“It was my pleasure, Hel’s liaison,” Stefan said. “I’m glad that you called upon me, and I hope you will not hesitate to do so again.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.” He sounded serious. “With practice, discipline, and will, the Outcast can become a force for order in this community, and learn to take sustenance in the process.”

See, he had me right up until the bit about taking sustenance, which unfortunately reminded me that I’d let Stefan take sustenance from me, which meant he was attuned to my emotions, and . . . um, yeah. That outburst of lust I’d let loose last night that had blown one of the Mamma Jammers’ amps? He’d probably sensed it. And maybe the bom-chicka-wow-wow that followed it.

My face got hot.

I don’t know how Stefan followed my train of thought, but he did. Hell, it probably wasn’t that hard. After all, he’d had centuries of practice. He smiled a little, but soberly, without dimples. “Your personal business is your own, Daisy,” he said in a quiet voice. “It is as I have said. Your emotions are exceedingly powerful. If you desire my aid in expressing them without consequence, I will gladly give it to you. But the bond between us does not exist for the sake of prurience, and I am capable of deflecting my awareness at need.”

Oh, my God, he totally knew. “Can it be broken?”

Stefan raised one eyebrow. “I assure you—”

“It’s okay.” I held up one hand—the left hand, letting him see the rune etched on my palm. “I believe you. But I have a right to know.”

He hesitated. “Not that I’m aware of, no. Even if there were a way, I would be reluctant.” He took a sharp breath, his pupils dilating in a rush. “Your position is not without its dangers, Daisy. It brings me a measure of comfort to know that if you are in distress, I will sense it.”

The memory of Stefan coming to my rescue, sword in hand, rose in my mind. Unfortunately, it was accompanied by the memory of Stefan impaling himself on that same sword, dying, and being restored to wholeness.

“Did it leave a scar?” I asked him. He looked blankly at me. “The sword. The other month, when you . . .” I touched my chest with my fingertips.

“No.” He shook his head. “No matter how many times we die, we remain as we were when we were first Outcast.”

“Oh.”

Stefan cleared his throat. “There is one method you may employ to deflect your own emotions from my awareness, and indeed, the awareness of others among the Outcast. It is a temporary measure, and one that requires discipline and concentration, but I can teach it to you if you wish.”

I thought about it. “Yeah. I’d like that.”