Noctisardor Bypass the last few drops from the holy grail

Anselm expected some level of civility — he watched wide-eyed and furious as the man then turned to Heda, a visible threat rippling under his enormous hide. 

Hey! Anselm bristled, taking the same three steps towards Heda that she had taken back. He didn’t know this man from a bone in the dirt — but he knew Heda, and he would not have her threatened or handled the way Etienne had been, despite their pained and conflicted relationship. 

Anselm’s gums curled in a toothsome display. Don’t you fucking touch her. You have done enough. 

Etienne would have to wait. His loss of consciousness was a merciful mishap, for it spared him from further attention. But Heda was very much alive and upright — something about the way the man signaled to Heda caused a burn of spite to choke out Anselm’s resentment of her.