Elowen's POV
Kael's gaze turned suspicious and dark. "What exactly did you plan to say?"
"Nothing," I said. I buried my face in my porridge and felt my confidence come back from wherever it had gone. "I'm probably fine with drinking. I just pass out when I've had too much."
His expression hardened, his gaze sharp enough to pin me in place. "Try drinking like that again," he said, "and see if I don't put you out."
My eyes went wide for half a second before I could stop them. Then, almost without deciding to, I murmured into my bowl, "You wouldn't."
He picked up his pen and said nothing more, which was somehow worse than if he had.
He stayed late at the office after the meal, and I had nothing to do but wait. Half an hour on the sofa in the waiting area was all I could manage before I
