[ He snapped, and hissed, when he mentioned the terrors.

There was something there, in that deep, deceptive well. Silco was like a caged animal, pressed against the wall like this, Vander so close they could share a breath. He held his chin down, and he kicked again, thrashed, his hand trying to angle the knife in his hand to slide it back around so he could stab him in the wrist, and force him to let him go.

Vander was huge compared to him. A towering man, twice or thrice his bulk alone, and so tall Silco looked like a short man in comparison He could not compete with him physically. It was impossible. He'd never be able to without careful planning — and shimmer. ]

Oh they told you everything did they? Who was it? Talis?

[ It infuriated him. He'd tried to set this up just so, and the boy had still flapped his gums. ]

He left out plenty of details, of course.

[ Still, he thrashed, trying to move an arm, he reached up with his one free hand to tug at his wrist — the scarred one — smearing the remains of the egg on him. ]

We don't give up our own, or had you forgotten that with all of your dallying with the topsiders?

[ No, it was more than that. His face was more wild than if it was just your average Zaunite. It was personal. ]