Phantom Hollow You've been counting all the days off of your calendar for weeks now

Damien kept his gaze forward as his new cousin tried to explain to him what kind of diplomacy he was most adept at. It wasn't like Malcanthet was trying to hide the fact that he was basically a prostitute, and Damien took notice of it. That we can use, he said plainly, offering his cousin a courteous nod that probably wouldn't really do much to erase whatever mistrust his aunt had felt before.

Sex was a powerful tool, Damien knew, when one wasn't keen on the more violent methods, and though so far he'd seldom mingled with an actual courtesan, he knew he could find good use to his cousin's abilities. He wasn't going to turn him away anyway, despite Megara's thoughts, because even while his very specific set of skills wasn't needed at the time Malcanthet was family, and he was another strong one to fill his ranks.

Dwell freely among us, cousin. This is your home. he said now turning to him with a kinder face, I'm sure you have much to catch up to with your mother, he said as a way to dismiss himself politely, and after a nod to his aunt Damien returned to whatever he'd been doing before the meeting.

this can be wrapped up I think