Over the next few days, Evren began to feel more like herself. The healer, Brin, was always close by, making sure she was eating enough and not overexerting herself. Eris was just as overbearing when he was home.

Lately, he'd begun leaving the house more. When she asked for an explanation, he only said that he was investigating the Loyalists and the assassin who had attacked them. Evren hadn't seen or heard anything from Celosia since the attack and Eris didn't seem inclined to arrange a meeting between the two of them any time soon, for which she was grateful.

Evren lounged on a sofa in the library with her nose buried in a book. It had been years since she'd read anything. Her skills were definitely lacking, but she was enjoying the book nonetheless.

The library door creaked open. "There you are," Eris said quietly. He entered the room and sat down at a desk. Evren glanced at him, but said nothing. He bent over a piece of paper and began to write.

She went back to reading. When she reached the end of the chapter, she let the book fall against her chest. Evren twisted her head and studied Eris. His brows were furrowed in concentration and a dark look filled his amber eyes. Wisps of red hair fell over his hand as he rested his forehead in it.

"What are you writing?" She asked.

"A letter to my mother," Eris replied without looking up. "I told her when you were poisoned and she's asking how you're doing."

"You told your mother about me?"

Eris lifted his head. "I tell her everything." He grinned. "She thinks you're a good influence on me." He went back to writing and Evren lifted her book once more. "I have to leave again this afternoon. There was another Loyalist attack last night and I want to see the damage for myself."

"Do you have a target for me?"

"I'm not giving you a target until Brin says you can work again." Evren sighed but didn't press the matter. "Seren is coming to see you."

"Seren from the Night Court?"

Eris nodded. "She asked if she could."

"All right." Evren put her book down and tucked an arm beneath her head. She closed her eyes. The only sounds in the library were that of Eris' pencil and the crackling flames on the hearth.

"Evren," Eris said, just as she was drifting off to sleep.

"Hm?"

"What would you say if I sent someone after Cadoc?"

She opened her eyes and found him watching her. "To kill him or capture him?"

"Possibly both."

"I would ask why."

"To question him about the assassin who attacked us at Celosia's."

"And?"

"And to punish him for what he did to you." Eris' voice had a hard edge.

"Question him if you like, but let him live. Despite everything...I still owe him my life."

Eris shook his head. "If I ever see him, I don't care what small acts of kindness he's shown you. I'll rip his throat out with my bare hand."

Evren slid off the couch and joined him. She took his hand and spread his fingers against her own once more. "I see," she said. "That would be a shame."

"Why?" Eris narrowed his eyes.

"Because your hand would be covered in his blood."

He raised an eyebrow. "What would you prefer to see my hand covered in?"

Evren's face flushed as he flashed her a sly smirk. She hurriedly reached for a response. "Ink," she said. Eris' eyes widened as she pulled his hand down and dipped his fingers into an inkwell that sat on the desk.

She jumped out of reach as he lifted his hand. Ink ran down his fingers. Eris wiggled them and spots of ink flecked his face. Evren laughed, running behind the sofa. A smile spread across Eris' lips.

He lunged at the sofa. Evren yelped and ducked down. She shimmied around the side of it, only for Eris to jump in the way. She shrieked and doubled back. He rolled over the back of the sofa, landing on top of her. Evren laughed again as he smeared ink across her face.

"You earned that," he said with a snort of amusement.

She was still laughing. The corners of her lips tilted up. Not quite a true smile, but it was closer to one than she'd gotten in a long time. If she kept laughing, she thought she might actually smile as well. With his clean hand, Eris smoothed curls out of her face. Her breath caught. He leaned closer.

Eris blinked and pushed himself off her suddenly. "I'm sorry. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Evren picked herself up. "You didn't scare me."

Relief flooded his features, and then joy. "You were laughing."

"I was," Evren replied. "I was laughing." She took his hand and pressed his fingers to his cheek. She giggled as she painted a smiley face with the ink.

"Your laugh..." he murmured.

"What about it?"

"I love it." He smiled and stepped away. "I want to hear it more often. I want to see you smile too."

"I'll work on it," Evren promised.

"I should go. Seren will be here soon." He gazed at her a moment longer, then breezed out the door.

Evren lingered in the library until she heard doors close in the distance, then headed to her room. A few of the servants gave her odd looks as they spied the ink on her face, but she didn't mind. She had laughed. She had laughed!

And...Eris loved her laugh. The thought sent unfamiliar emotions fluttering through her stomach. He loved her laugh. He wanted to see her smile. She lifted a hand to her lips. It had been so long since she'd smiled.

