Page 72 of Insidious Monsters
“No.”
I was on a roll. “No cult on the tail of your charge’s best friend.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Nope.”
“And you didn’t have to live with three nutty investigators who have a penchant for getting into scrapes.”
The smile bloomed. “True.”
I slapped his knee. “So give yourself a break, dude. You’ve got this.”
“I have?” He shot me a glance filled with warmth.
“Yes. You’re not a robot, Quentin. You’re allowed to feel stuff.”
He was silent for several beats. “Thank you, August. You’re a genuinely kind-hearted person.”
I looked across at him in surprise. “Once again, you say that as if you’ve never met one of those before.”
“You’d be surprised, August. You’d be surprised.”
* * *
Telarion surfacedwhen I was halfway to the forest, filling my mind with awareness of his consciousness.
“Hello, sleepyhead.” I slowed my pace slightly to give us a moment to chat before I hit the forest shade.
What did I miss?
“Nothing much this morning but there are a couple of things we need to talk about.”
Go on.
“Lothos called last night. Barathos has invited us to a Failte.”
That word…it sounds familiar.
“It’s like a welcome thing for a nova prima. I have to go with Lothos.”
I will be there.
I winced. “You can’t. You’re not invited.”
I don’t require an invitation.
Oh, so he could be all up in my face when he felt like it, then vanish when the mood gripped him, but I wasn’t allowed to take some time out?
“I don’t want you there.” There was a snap to my tone I hadn’t intended. I blew out a breath. “I can handle it. Besides, didn’t we agree to give each other space?”
We agreed not to kiss again.
“Tomato tomahto.”
What are you talking about?
“Hush, I have to think now.”
Now that would be a first.
