Antal’s entire demeanor changed. Not for the better, Fi was mortified to see. The bloom of his toothy grin had her bracing for battle.
“I see,” Antal said slowly. Practically licking his lips at Fi’s discomfort. “You worry I’m not taking care of her?”
Void no.Fi could use a Void right now to swallow her.
“I want to know you aren’t going toeather,” Boden said.
Fi saw the response coming a mile away. Too slow to stop it.
“Well,” Antal drawled, “not unless she asks me to.”
Fi wondered what he’d look like reincarnated. After she murdered him, of course.
The blow struck Boden to mortified silence. He looked to Fi, and when she managed a tight nod without perishing, he dropped his attention to fidgeting with the crossbow.
“I don’t need to know these details,” he muttered. “My life is stressful enough.”
Antal laughed. Fi shot him a barbed glare.
“You’re insufferable,” she said.
“Thank you,” he returned.
He held her gaze, but when Fi refused to back down—when she stared hard enough to drive a mental crossbow bolt through his crass skull—Antal’s grin wavered.
“Boden,” Antal said, softer.
Boden waved a hand. “I don’t need to know specifics, please. I just want to know—”
“I promise you. I will never harm her, nor willfully allow harm to come to her.” Antal touched the highest point of an antler. “As Veshri watches from the Void.”
That silenced BodenandFi. His sincerity struck as a shock—and, if she was honest, a little flutter in her chest.
“You mean that?” Boden, once again, looked to Fi.
“I’m fine, Bodie.”
“Fine is a strong word, Fi.”
“Stop making this weird.”
“Weird? I’ve hardly ever met a daeyari, much less someone willing to fuck one!”
“She’s doingwhat?” Kashvi’s shrill voice sliced into the fray.
Fi’s newest inquisitor stood with mouth open, crossbow more intimidating in her hands than any of Boden’s attempts. Too busy arguing, Fi hadn’t noticed her creeping closer. She pressed a hand to her temple, ready to combust.
“Maybe we should talk about this later?” Boden offered, finally mollified by her discomfort.
“You think?” Fi snapped.
“Oh no,” Kashvi said, “don’t stop on my account. I’m eager to hear what kind of insanity you’re up to now. With a daeyari? Withthisdaeyari? I knew you were on his side!”
Fi threw up her hands. “Why in the far-reaching Void is my private time so interesting to everyone? There’s nothing to…”
She trailed off.
Antal stood rigid. Not the mortified, soul-withering rigid Fi was enduring, but something taut. Alert. He lifted his head, scenting the air.
