"A blue cheese Sweet Bambi and a Bullseye for… Her Holli-ness?"

Astra cut Eydis a look that meant seriously.

The boy at the till frowned as he repeated the order. When he looked up, his jaw went slack, whether from awe or a crush at first sight it was hard to tell.

Either way, unacceptable.

"It's Holly." Eydis tapped her card to pay.

When he passed over the metal number their fingers brushed. He flinched, sucking a breath as it stung.

"Static. Must be my coat." She shrugged, the black feathered collar teasing her cheeks. "My apologies."

"S-sure. All good, Holly." He nursed his fingers and turned to the next customer.

"Thanks for patiently queueing with me." Astra rested her hand on Eydis's elbow.

"Well, someone with a very unfair smile said Queenstown doesn't count unless you try its finest burger joint."

"And you behaved for half an hour."

Eydis pressed a quick kiss to Astra's cheek. "Unless you don't want me to."

Astra bit her lip in a way that said she very much did.

Eydis lowered her voice. "But waiting with you didn't feel like punishment. Quite the opposite, in fact."

"You are making things hard for me." Astra looked as if she wanted to kiss her. Too many eyes, though.

They scanned the interior for a private spot. The kitchen claimed most of the space, forcing most patrons to eat on their feet outside.

Inside, a long leather bench ran beneath a gallery wall of cluttered frames. Four small tables were bolted to the timber floor, all taken.

Two big men lounged in the far corner, their table buried under burger wrappers and drained coffee cups. Now and then someone tried to claim the seats, only to retreat. The manager glanced over and then carefully looked away, as if by habit.

Bullies, and regulars. How Eydis adored a simple problem.

"Lovely day, gentlemen?"

Astra tugged her elbow. "I'd rather walk and eat."

"And I would rather savour delicate things in private with lovelier company." She leaned close enough to purr it into Astra's ear before turning back. "Would you be so kind as to let us have the seats?"

The nearer one, who had more beard than hair, swept his eyes over her. "Yeah nah, we're usin' it, princess. Plenty of kerb outside, eh."

"Princess?" Eydis repeated, amused. "If you curtsy I might knight you."

The bearded one's eyes narrowed for a moment too long before he grinned. "I'd prefer you did the kneeling."

"Or we could share the seat." The farther one leaned back, a knee edging wide. "One of you on me lap, maybe both if you're friendly. We're lovely company, eh."

The bearded man laughed, loud enough to startle the other patrons. "Not worth startin' a scene, girl."

But he already had, intentionally.

"Go play tourist elsewhere," the other man added.

Eydis arched a brow. Normally her charms took care of moments like this. She had seen the way they had discreetly looked at her and Astra the moment they walked in. So it wasn't that kind of interest.

The sleazy demeanour might just be an act, for they clearly thought before speaking.

Perhaps they aren't simple bullies after all.

She quickly scanned them. Hooded jackets lay across the tan leather bench, light and rainproof, tailored to look ordinary. Their skin was a touch sallow, especially in the way kept to the shade and avoided her eyes as she stood in the doorway's light.

Night work.

She was no expert on accents, but their use of "yeah, nah, eh" sounded forced. No true local played at being one. Tourists? Then why pretend? The boots were wrong for a skier too, well made rather than rental, edges still wet with melt.

Of course, they might just be seasonal ski staff who happened to have expensive taste.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Fascinating.

"Trouble with your hearing, or are you secretly attached to this table?" Eydis set her palm on the wood and leaned closer. The bearded man's brow twitched. "Vacate, or shall I—"

"Yeah nah, princess reckons she's the boss." He scoffed, rose slowly, and towered over Eydis. Even in heels, she still came up short of his shoulder.

"Pretty girls swannin' round on your own, dangerous as," the other man added, gaze sliding from Astra to Eydis. "Be a shame if the wrong sort took an interest. Jog on. Chop chop."

The bearded hulk stepped closer, expecting Eydis to step back. A couple of patrons glanced over, then remembered they had phones to stare at. That was the thing about crowds. They edited themselves.

A sly smile tugged on Eydis's lips when she turned to Astra. "I did ask nicely."

"You did." Astra splayed her fingers. Sound bent around them in a soft ripple. "More than they deserve."

"So you approve?"

"You were waiting for my permission?"

Eydis laced their fingers together. "I am on my best behaviour, since my girlfriend insists."

"Bloody typical," scoffed the bearded man. "Take it outside, d—"

Eydis set one finger on his shoulder and eased him back into the bench effortlessly. His eyes jumped to her hand, startled.

His friend half rose and found Astra's hand on his shoulder, deceptively light.

She did not raise her voice. "Sit."

"You don't know who you're playing with, girl," he snarled, the faux accent slipping. A prickle of charge crawled over his skin as he tried to stand.

This one was Gifted. Definitely not resort staff.

The Saintess added a whisper more pressure. He made a small, pained sound, knuckles whitening on the table.

