Jax watched them withdraw, their movements graceful, controlled, practiced. None lingered long enough to appear desperate. None left without making sure they were seen leaving politely. It was a retreat designed to preserve dignity, and options.
All of them seemed to be scheming to meet him somehow in the future. When they were gone, the avenue felt quieter than before, as if Nightengale itself had leaned in during the exchange and was now pretending it hadn't listened.
Jax exhaled slowly.
"Yep," he muttered to himself. "This is already messier than a battlefield."
He didn't linger. The longer he stayed visible and unescorted in districts like this, the more interest he would attract, and next time, the approach might be less polite and more aggressive.
While he doubted anyone would do that, knowing how powerful he was, there would always be a couple crazy people, and he didn't want anything insane happening.
