Anani responded to the return of the toy by batting it in another direction.

Valdis didn't look at him. She knew he wouldn't have spoken with her of his own volition and that the only way to successfully get his attention was to do exactly as she had done. The fact that he no longer felt any semblance of safety was far more concerning than anything else. Despite everything, the vampire's harsh judgement of X was uncalled for in her mind; but Devin struggled to find it in himself to trust under the best of circumstances. Having his secrets torn from him in such a manner was an unforgivable trespass upon his life, so Valdis could understand his reaction.

The trespass upon her own life was still terrible. She hated it, she didn't like how her secrets were no longer hers, how she no longer had a choice about who found out, how even the secrets she had never told anyone were now in the mind of someone she barely knew. But Valdis couldn't say she didn't trust X.

"Do you trust me?" She asked quietly.