Her comment on his being worldly left him with a slight snort of amusement. He imagined trying to explain to someone that he had been around since the 1800's, that he'd ventured onto the shores of many countries, yet he honestly knew little of any. He was more about the flavor of each, than it's actual history. "Yes, yes. I would like to show you my garden sometime." I took great pride in my garden, it was an array of flowers in a multitude of colors.

I could feel her arm tighten, and I regretted my brash response, though what was done was done. Her voice was soft next to me, and I understood her meaning, as well as the misunderstanding in my own behavior. She seemed to have assumed I was uncomfortable with her praise of my talent, which I was by no means. Humility was not something I practiced often. I let it go though, grateful she seemed content to do so as well. It was funny, though she had her light contained, it still seemed as if the air around her beamed just slightly, like the faint outline around your finger when you stare too hard at it. I looked to her as she spoke and I let a single eyebrow raise questioningly, "Crowded? Don't tell me your over sized family is coming to hawk over you again?" I smirked then, a sort of banter seemed to be engaging between them, it was indirect and easy to dodge if chosen, but I wanted her to know I hadn't forgotten our past, or the fleeting memories I had of her. I would never forget the curious little face watching me, the threat of her family finding out she'd taken off into the stables alone at night, her fragile little star heart beating with the power of a drug I could quite literally taste.

What have I been up to? I pondered my response with choice criticism. "Ah, well besides attempting to live a simple life, I have a man sleeping on my couch." I laughed softly then, pausing a moment to sigh dramatically. "I really ought to introduce you to Aidan, he's a bit of a course tongued brute of a man, but I'd trust him with my life." Not so much with his own though. I tilted my head slightly as I thought of anything else to add, but was distracted as I felt Yejide's movement change just slightly. My arm tightened around hers as I moved her in closer to me in a protective manor. This entire town was a cesspool of weres and other species that might threaten her safety. My nerves were on edge as I glanced around briefly, knowing if anything was to disrupt us, it would likely be sudden, and I should not have let my guard down. Her words pull me away from scrutinizing every bush in the vicinity, and I look at her with a heavy concern in my blue eyes. "Sacrosanct is home to a gathering of many species. More in fact than I've seen gathered together in quite a long time. I want you to promise me, if you ever need anything or feel unsafe, you will contact me. I will speak to the Coven...but I can't so easily protect you from the other species."

I attempted to let it go, but the more the feeling crept in on me, the more I lost control of my temper. Stopping suddenly, I released her arm then, stepping in front of her and staring into her eyes with a fixed intent. "Do you have a gun? There are more than the obvious dangers here. There are hunters here as well, and you won't so easily detect them as you might a Were or Vampire." An anger had creased into my brow as I spoke, it was of course not directed at her, but I couldn't help the anxiety I felt when confronted with the idea of her being hurt.