Having learned from their first encounter, Luthien went after the toy and then batted it back to Anani.

Devin's hands stilled, holding a container of eggs aloft, but only for a moment. "Yes, I have bowls. Don't worry," he said, and tried his best to sound gently teasing, "I won't let you starve." If Valdis remembered this in the future, she might tease him or be irritated. It was hard to tell with her sometimes. He plowed ahead anyway. "You're a fine young lady, and you'll eat like one even if you're a bit fuzzier than you might be accustomed to."

He paused while he put the eggs down and used a knife to add butter to the pan. "Michael probably just wants to take care of you. That or he, like most men, don't like to admit when we're bad at things."