”

“Thank you.” She yawned.

“All right, to sleep, you beautiful Windwalker.” He gave her a lazy smirk and Vhalla reciprocated before slipping into the dark room.

She didn’t even find it in her to change. Vhalla headed straight for the bed, collapsing on top of another comatose body. She nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Welcome back, Vhalla,” Larel mumbled groggily.

“What are you doing here?” Vhalla relaxed, wiggling under the blankets.

“I wanted to make sure you made it back,” the Westerner yawned. “How was the rest of your night?”

“Fun.” Vhalla snuggled up to the familiar warmth of Larel.

“Fritz?” Larel closed her eyes.

“Don’t know,” Vhalla said honestly, and wondered if she should feel guilty.

“He’s likely still trying to pick up boys,” Larel laughed tiredly. Her words slurred slightly—Vhalla hadn’t been the only one drinking. “Daniel?”

“Yes, he walked me back.” Vhalla rubbed her face on the pillow.

“He didn’t do anything untoward, did he?” Larel cracked her eyes open to study Vhalla.

Vhalla laughed. “No, he’s wonderful actually,” she admitted treacherously. “I should be with someone like him ...” When Vhalla thought about it, he’d be a sensible choice for her. Only just above her station, Eastern like she was, thoughtful, kind, handsome. She felt strange just musing over the growing list of reasons why Daniel was a good match.

“Aldrik?” With the name alone Vhalla’s rationalization over Daniel and her halted.

“I love him,” she sighed. She loved him so much her heart ached at the thought. One night and too much alcohol couldn’t change what had been growing and building for months, even if it may be for the better. Vhalla picked at the blanket. “What did you feel for Aldrik?”

“What did I feel?” Larel shifted onto her back. “I felt like he was one of the only people who I really had in the world, who really cared for me. I suppose that’s why I called it love.”