Aden ordered the Red Delrose to hide their preparations for battle, but emotion of it anticipation, fear, resolve, hope still seemed to infuse the air thickly around Biflten mansion. Feeling it like the charged air of a lightning storm, Ilyin doubted they could hide their work for long.

Will we truly be able to hide our preparation? she asked when she and Aden were alone. With someone in contact with the monsters, it didn't seem to her that anything could be kept a secret now. Even though the houses occupied separate territories, there seemed too much involved to go unnoticed. War didn't just need people. There were supplies, rations, weapons. . .

Then the answer hit her suddenly. She gave a small ah in surprise at the sudden understanding.

You're doing it on purpose, she said.

I just can't fool you at all, Aden said smiling as he brushed her hair. His hand followed her long strands of silver, curled them a few times. As they shifted and moved on the bed, the mobile resting on top of the adjacent dresser shook slightly.

It should have been hung by now, but Ilyin was in no hurry to exactly reproduce her bedroom from the Arlen mansion here. Yet she didn't want to put away something of her mother's, either. Not that, particularly it troubled her.

Did you want to fool me? Ilyin said, glaring.

Never, Aden replied laughingly, putting his hands up in a mock defensive gesture as if Ilyin held a sword to his neck. There are other things I want to fool.

Not People.Things. Aden's lip curled as he said it.

The rumors of Delrose activity in the mansion were spreading. As expected, they couldn't hide it even if they wanted to. And many that noticed it were already guessing where Delrose was heading as well. Toward the tribe whose army had been reduced.

The rumor is that we are heading to the Yesters, correct? she said, more a statement than a question. Aden smiled in response and kissed her cheek.

Would you like to guess more? he asked.

Ilyin was quick-witted but didn't care to show off. Or to be more precise, she had always tried not to be noticed in the Arlen mansion. Speaking so freely in Biflten mansion still felt unnatural, like walking backward without knowing what was behind her.

Of course, Delrose was accepting of her; Aden, even more so. Yes still, when she spoke freely, Ilyin sometimes felt if the words got stuck in her throat. And in those moments, when she did still feel uncomfortable, she would simply smile.

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As she smiled at Aden now.

I want to hear you more, she said. But Aden always brought her out of herself when she became this way. He never left her to simply smile quietly. But . . . if I get it right?

Half of her wanted to simply drop the matter, but the other half felt a playfulness she still hadn't gotten used to, A playfulness that, while still new to her, wasn't foreign. Aden and Delrose brought it out of her, true, but it had been inside her all along. She liked that they set that side of her free.

If you get it right, Aden replied, kissing her nose softly, I'll show you something very pretty.

Ilyin narrowed her eyes at him. She understood the game he was playing. She knew before his hand moved that it would rise up to touch her lips, and it did, tracing around the upper and lower lip, then leaning in to graze them softly with his own.

Ah, she sighed, and he followed with another kiss, this one a bit lewder. The maids had cleared the bed earlier, but the many soft pillows they had brought in for her were piled upon the bed. Aden lifted Ilyin and set her on them, and they were so soft she sank into them.

You're always lovely, he said. So small, soft, lovely. His hand reached into her hair, grabbed the back of her head to pull her into him for another kiss. The hunger of his movement excited her, as did the feel of his other hand moving around onto her back.

She lifted a finger to his lips, pausing him.

Bad hand, she said, and her finger brushed his lips this time. I can't speak anymore if you keep doing this.

Oh, he muttered almost sheepishly, and settled back beside her.

Was the bad hand the pretty thing you meant to show me? she asked glaring playfully. Aden only blushed in response.

That would be good, he said, but, I'll give you a hint.

Aden slipped forward, and before she could say bad hand again, he brushed away the hair from her face and kissed her forehead before retreating again. It was all he was allowed at the moment.