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I pulled off my damp sweater and unraveled my hair from its braid, doing my best to gently untangle it with my fingers. I was about to pull off my pants when there was a soft knock. I padded barefoot across the smooth wood floor and plush rug to open the door.

Byrgir smiled at me from the hallway. “I wanted to check on you,” he said. “El said Crow gave you a rough time before I got here.”

I held open the door for him. “He was just doing his job.”

He had changed from his traveling clothes into a deep moss-green linen shirt and his usual trousers. The green matched his eyes perfectly. He stepped in, looking around at the cozy room and its expansive view, before crossing to the balcony doors and looking out.

“This room is amazing,” he said. “Why doesn’t El take this one as hers?”

“Hers is bigger. And less of a climb up the stairs. But I far prefer this one.” I ducked into the bathroom and turned off the bath tap.

“Me too,” he agreed, leaning against the wall, still looking out the window.

“I get the impression that Crow doesn’t want me here,” I ventured.

“I could see how he would make you feel that way,” Byrgir said. “He’s clever, but his social skills are rusty. I’m sorry he was hard on you today. He shouldn’t have approached it like that.”

“Thanks. I’m not sure how else he could approach it though,” I said. “I appreciate that he was direct with me, was blunt about it. I’d much rather he bring it to me right away than talk to anyone else about it first and leave me the last to know.”

“He would agree with you there.” Byrgir smiled at me. “And he wants you here. He just takes a while to trust people. But he trusts me, and El. And we’ve told him he can trust you. He’ll come around.”

I nodded. “He doesn’t have to like me but, if we’re all going to work together, it would be easier if he did.”

“He already likes you. Choosing to bring that information directly to you, without poking around first, without talking to us first, means he respects you. He’ll cool down, with time. His… intensity will dampen, a little. Or maybe I’ve just gotten used to it.”

I chuckled. “I guess I’ll get used to it eventually too. If he doesn’t drive me out of town before then.”

“He’d have to go through El first,” Byrgir joked. “And he might seem intense, but his heat is no match for her bonfire, that’s for sure.”

I grinned; Byrgir smiled back from his casual post against the wall.

“You don’t have to go tomorrow,” he said.

“I think I do,” I answered. “Crow’s all twisted up about his lack of information. Seems like he’s quite uncomfortable with all these unknowns. All these possible threats.”

“I suppose you’ll have to go soon, you’re right, and it’s best we don’t leave this discussion to written correspondence. But we just got home. You don’t have to leave right away.”

I rubbed my forehead, pushed my tangled hair out of my face. Gods I was tired. “I know. I don’t want to go right away. I want to spend some time just holed up in this room. Feels like I could sleep a whole night and day.”

“It is a beautiful room. I’m jealous mine doesn’t look like this.”

“The other rooms are still nice. Almost as nice as this. Almost,” I said with a smile.

“Are you teasing me, Little Lamb?” he asked, standing up from his casual lean against the wall and stepping toward me.

My heart fluttered, but I shrugged casually. “We can’t all be El’s favorite, don’t feel bad.”

“I was her favorite until you showed up.”

“I thought Crow was her favorite before me,” I said. But I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly he meant.

“Maybe he was.” Another step closer with a slight shrug, a playful smile on his face. “Perhaps I’ll kick you out of this room. Take it as my own.”

“I’d like to see you try,” I said.

Byrgir raised his brows and inclined his head in questioning surprise, then smiled devilishly. “Or maybe I’ll just move in here with you.” He stepped closer still. “That bed is big enough for two, right?”

He was close enough now for me to catch his scent on every inhale. Warm spice, leather, tobacco.