Shadow keeps her head down, waiting for the silence that will tell her she is alone with him.      He walks past her, stops, listening. After a moment she looks up, and that of course is when he turns to her, blue eyes filled with disappointment. He sighs, and Shadow's heart sinks.      "Another well thought-out plan of yours, I'm sure," he sneers.      Shadow flinches, her chest growing hot. She can feel his shame, his frustration with her.      "I'm sorry—"      "Am I a trophy to you?" he clicks sharply, slamming his staff onto the floor with a resounding ring.      "What? No! Of course not." Shadow objects immediately, the question shocking her.     His reaction is foreign and it stings worse than the cold of this desolate moon. She's never seen him angry with her before.      But what makes Shadow's stomach twist with nausea inducing anxiety is not Variks's anger so much as the thought of Glitch in Eramis's talons. She tightens her fists, fighting against the knot in her throat. "Variks... Will he be okay?" she chokes.      Variks's shoulders lose their tension, his eyes softening as he gazes down at his mate. Slowly, his real hands find hers.      Sending a swift glance down the hall, he checks that they are indeed alone before bringing her close to him. "I will make sure no harm comes to your ghost," he promises her.      Shadow's hands squeeze his. "I'm sorry..." Though she tries to avoid it, she fears the hurt in her voice shows through.      Of course, Variks sees this. "Shadow... if there is something I have hidden, it is for a reason."      Nodding, she is about to explain that she trusts him.      But he continues, voice gravelly with emotion. "That reason being to protect you." He takes her face in his hand, thumb passing over her skin softly. "To protect [i]us[/i]."      "I understand," she responds, heart clenching as she loses herself in the blue depths of his eyes. The one place she could always feel safe. The only thing that could bring her comfort after being separated from her ghost.      "You are more wise than you give yourself credit for," Variks says, suddenly thoughtful.      The hunter blinks, taken aback.      "You have become so accustomed to downplaying your intelligence that you do not bother to think some days," he clicks, disapproving but not without sympathy. "This is an injustice to yourself and the people you are trying to help."      His words humble and touch her, and she bows to his wisdom. "I will do my best."      "I know you will," he says gently.      His hand meets her back to guide her away, perhaps to distract her as best as he could. "Come... Let me show you where you will be staying."