Perhaps she had snuck in under his shadow, or perhaps she had followed him. He laughed at Alexx's words and shook his head. Kind words were kind indeed, but he needed more than a pitiful pleading from a woman who reeked of fear.<br/>And so what if they liked Christmas?<br/><br/>He didn't, and that was it.<br/><br/>So his attentions turned to the man who warned him of the plot, and took interest in his tree of gifts. What did he want?<br/><br/>Was he expecting a<em>thank you?</em><br/><br/>How laughable.<br/><br/>'That's handy to know.'