Night had fallen over them when they got back to Beironet. They hailed a carriage somewhere in Halway but Norren had gotten them off a whole street away.

"Why would you do that?" Arya wanted to throw a light punch against his arm but refrained. Again, she's unsure if she could do that to a member of the Council. "We could have gotten off at my front door. You will be left alone to walk back out this street too. It's dangerous at night."

Norren didn't seem fazed. Normally, even ordinary humans would shiver a little at the prospect of a night of danger. "Even day time is dangerous in Aldermere," he said, more as a throw-away information than an ominous warning. "Besides, I can protect myself."

"Oh, and I couldn't?" she raised her eyebrows at him.

Norren paused his walk. It's a good thing they've only got a few complexes left before Arya's. "I didn't say that," he said. "I'm just walking you home because it gives me peace to see you safe."

Arya trudged forward, her steps quickening so much that Norren had to jog to catch up to her. When he did, she huffed. "I can also protect myself," she said without looking at him. "But I'm letting you tag along because this feels nice. Oddly. But you really shouldn't have. As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to be worried about you too. Walking these streets alone invites all sorts of trouble."

They reached the front yard of her flat complex, the familiar carpet of untrimmed landscape and wiry weeds reminding Arya of the real state of her life. She stepped into the manicured path leading to the three-step stairs to the foyer.

"This is my stop," she said. The last time she said it to Norren, he had taken her hand in his and made her heart flutter with the kiss he placed on it. Would he do it again? Perhaps, Arya would do better if she prepared for it.

But Norren didn't move. Didn't even tear his eyes from the flat's facade. It's almost like he couldn't believe the day and their walk had ultimately come to this.

"Norren," Arya called. He turned his hazy eyes towards her. Against the dim moonlight, they looked almost like condensed pools of the night sky, complete with the stars shining in them. "You can go ahead. I'll be going inside as soon as I see you clear this street. Thank you for today."

He smiled. "I'd like to stay a little longer," he said. "You have a wonderful neighborhood."

A snort tore off her nose. "Sir, you haven't smelled it at its worst," she said. Before she knew it, they were both in front of the deep brown door of the complex' first floor.

"You should go," she said to him but they both knew she didn't mean it. She meant the opposite, that he should stay here forever. "The night's still young. Maybe you can make it back to your house in one piece."

Norren laughed softly. It was always that laugh that tore Arya to shreds. "I'm already in one piece, thank you very much," he said. "It would take a lot more than going home to break me."

Arya tilted her head to one side. "Why do I feel that's more figurative than literal?"

A shadow fell over her and she realized Norren had just stepped closer. He stood a head taller than her so if she leaned in further, if she rested her head against his chest, she might just hear the sound of his heart.

"Probably because I meant it that way?" Norren answered, his voice dropping in a tone more dangerous than Arya claimed tonight was going to be.

Arya didn't back down even if there was literally inches of space between them. The air warmed, like someone had lost control of the summer wind in the middle of autumn. She held her breath, her eyes climbing up to Norren's face, to his nose, to his eyes. Those eyes...

They would be her undoing.

Before she could think twice about it, she let her lids flutter shut. A gentle hand cupped her cheek, tilting her head to one side. It forced her to stretch her neck further and for her body to crash against Norren's. His other arm snaked around her waist and he held her closer. In the gentlest way any man was capable of.

Their kiss deepened, with Norren poring into every part of her. Arya's hands rested on his shoulders as she opened her mouth further and leaned into his warmth. It was everything and nothing all at once. The world slowed and sped up. The night melted into a blaze before collapsing in on itself.

Norren held her and she wanted it. Arya wished for it to stay that way. She wished for him to stay.

But he couldn't. Arya couldn't let him. It would destroy them both, whatever this was.

She broke the kiss and leaned away before he could silence her again. "Let's not continue this," she said. "Let's go our separate ways."

Norren knitted his eyebrows. "Why?" he said. "Did I do something wrong?"

Arya shook her head but she rested her forehead against his chest. "It's not you," she whispered against his shirt. "This...just wasn't meant to be."

Strong hands ripped her away as Norren held her at arm-length by the shoulders. Questions overflowed from his gaze. "How can you say that?" he demanded. "It's going so well. Why would you do this now?"

Arya blinked back the tears pricking at the corner of her eyes. "I like you, Norren," she admitted. "I appreciate all that you're doing for me. I love the way you make me laugh, how you love almost every tale I did, and how you are able to make me realize there was more to this world than just letter sorting and riding the wirebus every day."

"But we'd only be each other's ruin," Arya said. "Because you're human."

He clenched his jaw as his mind processed what Arya was starting to imply. She pushed on before he could say anything more.

"You're Norren Sterling," Arya said, waving a hand towards him. "You've got a reputation to protect and a political office to uphold. And I..." she placed a hand to her chest, knowing full well how much it hurt in there at this moment. "I'm Arya Salcrest."

She raised her eyes to his, taking note of the galaxies burning in them, savoring the last time she might be able to look at them. "I'm fae," she finished. "Does it make sense now?"

"Frankly, no," Norren said. "Does it matter? You could be anyone and the world won't give a damn. About you. About me. About us."

He had never said something so untrue. He could be so wise but he could also be so blind. "It would, Norren," Arya said. "It would always give a damn because I'm fae. So, save yourself. Don't throw away the life you've been given just for some stupid ideal. I'm not worth it."

She stepped off his embrace and gripped the knob. "Goodbye, Norren."

"Arya, wait—"

He didn't get to finish because Arya had slipped inside and slammed the door shut in his face. Unlike most people eager to go home, Arya stood there. Her chest heaved. Her fists hadn't quite stopped clenching. It's all unfair, sure, but it's for the best.

She blew a breath to regain a sliver of control. It came out shaky. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the door. This shouldn't be how it went. This wasn't how it's supposed to be.

But it was. And there was little she could do to stop it.

Standing like an idiot on the foyer, Arya gritted her teeth. And finally, she let her tears fall.