She reflected his smile back at him, broader, brighter; an expression that tickled at the hindbrain like a jolt of adrenaline. In the span of a blink, she was nudging her shoulder to his again, herding him away from the desk with her body like one wolf might another.

It was distinctly companionable, happy and without reserve. "Only going to put the teeth Shuck gave you to any fucking use defending some other beast's borders, pup? Come, come, come, far-worlder, bloody yourself and your kin and the prey that was meant for you. Give and gain scars and shed a while this mantle of duty to anything but yourself."