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"You absolutely did."

"I was choosing my words."

"You were making something disappear."

After a moment of silence, he admitted, "It would seem," he said with obvious reluctance, "that maintaining complete invisibility requires... concentration."

"So that's you?"

"...Possibly."

I smiled. "I kind of like it."

"You shouldn't."

"It makes you seem less imaginary."

"I assure you, I have never been accused of being imaginary."

We continued walking. The silence settled comfortably between us. Well... comfortable for him. Azaren seemed like silence was his native language.

"So..." I said. When I couldn't stand it any longer.

"..."

"You've really been with me for a whole year?"

"Yes."

"And I never noticed?"

"No."

I laughed. "That's actually kind of impressive."

"It was not intended as entertainment."

"No, but⁠—"

The thought hit me so suddenly I stopped walking. "Wait." Azaren must have stopped too. "You've been with me for a year."

"..."

"You've seen my house."

"Poppy," his voice was deceivingly gently.

"Yes."

"We've been over this.

We had, but I just remembered something else, "My ugly Christmas sweater with the dancing reindeer."

"I still have nightmares." He admitted dryly.

"Do demons sleep?" I wanted to know next.

"No."