throwing his name around in a minute?
The clerk pulled up the file. “It says this human was detained by two guards in the central market after complaints of destroying property and disturbing the peace. She claimed to be chasing after a thief but no evidence of one has turned up.”
“Hey—” Luci started to make a noise but was cut off by a glare from the clerk.
“There have been complaints over the last few weeks of other thefts,” the clerk added. “Which will be taken into account.”
“This sounds like a misunderstanding to me. Has her paperwork been processed?” The Patrol and Public Safety department loved writing and filing reports and everything got more complicated once the higher-ups got involved. He had no doubt that Emily was ready to use her Earth skills to argue for Lena’s freedom, but right now he could hopefully use his knowledge of the system before anything got more complicated.
“It’s in the queue,” said the clerk with a dismissive shrug. “It’s been a busy day.”
Solan reached into his pocket, pulled out his identification card, and slid it across the desk. “If that’s the case, have her released into my custody and I’ll ensure that she’s educated about proper public conduct.”
He could feel Emily brimming with energy beside him and was positive she wanted to say something. No doubt he wouldn’t hear the end of it once this was done, but she’d thank him later.
Or not.
It didn’t particularly matter. He liked helping his friends, and Emily’s relationship to Oz made her his friend.
The clerk scanned his identification into the system and made a noise of surprise when his information showed up. “Are you related to the Honorable Lureyne Zadra?” she asked. Her voice had been neutral until now, but he recognized the tinge of awe creeping in.
“I am,” he confirmed. If this got back to his mother, she’d have an hour-long lecture for him about the abuse of his name.
“Give me a moment,” said the clerk. There was a flurry of movement as she typed something into her system and then sprang up and back towards the holding cells.
“What’s that all about?” Emily asked. She clearly wasn’t impressed by his family name, but she had no reason to be. And Solan didn’t want to have this conversation. He liked the way his friend’s Match acted around him and he didn’t want things to change.
“I hoped I could help,” was his answer.
And it looked like he had.
The clerk came back through the door with Lena walking behind her. And Solan looked his fill. Her skin had gotten even more golden under the near constant sunlight they received during this part of the year, and she looked much healthier than she had when they’d parted ways a month ago. He hadn’t realized what a difference that would make, but his body was paying attention now. He’d known she was attractive before, but now he wanted to get a closer look.
Their eyes locked and Lena glared. The clerk was talking to her, but they were far enough away and the room was loud enough that Solan couldn’t make out what she was saying. Was it about him?
That was conceited. But from the sheer malice in Lena’s gaze, it was hard to believe anything else.
Then the clerk was standing right in front of them and Lena was free. “Thank his lordship for his kindness,” the clerk said.
“I’m not a lord,” Solan was quick to point out. That was a level of trouble he’d hopefully never have to deal with. He was related to lords, but more than a dozen people would need to die for him to become eligible. “And there’s no need to thank me,” he added. But that only made Lena’s expression even darker.
“Thank you,” she said woodenly. “Your kindness is appreciated.” Then she turned to Emily and Luci. “Let’s get out of here.”
And the three of them were off without another word. The clerk looked ready to start up a conversation, and that was the last thing Solan wanted. He bade her farewell and made his way back to his original destination.
Maybe peacefully standing in a line for half an hour wouldn’t be so bad.
CHAPTER THREE
LENA KNEW SHE WAS TERRIBLE company on the way back to Human House. And she scowled at the name. It had started as a bit of a joke, a fun way to refer to the place they’d been given to live. Somehow over the course of the last month it had stuck.
The place had