Damien's curiosity finally broke through the playful facade as he glanced sideways at me, his smirk softening into a look of genuine interest. "So, what's next on the agenda for you two? You've got something planned, right? What's the next step in this little saga?"
I paused, considering my answer carefully. "We're playing it smart. Maeve's going to focus on refining her skills while I keep an eye on the vultures circling us. There's no room for mistakes, and we need to be prepared for anything." My voice was steady, but there was a weight behind my words—one that Damien didn't miss.
"Can't imagine you're too thrilled about that decision." His grin turned teasing again, though his tone was more thoughtful now. "Didn't think you'd fold so easily."
I let out a sigh, knowing Damien wasn't going to let it go. "Look, she wanted it. I didn't think it was necessary, but I agreed because it's important to her. She wants to be ready for whatever comes next. I'm not going to stand in her way."
Damien let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "Maeve's got more fight in her than most. Gotta respect that. But you—you gave in pretty easily, didn't you?" He nudged me with his elbow, a glint of amusement sparking in his eyes. "You're whipped, my friend."
I raised an eyebrow, shooting him a look. "Whipped? I wouldn't call it that. I'm just smart enough to know when not to fight her on something."
"Sure, sure," Damien chuckled. "Next thing you know, you'll be fetching her slippers." He couldn't help but laugh at his own joke, enjoying the rare opportunity to poke fun at me.
"Damien, if anyone's fetching slippers, it's you," I shot back, but a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. It was hard not to laugh when he was like this.
He clapped me on the back, still grinning. "Touché. But seriously, I respect it. Maeve's making smart decisions. She'll come out stronger for it."
I nodded, my gaze shifting back to the path in front of us. "That's the plan."
We walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, the tension lifting with each step. The crunch of gravel beneath our boots was the only sound until I broke the quiet again. "Damien," I began, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye, "how's your sister doing?"
Damien shot me a curious look, his brow lifting in surprise. "My sister? Why the sudden interest, Kayden? Don't tell me Maeve's got some competition." The teasing grin returned, but I could tell he was genuinely caught off guard by the question.
I rolled my eyes at his usual antics. "It's not like that, Damien."
"Oh, really?" he drawled, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Because I could swear you haven't asked about her in... ever."
"Maybe because we've had bigger things to deal with," I muttered, shaking my head. "But seriously, I was thinking... your sister might be able to help Maeve."
Damien's expression shifted from playful to intrigued as he cocked his head. "Help her? With what, exactly? Maeve's already tougher than half the people I know."
I smirked at that, appreciating the truth in his words. "Maeve wants to work on the... finer points. Diplomacy, etiquette, dealing with the vultures who think she doesn't belong. I figured your sister would be perfect to help her navigate that world. She's handled the court crowd well enough."
Damien considered it for a moment, his teasing demeanour fading into thoughtfulness. "You know... you might be onto something. Elise's got a knack for that kind of thing, and she doesn't buy into the court's pretentious crap either. She'd definitely be able to help without making Maeve feel like she's got to fit into their mould."
