Noctisardor Bypass How would it ever get me by?

Despite what he said, Anselm was very easily sucked back in. He wheeled around, unprepared for how strongly she shouted, or the way her eyes hardened and bored into him like he was a rat. 

Anselm didn’t disagree with a single thing Druid shouted about Etienne. Every superlative she mentioned was true — but in expounding on his friend-huntbrother-crush’s thousand positive attributes, Druid opened herself up for a different kind of scrutiny. 

He thought he heard something in her voice that lead support to his newfound suspicion. She was not mad at him for being him; no — she was mad at him because she liked Etienne.  It was all starting to make sense. 

Have at him then, if you like him so much. Anselm countered in dark tones, feeling himself tense under perceived unfair treatment. Oh wait. Etienne was gay — Druid lacked the prerequisite parts. Was it jealousy that incentivized her to be so discourteous? It was bad enough that his friend had left him, it was bad enough learning that he’d contributed to Etienne’s hurt — but it was a whole different ballpark having all his shortcomings pointed out by a woman who had no idea what he and Etienne had been through together. 

His shoulders rounded in sharp edges. Anselm was done having his flaws dragged through the mud for all to see. At least he’d fucking stayed — which was more than anyone else could say at this point.