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He reached out to grab her and halted when she flinched at his sudden movement. She paled with wariness, but eventually placed her tiny arm in his palm for him. She remained still as she allowed him to inspect it in close detail.

He tried to gently scratch one off with the side of his claw.It stays!

“Why do you have dots such as these?”he asked in wonder.

He didn’t realise humans were so strange. Being around her was making him realise he knew little about them. He was growing infatuated with the idea of learning more.

Ingram was also beginning to experience a deep desire to learn abouther. He knew her name, knew she was a Demonslayer, but other than that, everything else was unknown.

He didn’t know what questions he should ask her to unravel her mysteries. Not because he was nervous or there were too many, but because... he’d never gotten to know a human before.

They were different. He doubted what he’d ask a Mavka would be the right things to ask her.

“Freckles form on some humans who are more susceptible to the sun. My body has a few of them, but not many because I’m usually in my uniform. What I have is mainly from my childhood.” She took her arm away, even though he wasn’t done looking at it yet. “I’ve been sunburnt on my face many times though, which is why they’re really noticeable there.”

“I see,”he said, cupping his beak as he pondered on this.“I did not know humans could be spotty like animals.”

Her smile was odd, especially since she’d bit her lips shut and her gaze was alight with... humour, perhaps?

“Okay. So now that you know I’m not dirty, and we can agree I do, in fact, know how to wash properly, it’s time for you to go.” She flicked both hands forward in his direction while giving him a ‘shoo.’

He didn’t rise from his seated position.

“Why must I leave? It is safer if I am with you.”

Ingram had decided Emerie was the most delicate thing in the entire world. Therefore, he must protect her always. From creatures, humans, and even the water that could suffocate her.

He would dive into the river and ferociously maim it if it tried to swallow her alive.

Her neck kinked as her head fell back, and she released a sound of frustration. “Because I need to get naked to have a bath and I’m not doing that in front of you!”

“I do not understand the problem.”He really didn’t. He even leaned closer and tried to pull her shirt up so he could remove it himself.“I do not wear clothing.”

He was, and always had been, utterly naked.

She fought him when he wrapped his other hand around her to keep her steady, wriggling and squirming to get free. When he got her shirt halfway up on one side, she shoved the other side down, and he noted her face turned pink, whereas some of the webbed scarring flared red.

He tried to yank her pants down instead.

“No!” she screamed in a high-pitched and frantic tone.

Ingram recoiled.

His orbs switched to white, and he backed up when he realised he’d been doing something wrong. Emerie stumbled and almost tripped over, her features twisted into an expression he’d never seen before.

There was even a tiny amount of fear coming from her – just enough to stir hunger and alarm him.

“I am sorry,”he uttered quietly, lowering his head and body in submissiveness.“I did not mean to upset you.”

Why do I always upset her?He didn’t mean to keep doing the wrong thing, and it often made his insides radiate with an ugly sensation.

Staring at him as she continued to shove her shirt down, her blue eyes flickered side to side, seeming to take in his skull and white orbs. After a few seconds, she eventually sighed, her shoulders loosening until they slumped.

She rubbed at her neck while looking off to the side. “Hey, it’s okay.”

When he didn’t ease, his spikes still raised and his tail curled in apprehension, she ran her hand over her hair. Her eyes crinkled as one side of her face twisted into a cringe.

“Look, I don’t like people seeing my skin. It’s a thing I have.” Then she lowered her hand, staring down at her palm as she opened and closed it, until a snort of laughter came from her. She flashed a small smile in his direction. “Plus, it’s pretty normal for a person to want some privacy while they bathe, especially women.”