But then again, she hadn't had a reason to smile in a long time. She hadn't had a reason to laugh either. Now...now it seemed like she did. She was somewhere safe. There was no Cadoc around to mistreat her. She was working to avenge her parents.

She was working to protect innocents, even if they were Fae. She didn't even care if they were Fae anymore. She certainly didn't see a High Fae male when she looked at Eris. She just saw him, and he saw her.

She reached her room and entered the bathroom. Evren spied her reflection and laughed again. She wet her hands and began to scrub the ink from her face. She was breathing heavily, partially from climbing the stairs at a quick pace. She was still a little weak from the poison, despite rapidly regaining her strength.

There was a knock at the door. "Seren Marzena is here to see you," a servant called.

"Let her in," Evren replied. Minutes later, the door opened and she heard soft footsteps. "I'm in the bathroom."

Seren appeared in the doorway. "What happened to you?"

"Eris and I had an ink fight."

Seren chuckled. "That seems to be an increasingly popular activity." Evren didn't question her meaning. She doused her face in water and scrubbed until the last of the ink was gone from her cheeks. "How are you feeling?" Seren asked. "Eris told Lucien what happened and he passed the word on to the rest of us."

"I'm feeling much better, but I still get tired and winded easily."

Seren gave her a gentle smile. "I'm glad you're doing better. Eris was worried."

"I know." Evren tied her hair back in a ponytail.

"Mor wanted me to ask if you've worn your gown yet."

"I haven't worn it anywhere other than my room a few times."

Seren shook her head. "She'll be disappointed."

"I promise I'll wear it when I have the chance."

"Good. I'll tell her that."

They left the room and headed back downstairs. "How is Estelle?" Evren asked.

"Growing bigger everyday."

They reached one of the larger sitting rooms on the main floor of the house. A servant came in shortly, bearing a tray of tea. They each took a cup and simply sat there, talking and drinking.

Evren enjoyed it. She'd never done such things with Celosia. This was just relaxing and friendly chatter. "Have you worn your Illyrian leathers yet?" Seren asked presently.

"I wore them on several of my assignments. You're right. They do come in handy."

Seren smiled mischievously. "And did anyone else like them as much as you?"

"I wouldn't know." Evren turned her face away so Seren couldn't see the blush in her cheeks.

"Oh, I'm sure plenty of people enjoyed them," Celosia's voice came from the doorway. Evren and Seren whipped their heads around as she approached. "I'm sure they helped you play your role as a whore wonderfully too."

Seren narrowed her eyes. "What makes you say that?"

Celosia gave her a cool smile. "The fact that the Night Court is full of them, of course. Every piece of clothing they make is designed with that in mind."

Seren leaped to her feet. "How dare you."

"Did you need something, Celosia?" Evren asked, stepping in between the two of them.

"I came to see Eris."

"He isn't here."

"Then I'll wait until he is." Celosia sniffed the air indignantly. "But in another room. This one reeks of sluts."

Evren's mouth fell open. Seren started towards Celosia, flames flickering to life at her fingertips. Evren grabbed her companion by the shoulder and shook her head.

"Let me handle it," she said quietly. Seren exhaled slowly and stepped back. Evren left the sitting room and followed Celosia down the hallway. "What the hell was that? You had no right to talk to her that way."

"I'll talk to her however I want," Celosia said. "She's the mate of a bastard and a member of the Night Court."

"What do you have against the Night Court? I found them to be perfectly friendly," Evren snapped. "Seren is my...friend. I won't stand there and listen to you talk to her like that."

"Then go somewhere else," Celosia hissed. "I'll say what I like to her."

"No, you won't."

Celosia raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me what to do?"

Evren lifted her chin and crossed her arms. "I am." She let a cold mask slide over her features. "I suggest you listen. You know what I'm capable of, after all."

Celosia only looked slightly unnerved. "So does Eris. We'll see which of us he chooses to side with. I doubt it will be a little Human bitch."

"Get the hell out of my house," a dark voice growled.

Celosia looked over her shoulder. Eris stood in the doorway, nothing but raw anger written on his face. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me." He crossed the room and planted himself between her and Evren. "Get out."

"But I..."

"Get out!" He ordered, pointing to the door. "I won't ask again."

Celosia gritted her teeth and stormed out the door. Evren rested a hand on Eris' shoulder. He looked back at her and his features softened. "Seren is waiting," Evren said, drawing her hand away. He nodded and followed her back to the sitting room.