There was, of course, no reason for her to fear him. He didnâ€™t want her to. It was part of the reason heâ€™d been doing his best to adhere to human standards and ideas of what was and was not possible. Heâ€™d kept use of his power brief, and had even donned what was considered normal, casual clothing for human men. His anger was only ever directed at those who would hurt or betray them.<br/><br/>â€œSidhe are fascinated by mortals, but they have no respect for their needs or wishes. They would keep you, dear heart, because they would find you entertaining in the same way they find all mortal beings entertaining. Maybe more than most, because of yourâ€¦â€ Again he was very careful about how he phrased what he had to say, pretending distraction from the puppy when she licked his fingers. â€œUnique and fiery disposition. Sidhe donâ€™t usually display anger. Or any strong emotion.<br/><br/>However, they can be trusted implicitly. Sidhe cannot lie. They may omit the truth, or try to distract you from it, but they can never utter a falsehood. Sidhe also cannot break their promises. To do so is a fate worse than death, even to the unseelie. I have the promise of their King that neither he nor his subjects will ever attempt to hinder me in any way in my travels through their realm. Youâ€¦ sheâ€¦â€ Kalab stumbled around her, like he did around no one else. He knew her so well, and at the same time knew nothing of who she was now. â€œNehmahati thought they were boring. Sidhe donâ€™t change much. I was always alone in my visits, so you wonâ€™t have even their memory of youâ€¦ of her, to defend yourself.â€<br/><br/>It felt to him as if they were being followed. Kalab didnâ€™t mention this, or even seem to react to it, because he was hoping that whoever it was couldnâ€™t follow them any further. And because he didnâ€™t want to worry his Nehmahati over it when they were close to the entrance he was leading her to.<br/><br/>They went quickly from city streets to park paths, and he stopped at one overgrown thicket between three very old trees that appeared to have been missed day after day by the groundskeepers. Kalab swept away a portion of the twisted thorns with hardly any effort, a path opening as if of its own accord in front of them. He set the puppy down and she went immediately to the flowers growing in profusion around a single speckled rock, sniffing excitedly. Kalab followed and bent to pick some of them, beckoning Nehmahati to come too.<br/><br/>There were two men who walked the midnight paths besides them, and Kalab did not like the look of either. It would be a relief to be where things were less dangerous to he and Nehmahati.