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“I watched you stare down a moose yesterday,” he says, like this proves something.

“I did not stare down the moose,” I correct him. “The moose and I had no conflict.”

“Right.” Baryn nods solemnly. “You had a mutual understanding.”

“Exactly.” I study him for a moment. “Are you just jealous that I bit another man?”

His eyebrows lift. “A little, yeah.”

“That's disturbingly possessive.”

“I'm comfortable with it.”

“You understand I can bite you whenever you'd like.”

His expression changes immediately. “I am suddenly significantly less concerned about your recovery.”

I give him an unimpressed look.

“See?” Baryn gestures toward my face. “You're practically back to normal.”

His mouth twitches, but the humor doesn't quite make it into his eyes. It hasn't since yesterday. Every so often I catch him looking at the bandages around my wrists or the bruising beginning to darken along my arms, his jaw tightening before he notices I'm watching.

I step closer and kiss him.

Baryn makes a quiet sound of surprise before his hand settles against my waist, careful even there. I let the kiss linger for a few seconds before pulling away.

“I'm okay,” I tell him. “Really.”

“I know,” he doesn't sound convinced, but his jaw has unclenched.

Faun wiggles in Baryn's arms until he manages to wedge his face between ours, demanding his share of whatever attention is currently being distributed.

I glance down at him. “See? Atrocious.”

A knock comes at the door a little after three, and Baryn is on his feet before I can even consider getting up.

Marj stands on the other side with Mara and Evan behind her. “Visitors,” she announces, making absolutely no effort to lower her voice despite the headache I have repeatedly mentioned. She steps into the room ahead of them and looks me over. “You look better.”

“Thanks, Marj.”

“You're welcome.” She closes the door behind Evan and makes herself comfortable in the chair Baryn vacated. Apparently delivering visitors does not include leaving afterward.

Mara hesitates just inside the room. She looks like she hasn't slept much more than I have, and there are several things I know now that I didn't the last time I saw her.

Her eyes meet mine.

I decide immediately that none of those things need to be discussed today.

“How are you?” Mara asks.

“Concussed.”

Evan drops into the other chair.

“What happened after I left?” I ask the two of them.

“Quite a lot, actually,” Some of the exhaustion leaves her face as she shifts into detective rather than friend. “Cebastian is in custody. The hospital cleared him this morning, unfortunately.”