The night air was cool when they left the diner, the neon glow spilling across cracked pavement. Chloe stumbled on the step, nearly tumoring, and Valerius crouched down in a single, fluid motion.

"Get on," he said

She blinked at him through hazy, drunken eyes. "What?"

"My back. Unless you plan on crawling the rest of the way home."

She giggled, then draped herself over him, arms loosely wound around his shoulders. He rose effortlessly, her small frame weightless against his back.

"I don't ...