Dei left the shop with Cael and headed home. One more day of work, and then a couple of days off to take care of the latest trouble that had come knocking, possibly. Tonight would tell.
She picked up some Panderan food on the way and followed the familiar path to her too-big house in Elwynn. If she’d had a choice, she wouldn’t be living here, but as a Keeper, she didn’t have one. This was Brendan’s home, and everything she needed was here.
As she approached the door, she sidestepped and traced a pattern over a stone nestled in the flowers. Runes flashed too quickly for normal eyes to catch, and the wards on her home opened for her. She walked to the door and, without looking back, murmured, “You following me in?”
No voice replied, but she could sense him. She slipped inside without leaving the door open long; a moment later, she felt him pass through behind her. Once they were both in, she reset the wards.
“I got your favorite,” she said, not bothering to look as Pathyn slipped out of stealth.
“You know it is fucking unnerving that you can tell I’m there every time. Kyean can see me, but you just know.”
Dei smiled. “Of course I know. I know everything that happens around my house, plus I was expecting you after all.”
Path knew this perfectly well, complaining was just part of his process. “Good thing you brought food. I’m starving,” the Kaldorei said, following her to the kitchen. “Do you still have that sake?”
She smiled up at the dark-clad elf, mottled leathers and all. “Of course. Sake isn’t for heavy drinking.”
He slid up beside her, snatched the bag from her hands, and started grabbing dishes. “You know it’s weird you don’t eat out of the containers, right?”
“So you say every time we have takeout. And yet in eighteen months, nothing has changed.” She laughed softly, proper was proper, after all.
Leaving him to plate the food, she went upstairs to change into leggings and a big t-shirt. Her at-home attire had grown much less formal since the guards started staying over; after a few weeks, she’d stopped caring what they saw her in.
Once they settled in, she took a few bites, then looked at him. “Well?”
“Let a man eat, gorgeous,” he said, flashing her a sexy smile. When she gestured impatiently, he sighed. “They’re cultists, but not like the ones before. Not much leadership. It’s more like they’re trying to figure out why the last group was here, rather than focusing on you with intent.”
Dei dipped a dumpling into sweet soy glaze and ate it thoughtfully. “Do we need to act?”
Pathyn met her gaze. “Not right away. I’d say give them time and see if they don’t wander off like the last group. They know you argued with Kye, though, so they’re watching you in the city.”
“I guess we let them watch for now,” she said, waving her chopsticks. “No one’s come into the shop, and they haven’t gotten anywhere near the house. What’s Kyean planning for the holiday? The two of you meeting up with your other cousins?”
Pathyn gave her a sly smile. “Does his pet warlock miss him?”
She threw a chopstick at him and opened another pair. “It’s you I should’ve set my sights on. The fel damned Illidari sets off every demonic alarm in my head.”
“Nah, I’m too ugly for you.” They both knew he wasn’t. “And no, I might head off-world, spend some time in the stars. Haven’t done that yet.” He paused, assessing her. “He’s going to try to reach out, you know. It’s been over a year, and she sounded like she might talk to him the last time I asked.”
“How can he still want to pad after her like a dog?”
He clicked his tongue. “She’s a pretty amazing woman, and he thinks he fell in love the night they met.
Dei sighed. “She doesn’t deserve him. I don’t care how amazing she is, if she’s not interested, then she’s not that smart.”
“Your old crush is showing,” he smirked.
“He’s a good guy. My crush doesn’t matter. He deserves someone who actually cares.” She sipped her sake, her magpie-hued ponytail swaying. “If she hurts him again, I’ll throw my sneezing-powder charm at her while she’s on stage.”
Pathyn laughed. “Please don’t. She’s my friend.”
“And he’s your cousin.”
He ate a few bites, then watched her. “She is good people. You should meet her. She’s not always with that sexy performer friend of hers, so you wouldn’t have to return his shirt out of your hope chest.
“I never should’ve told you that. No more tequila with you,” she said with a chuckle. “Maybe I should meet her. I could tell her not to be stupid.”
Path shook his head. “She has valid reasons for not returning his undying love at first sight, so to speak.” Kyean being a demon hunter made “love at first sight” more of a joke.
“She’s stupid.”
“No, she’s smart. He’s still a little obsessed, so it wasn’t all the black blood talking. Though the way that set his demon raging… that was scary.”
Dei nodded. She’d helped him regain control when even his mother couldn’t, that was what warlocks could be good for. “Well, I hope she listens.”
Pathyn sighed. “Me too. She could stand to forgive him. They both need it.”
(Mentions of @nahisummerhold and a small one of @dicenne she will never give up that shirt)