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“If you don’t mind, could you show me a place that I can use to go to the toilet and bathe?” she muttered quietly, her cheeks flaring once more as she looked away. Linh rubbed at her arm. “I’m sure you don’t want me to do that just anywhere, and I’dprefer privacy. I also... um, I don’t feel comfortable peeing near the water, since you obviously swim and breathe in it.”

He lifted his gaze to the moss-covered rock ceiling of his cave.I forgot other creatures have these urges.Where could she do these things in his home?

I do have a hidden area which contains a sprinkle of water that washes out to the ocean.It was dark, though, and he doubted she’d be able to see the way. It could also be dangerous if she went there without him to guard her.

Nathair had no ward in place, and there was a large beach entering into this cave system.

So long as she only does these things throughout the day, it should be fine.With a sigh, Nathair unfurled himself and slunk to the side, hoping she’d follow.I will have to scout each morning to make sure no Demons have snuck inside and tucked themselves away.

He didn’t know how to explain this to her.

With a gasp, Linh jerked awake when something lifted her foot. She sat up, her jacket – which she’d been using as a blanket – falling to her legs as she backed away from the Duskwalker.

Pinstripes of sunlight peeked through the cracks of the ceiling, highlighting that it was daytime. The fire was low, but not gone, as if Nathair had thrown more wood onto it at some point.

The smell of brine, fresh and salty, wafted from him.He smells like sea air.Her gaze drifted to the two fish dangling in his right hand as he gently swayed them above her.

“Did you go fishing for me?” she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before double-checking that he’d truly brought her food.

Lowering himself, he dangled the fish closer as if he wanted her to take them. She lifted her hands out and grabbed each one by its tail fin.

“Thank you,” she stated, offering him a smile. “Good morning, by the way.”

Although he couldn’t respond, she preferred talking to him as though he could. And, considering his orbs shifted to thatbrighter yellow he’d shown her meant joy, she had a funny feeling he appreciated it.

Still discombobulated from waking, Linh held up the meal he’d provided, wondering what she was supposed to do now. She’d gutted fish before, but...

“I have a dagger, but I don’t think I trust using it on food I’ll be eating.” Considering it belonged to Bragg, it likely had human or Demon blood on it, and there was no way in hell she’d be willing to use it to cut food she was about to ingest. “Do you happen to have something sharp I can use? A blade perhaps?”

Turning swiftly, Nathair slithered towards an area she thought was a large, lumpy boulder. Using his hands to walk, as if he’d moved so fast his torso had dipped to the ground, he disappeared into shadow.

Chinking, clattering, and chiming rang out as he dug through unknown artefacts. When he returned, he held some kind of steak knife. She blinked at it, surprised there were barely any rust spots on it. It even reflected some of the pinstripes of sunlight spotting around them.

Just as she went to place a fish on the ground so she could take the blade, Nathair let loose a curt growl. He pointed at the fish and shook his head. Honestly, the fish were heavy, and her arms were starting to hurt from holding them up. She also didn’t know what he was trying to say.

Once more, she went to place one down, and he let out another growl. Her back stiffened when his orange orbs flared red.

“I can’t grow a third arm,” she argued. “I need to put one down to take the knife, Nathair.”

Linh felt a little self-conscious every time she stated his name, unsure if she was butchering it. Na-th-ere: that was how she pronounced it. He’d never spoken it, and she just reassured herself since he’d never corrected her.

He carefully reached forward and held the fish for her instead. She smiled at that, considering it wouldn’t get dirty with his assistance.

I’m just choosing to ignore where his hands have been.If they were clean. Then again, she doubted her own were sanitary either, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t complain.

She wrinkled her nose as she tried to remember how to prepare fish. She hadn’t eaten it often, as the river trout this far north were seasonal, and many refused risking overnight travel in the mountains to catch them.

With Nathair’s help, she was able to gut it, remove its scales and fins, and tie it back together. The entire time, she was aware that the Duskwalker observed her with rapt curiosity. He even mimicked her, watching what she did so he could copy her while using his claws. Since he’d obtained plenty of firewood for her, she staked the fish and then set hers over the campfire that currently had no flames and only burned hot coals. Nathair did the same with the second one.

Even when they were done, he lingered far too close for comfort, with barely any space separating them. She could almost brush her shoulder against a thick wrap of tail, like he was trying to trap her in with his body and the fire.

Gosh, his presence was overbearing.

I thought he’d keep his distance from me, she mused, eyeing him cautiously.

Just as the sunlight faded yesterday, Nathair had slithered off to the other side of this crescent shape of land. She knew he’d stopped and seated himself there, his glowing orange orbs giving away where he went.

She thought he’d been trying to put space between them. Considering she’d kind of forced him to save her multiple times, she figured he was sulking about having her in his home.