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Sulien listened without interrupting. When Blaidd finally fell silent, Sulien exhaled slowly. "You did exactly what you always do," he said at last. "You offered her what you think you denied her. And then what? You expected her to be grateful enough to come back with you?"

Blaidd frowned.

"That woman," Sulien went on, "has had eight years of neglect to harden her heart." He glanced at Blaidd sideways. "I have watched you both. And while you are my brother, there were times I genuinely wondered if you were right in the head."

Blaidd grumbled something under his breath, but Sulien didn't mince his words.

"It was like watching a lesson in how to drive your lifemate away," he said dryly.

Blaidd scowled, then rubbed a hand down his face. "Help me," he muttered. Sulien's mouth twitched, amused despite himself.

"I have managed to get permission to enter the village," he said. "Though the elders are not pleased."

Blaidd looked up with a question on his face.

"Fae is well loved," Sulien explained. "The village seems to have adopted her. Her teacher considers her his daughter. So you have an uphill battle ahead."

Blaidd grimaced.

"And this one," Sulien continued thoughtfully, "Kenji. He means something to her. There is something there."

Blaidd felt his claws unsheathe, even as he fought for control.

"It is not going to be easy," Sulien mused.

He studied Blaidd for a moment, then asked, "What did she say when you apologised?"

Blaidd blinked owlishly at him.

Sulien's brows rose.

"You did apologise," he said slowly. "Didn't you?"

Blaidd hesitated.

"She knows I'm sorry," he said at last.

Sulien took one look at him and sighed, weariness settling into his bones.

"So," he said quietly. "You went through all that...and you didn't say you were sorry?"

Blaidd grumbled. "She knows I'm sorry."

Sulien closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his expression had shifted into something like patience. "Yes," he said slowly. "You know that. And I know that." He stepped closer, voice dropping into the tone one used with an especially stubborn child. "But does she know it?"

Blaidd bristled defensively. "I never wanted to—"

Sulien lifted a hand. "Yes. I know that."

He exhaled.

"But did you use the words, Blaidd?" he asked. "Did you actually say I am sorry? Or did you expect her to guess?"

Blaidd said nothing. Sulien's mouth twitched.

"Women," he said dryly, "need words. They cannot read meaning out of your grunts and mumbles, no matter how convincing you think you have been."

Blaidd muttered something under his breath, but Sulien ignored it.