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OH GOD. He was already asking questions. That was so great for her. She could feel his eyes, though her gaze flickered down to her paws and stayed there, watching the steam wisp around them. Her stomach churned, her skin prickled like thousands of biting ants under her fur and it was a Herculean effort to keep her expression under control as he watched her.

Fine, she murmured softly, hoping her voice didn't waver, that he couldn't hear the lie, that he wouldn't see all truths hidden behind it. It was easier with the other one, she quickly realized. Cupid, like the cherub. He couldn't see the way her expressions rippled or how she averted her gaze to protect herself. He was soft and grieving and more liable to miss the things she didn't want him to see.

Her tail swished once, back and forth, at her heels, in what she hoped was levity. It moved on its own, usually. She still wasn't used to controlling it. Had she done it weird? Could he tell? She screamed internally and quirked the corner of her mouth in a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

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