"Eye contact, please." Eydis lifted the beared man's chin with pressure he could not see until he met her gaze. He blinked against the brightness, veins standing in his neck as he tried and failed to look away. "There. Thank you."

"What the fu—" The rest muffled as air curled tight over his mouth and nose.

"Shh. Have I allowed you to speak just yet? Now, let's pretend you have a choice. Walk out on your feet, or walk out on all fours. Which will it be?"

It was a pity that they chose wisely. They cleared the table and left without looking back. Most patrons remained unaware given Astra's barriers had kept the exchange muted. Years spent evading surveillance had made her careful.

Surveillance? Hmm.

Eydis asked Lust, silently, to tidy the cameras. She slipped what looked like an access card into her long coat and sat, one black leather heel hooking over the other.

From here she could watch the whole room, tourists and locals alike.

A perfect vantage.

"I see it now. Queenstown truly doesn't count unless you try its finest burger," Eydis repeated Astra's earlier statement with a knowing smile. What could this small town possibly be hiding to have operatives scattering here?

She reached across and straightened the fall of Astra's leather sleeve, fingertips lingering at her wrist.

Astra's gaze flicked to the hand, to the coat's pocket, then back to Eydis's eyes. She sat down beside Eydis, mouth curving the tiniest bit, which in Astra-language could mean anything from well done to I am judging you but I will allow it.

"Order for Holly. Seventy-eight," called the burger-joint staffer.

Astra scowled at the name and collected the burgers. "You noticed too."

Eydis took two bottles of water from the tray. "Gifted. What would they do in this peaceful tourist town?"

"You are stirring trouble. They are trained operatives."

"Trouble stirs regardless. Do we pretend not to notice because it is convenient?" Eydis passed her a burger. "Besides, you scanned them before I did. Unusually vigilant today."

Astra did not answer.

Eydis waited a beat, before unwrapping her Sweet Bambi.

That name did not sound right in her head.

"All right. Let us see if the hype is deserved," Eydis said, steam ghosting off the wrapper as she pried it open.

Astra bit first, eyebrows lifting before she let out a quiet, satisfying hum. That sound could have bought kingdoms.

Eydis followed and sampled hers. Juicy venison, blue cheese with bite, sweetness from properly caramelised onions, the bun tender and still warm from the grill. New Zealand meat did seem to hold strong opinions about superiority. Alchymia would pout.

"These are worth behaving for," Eydis reflected.

Astra looked amused. "Behaving?"

"No one is injured. I call it progress."

Astra took another bite. "I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner."

"Attempt that and I shall redefine behaving," Eydis sighed.

After two more bites Astra wove another invisible sound barrier. She leaned in until their shoulders touched. Her voice softened anyway. "I was told Ares visited Queenstown often. The last two months especially."

Eydis set her burger down. "You think they are his men. Is that why you wanted to walk away earlier?"

"I did not want our holiday to be this."

"And yet, in the end, you chose differently."

"I cannot help it."

Eydis's smile gentled. "I can help you. Nudge a termite and the colony remembers its purpose. We clearly haven't seen the last of them."

"You are being reckless again."

"You will protect me, will you not?" Eydis stole Astra's lower lip for a heartbeat, purring, "Your Holiness."

"Then we should find an unnamed glacier and camp there. Popular spots are a mistake." Astra smiled anyway.

"Romantic. Bring extra blankets because I am terrible at behaving when I am cold," Eydis breathed at Astra's ear. "Or bring none at all."

Astra's cheeks pinked. "You're trouble."

"Flattered."

Their talk slid into something easy until a bright voice rang down the queue. "Sweet Bambi. Really? How are we meant to eat something that adorable?"

Adorable was one word for it. But isn't it… Eydis turned.

"Red," came a calmer voice. "Just how they named it. Focus."

"Two Sweet Bambis, please."

"Two? I want something else so we can swap."

"Mel, both are for me." Eydis could picture the familiar grin now.

"The appetite," the calm voice said, resigned and fond.

"Natalia?" Eydis said, surprised.

Natalia stood amongst backpackers and excited tourists, her hair tied in a loose ponytail. She wore an oversized, dark-olive shirt-jacket. More importantly, she looked… genuinely happy.

A smile tugged at Eydis's lips.

Beside her stood none other than Dr Melissa Lebleu, almost the same height, arms folded, blue waves braided deftly and tucked beneath a fringed scarf that draped over a long oatmeal wool coat.

Natalia glanced around until she spotted them. Her crimson eyes went wider. "Eydis? Astra. Hi!"

Melissa squinted. "You are not stalking me again, are you?"

Eydis dabbed her lips with a napkin. The grin escaped anyway. "I assure you, this time it is purely coincidence, Doctor. I even queued like a law-abiding citizen."

Melissa groaned into her scarf. "Only this time?"

Eydis tipped her head towards Astra, voice soft enough for two. "I did say trouble has a way of finding us."

Astra stared at the ceiling. "An unnamed glacier it is." Then she frowned, as if truly entertaining the thought.

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