“What was that?” Liam asked.
“Uh—”
While I was stuck debating how to answer the question of why there was a giant dog in his back seat, Liam slowed the vehicle to a stop. Putting it into park, he twisted to look behind him. His gaze landed unerringly on the realm guardian.
Alches woofed in greeting.
“There’s a few things I’ve been meaning to tell you,” I started as the two stared at each other.
Liam’s expression was contemplative as he tapped one finger on his steering wheel. “Oh?”
I squirmed, feeling the judgment in that one word. He had a right to be angry. I should have told him about Alches when Grandfather informed me the realm’s guardian had adopted me as its new master.
In my defense, Alches wasn’t exactly an easy topic to bring up. What was I supposed to say? Hey, lover, meet this really cool dog of mine. Oh, you can’t see him? That’s because only I can.
That wouldn’t make me sound crazy or anything.
Liam’s bow to Alches was surprisingly regal given his seated position. “It is an honor to meet you again, my lord.”
My gaze ping-ponged between the two of them. “You’ve met before?”
“You would know this if you hadn’t decided to be furtive.”
“When?” I looked at the two in confusion.
How?
Liam faced forward, pressing the button for drive. “While you were still asleep after Noctessa.”
My eyes bugged out. “And you didn’t tell me?”
The sidelong look Liam gave me was pointed. “The same way you told me about your new friend?”
I closed my mouth. Fair point.
Liam steered us back onto the road. “To have a realm’s guardian as your protector—it’s quite a feat. There aren’t many who don’t know and fear Lord Alches.”
That was a little hard to picture when the “fearsome” Lord Alches was currently using his tentacles to scratch his ears. At my glance, he retracted his tentacles to gaze at me with an alert expression.
Try as I might, all I saw was a goofy shadow hound. Not a being that struck fear into the hearts of Fae.
“For being my protector, he sure doesn’t do a lot of protecting,” I grumbled.
“Of course not. I doubt he’ll intervene unless it’s a situation you can’t handle. How else will you grow?”
“You seem to know a lot about him.”
Liam’s smile was small. “We had a good chat after I woke up and came to an understanding that was mutually beneficial.”
“Wait—he talks to you?” I glared at the shadow hound. “You never talk to me.”
I’d assumed he didn’t use words to communicate.
Knowing I wasn’t getting an answer, I faced front again. “So, this whole time, you knew?”
Alches put his head on the console and let out a demanding huff. Absentmindedly, I petted his head. His eyes slid closed in pleasure.
Liam’s gaze was warm as he looked over at me. “Would you have preferred I be clueless?”
