Noctisardor Bypass got a girl whose up for the mating

For a moment the boy met Anselm’s gaze and spoke — the word was alien to Anselm, but he understood the meaning. He gave a stern dip of his head in acknowledgement, but continued his silence. He was simply the observer in this — a small, insecure voice in him wondered if this was the hour in which Etienne’s family took the seaborn away from him. 

Discomforted by this notion Anselm looked back to Suzu, then Heda. He ignored the dark pelted man — if only because something needled him each time he looked at Val. 

Heda shared the news Glaukos was gone. In his heart, Anselm refused to believe it. That brute would return when it was convenient for him — probably after he and Etienne did the work of raising his children. It wasn’t a charitable thought, but when was Anselm known to be charitable?

He glanced to Etienne to measure the man’s reaction to Suzu’s offer. Anselm preferred this over the latter option, noticing Heda extended a graceful offer that was far more palatable than packing up to leave. When it came to it, could he choose Etienne over the woman that bore his children?

His heart knew the answer, and it made his soul run cold.