If Bellamy Hirsch was sure of one thing, it was that he was absolutely not staying at the Valkyrie Academy of Defense and Reformation after his internship ended.

Nonetheless, he smiled warmly as the folks seated in the circle of chairs finished up stating their goals and hopes for the coming week. It wasn’t his clients’ fault that the place they sought refuge was more soulless than it seemed.

Many of his classmates were drinking up the rhetoric of their placement sites with enthusiasm. Graduation was only three months off, but Bellamy was… nonplussed by how things were done at an organization with the resources and influence that VADR had. The problem with this realization was how much more uncertain his future looked now.

The silence in the circle caught his attention quickly. He probably had some distant idea of what each person had just shared, but for now, he settled for a dazzling grin, nodded once, and said, “Sounds great, everyone. I have confidence that all of you will show yourselves compassion this week whether you’re meeting your goals or just surviving.” He saw a few heads bob in time with the cadence of his words; several members of his support group had been with him for months, and recognized his closing line. The familiarity warmed his chest, making him add, “Can I just say—I know I’m just an intern, but I really value all of you trusting me with your struggles, and privileging me by including me in your healing.”

One of the younger group members rolled her eyes. “Such a cheeseball,” she muttered, but her glare was affectionate as she stood up. A few shyer clients slipped wordlessly out of the room. The heavy oak floorboards creaked under their feet, but Bellamy made sure he didn’t draw attention to those that left swiftly.

For a lot of folks, attending his group was a courageous first step. Since Bellamy had started his internship, time and time again folks sat down in this little room and confessed that they’d never shared what they’d been through until now. He wasn’t just posturing when he said that their stories honored him. It was the best part of this shitty internship, for sure.

Bellamy noticed one of the first-timers lingering uneasily, stealing surreptitious glances in his direction while the others around them filled foam cups with coffee from the carafes or exchanged pleasantries.

With an easy gait and his hands absently smoothing his sweater over his collar and tie, he approached with a reassuring, “Well, Franklin, you got through your first group. Nice job.”

Franklin grumbled something noncommittal, twisting a loc resting on their temple. “I dunno. Still kinda feels like those guys in Tenebrose are gonna jump me the second I leave this place, like they’ll know I got out and squealed.”

Bellamy nodded knowingly. Folks that got roped into dealings with the underground city of Tenebrose struggled to simply decide they were returning to Eldwick. Bellamy knew Tenebrose couldn’t be all bad, but the reputation it had among folks in Eldwick made stories like Franklin’s all the worse, feeding that fiery judgment of Tenebrose’s sun-averse residents. While it was true that the city was primarily composed of vampires, trolls, goblins, and other supernaturals not eager to interact with Eldwick’s large human population, that didn’t mean everyone was gonna end up in danger in Tenebrose like Franklin.

Franklin’s situation was fairly different from why most folks came to VADR for support. Many of the supernaturals who attended Bellamy’s groups were facing unique issues based on their species, or seeking support from other disenfranchised or world-weary folks.

“I know just what you need,” Bellamy told Franklin, nudging their elbows lightly together. “Can I show you to the Referrals department? Those val gals can help you decide what services will help ease your mind as you get back to your life.”

Franklin snorted. “Did you really just say ‘val gals’?”

“Don’t worry,” said Bellamy, “my bestie’s in there.” He pushed open the group room door. The short heels of his leather boots clicked over the tiles in the arched hallway beyond, and he nodded toward the left when Franklin gave him a questioning look. “Just at the end of this hall here, okay? You’ll be in and out of there in like, twenty minutes. Edie’s quick as fuck.”

The dark lines of Franklin’s eyebrows shot up. They whispered, “You can swear as a therapist?”

With turquoise eyes glittering like sunlight on tropical seas, Bellamy’s reply was conspiratorial, behind his hand. “If you’re a cool one.”

They were snickering together as they passed through the doorway into the Referrals department. A few visitors were waiting in the seats along the wall closest to them. A small chandelier illuminated the reception desk, which was currently empty. This didn’t bother Bellamy, who eased around it and headed for the second open door on the left. He poked his head in, getting a whiff of patchouli and vanilla from the diffuser on the window sill behind the referral agent.

Edie was a sweet half-vampire with a split dye of black and forest-green hair arranged neatly around her shoulders, with the black half of her hair on the side of her face that had a fanged canine. She showed off the one sharp tooth when she looked up and beamed at Bellamy’s arrival. “Hey, friend. Who do you have here? Come on in. Want a sucker?” She motioned Franklin toward the small corporate armchair across from the clutter of her desk.

“Uh,” Franklin managed, glancing anxiously at Bellamy.

“VADR employs all species,” Bellamy assured them with a soothing quality to his gentle voice, “as long as our values align. Edie’s here to help. If you want, I can stay and chat with you guys for a few minutes.”

Edie’s expression didn’t falter. She pushed her silver circular spectacles farther up her small nose, and didn’t seem to mind when they bumped into the silver jewelry of her erl piercing. “I made Mr. Hirsch my work wife basically the day he started. Isn’t he sweet?”

Franklin gave her a small shrug. Next to him, Bellamy mimed a dramatic hair-flip of his fluffy, pearl-toned hair which was significantly too short for said hair-flip. This forced Franklin to crack a smile and stifle a snort of amusement.

Edie continued, “I’ve been involved with the valkyries since I was twelve. My dad, a vampire, has always caused problems with VADR because of his journalism. He doesn’t shy away from creating bad press.” She smiled slightly, and Franklin’s shoulders relaxed. Only because he was familiar with her could Bellamy spot the sadness that tainted her moss-green eyes.

Franklin slumped into the seat she indicated, their fingers drumming on the armrests. When she held out a bowl of suckers, though, they shyly took one out of it.

Edie jumped right into delivering her well-rehearsed introduction to VADR resourcing for impacted individuals. Franklin had free access to an escort including transportation, the VADR emergency response team, ongoing support groups obviously, and a VADR home security beacon that would immediately summon their assigned valkyrie when pressed.

As their posture continued to loosen, and soon they were chuckling softly at Edie’s lame jokes, Bellamy squeezed their shoulder. Bellamy was a vision of pastel and softness with his fluffy hair in shifting tones of silver and blush, nonthreatening as he backed up to the door.

And directly into a muscular chest that thunked like gold.