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When he was done, he turned toward Lakelyn, his expression carefully neutral.

“I’d like to spend a few minutes upstairs alone if you don’t mind. Sometimes it helps to pray through the rooms privately without conversation or distraction.”

Willow looked mildly offended, her hand going to her chest. “I haven’t distracted you that much.”

“Yes, you have,” Lakelyn answered for him, her tone flat.

Marcellus gave her a grateful smile, the kind that said thank you for understanding. “It shouldn’t take long.”

“We’ll wait down here.”

Perfect.

I followed him toward the stairs, watching the way his shoulders tensed with every step. He knew we were about to have a conversation he probably didn’t want to have.

The second we reached the upstairs landing and Lakelyn and Willow were safely out of earshot, Marcellus turned on me fast, like he’d been holding it in the whole time and finally had permission to let it out.

“Caspian.”

His voice was low, urgent, stripped of all that priestly calm.

“There you go. Thought you forgot my name.”

“How could I?”

“You been acting like it.”

“I have two women downstairs who cannot see you.”

I leaned against the wall. “Sounds personal.”

His nostrils flared.

I could see him fighting to keep his composure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

I grinned wider. “So… you’re really a priest now?”

“I am.”

“Damn.”

“What?”

“Nothing. God got a sense of humor.”

He stared at me, and for a second, I thought he might actually cuss me out. The old Marcellus was right there under the surface, the one who used to get loud when he was frustrated, who used to talk shit right back… but he held it together.

Barely.

I walked past him into the hallway, my footsteps silent on the carpet. “Come on. You supposed to be blessing something.”

He followed, muttering under his breath, his voice tight with frustration. “There is clearly a powerful presence attached to this house.”

“Don’t call me a presence like you don’t know me.”

“That is what you are!” His voice rose slightly, echoing in the empty hallway.

“I’m Caspian.”