I should not be afraid with him beside me, I think, but it does not quite staunch the fear as I voice my concerns. This place had been a haven to me after Malleah had kicked me out and Zuelika had tried to sell me. It was a surprise, really, that Eden had not taken his price in flesh from me after what my father supposedly did, but I did not look the gift horse in the mouth. Part of me that feared Blackthorne wondered if maybe I didn't deserve the punishment of him because of what my parents did. Their blood ran through me except that I was a coward when they at least were full of venom and zeal. Honestly, I couldn't remember much about them anymore except the tales that had circulated, now eclipsed by the years that had passed. Such a short time but already they were forgotten. I had always been part of the forgotten so I let their memories join me in the shadows.

Enoch lays his muzzle across my shoulders and I sigh in relief at the touch, the jolt of comfort relaxing my muscles even while his words relax the knot of worry in my chest. Nobody can hurt you, he says, and I smile faintly at the words. Enoch will protect me and the boy is not here anymore. He pulls away with a small grin that does things to my heart, making it flip and somersault, and I grin back at him with tail wagging. The smallest warmth he gives me and I return it tenfold, an amplifier of such things.

"Then show me what is yours so I can see what is mine too!" The words come easily to my lips and I feel, for a fraction of a second, a sense of embarrassment at the brazenness, but it is only noted in the slightest twitch of my smile before it resumes it's full blaze. Well, Enoch had said it, and I hoped he meant it. Because to finally have SOMETHING was better than nothing, right?