Page 105 of Caller of Crows

Sven blinked at her. Had she just told him off?

"Guard crow?" he tried again.

She glared at him.

Apparently, he'd still not hit on the right word. "You know I can't read your thoughts the way Altair can, right?"

She cawed again, then hopped over and pecked at his leg.

Sven yelped and rubbed the spot. "Hey, what was that for?"

Lissa cocked her head, looking pleased with herself.

"She likes you," Altair interjected with a smirk. "You should count yourself lucky. She doesn't get along with everyone."

"Is that so?" Sven glanced sideways at the bird on the table.

"Also, she wants you to call her ‘my lady' while you're at it." Altair kept his expression entirely serious as he spoke.

"Really?" Sven asked, not believing a word. "Doyoucall her that?"

"Obviously not," Altair replied smoothly. "But I trust her. She takes the tasks I assign her just as seriously as she takes herself, so you should get used to having her around. As long as she's with you, I see no reason to keep you confined to my bedroom."

"Really?" Sven asked. "I get to run around the base by myself?"

"That's why I gave you the tour," Altair explained. "I want you to feel at home here."

"Oh." Sven blinked at him. "Okay." He supposed he really shouldn't be surprised that Altair treated him like a part of his coven already, but for some reason, the reality of the situation hadn't quite set in yet. Maybe because Sven wasn't a vampire, and he didn't know if he everwouldbe a vampire.

And wasn't that selfish of him?

"I like you just the way you are," Altair said, reading Sven's mind again.

Before Sven had time to respond, the vampire kissed him deeply, and when their lips parted, Altair's lips caressed the side of Sven's neck. "I have to deal with the authorities tonight," he informed Sven. "I'll probably be busy for most of the night, but tomorrow, you'll have me all to yourself."

Sven swallowed thickly, nodding in understanding. "I'd like that."

Altair smiled. A warm smile that melted Sven's heart and made heat coil in the pit of his stomach. "Me too," he said, and with that, he withdrew.

"Wait," Sven said before the vampire could leave him alone entirely. "Can I go and see Rhyme?"

Altair paused, appearing to consider the request. Then he nodded. "Lissa knows which room he's in."

"Is it locked?"

"No. Iskander is in there keeping watch."

"Iskander?" Sven's brow furrowed. He wasn't sure he'd heard that name before.

"One of my friends," Altair explained. "I trust him."

Sven did not point out that Altair hadalsotrusted Keegan. Some things were better left unsaid, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to form his own opinion of Iskander.

"Good luck with your work then," Sven told Altair. "See you in the morning?"

"Of course," Altair said before he walked out.

Sven watched him leave and then sat for a few moments with Lissa perching next to him in silence. Then he turned to address the crow. "Are you ready to escort me to see a friend?" he asked, wondering if Lissa would actually behave as well as Altair had indicated.