Page 83 of Keldori By Daybreak

“I’m sorry. I’ll refrain from referring to you.”

“Why can’t you just call me Wren?”

“That level of familiarity is improper between a Grimguard and a Saergrim.”

Of course. He’d crossed the invisible line that was supposed to exist between us, and now had to retreat back into his usual brooding self to reestablish that arbitrary boundary. I had half a mind to throw my rabbit kebab at his back, but thought better than to waste food.

“Sure, don’t use my name, but go ahead and intrude on my bath,” I said coolly.

“That was a mistake.” He whirled around to face me, blush rising in his cheeks. “I should’ve stayed out and kept watch.”

“Oh, yes. Watching me bathe is so much better.”

“That is not what I meant, and you know it!” The blush in his cheeks deepened as did the Skal-light in his eyes.

“And we’ve been over this. You keep saying familiarity is improper between us like you aren’t in my head.”

“I have to be in your head to keep Ferrin out. It’s different.”

“I hear you sleep talk in my thoughts,” I seethed. “You can at least drop the ‘my Lady’ crap and call me by my name.”

“Fine,” he growled. “But no more bathing together.”

“I’ve been told those are very normal to have with friends here.”

He stood so still, I was certain he was holding his breath as he surveyed me. I watched for the tiniest movement, the smallest hint that I hadn’t been imagining things in the bathhouse. That whatever feelings Liam had harbored for me were maybe still steeping somewhere within Ciarán.

I could just ask, of course, but I was afraid of the answer, whichever direction it might fall.

“Bathing with friends is very normal, yes,” Ciarán said through a tight voice and rigid posture.

“Great.” I forced a smile. “Then we’re good.”

“Very good. Eat your rabbit.”

I swiveled back to face the canyon, somehow angrier at him than before, but my anger fed back into itself because why should I be angry? He was Ciarán. I did not want to kiss him in a bath. I did not want to kiss him out of a bath.

Maybe it was our mental link messing with my emotions. Maybe once we got rid of Ferrin, Ciarán wouldn’t have to be in my head anymore, protecting my consciousness.

Until then, unfortunately, Ciarán would remain a mainstay, keeping Ferrin away from my thoughts and—

“Ciarán!” I jumped to my feet, sending my soup splashing down the steps. Ciarán stopped in his retreat to stare at me. “When was the last time Ferrin tried to reach into my head?”

Ciarán’s eyes bore into mine, bright and orange and dark and black all at the same time.

“He’s there right now,” he said softly. “Calling your name, waiting for you to answer. Has been for the last twenty or so minutes.”

My stomach swooped at the news, but I held Ciarán’s gaze. “Let him through to me.”

He inhaled sharply through his nose. “You can’t respond to him if I do.”

“What happens if I respond?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Depends on how powerful he is. He’d likely be able to see into your mind to a degree.”

“Like you could at first.”

“Yes.”