"Hey," Ambrose cuts in. "We've all known there was something different about you since the start. And if you don't want to talk about it, then you don't have to."

Mireen nods quickly. "He's right. I just wasn't sure if the mark was connected, or if…"

"Did I tell you guys Uther is a fucking water bear?" Beck asks, eyebrows wiggling. I’m not sure if he’s interrupting because he’s just that excited, or if he’s trying to divert the conversation to save me from having to share.

Either way, I appreciate it.

"About fifty times," Ambrose says, though there's some amusement in his voice. "And Mireen's elemental is an adorably deadly otter thing, which… frankly I am having trouble imagining."

Mireen sits up straighter, glaring at Ambrose. "Ollie is deadly. He has these claws. He's cute, yes, but he does have claws. And he's fast."

We all grin.

"And," Ambrose continues a little smugly. "I completely understand you're all just a touch jealous of Akaron. Water hawks are, after all, quite rare."

"I'll take my cute but deadly otter."

"A bear, Ambrose." Beck says. "Uther is a fucking bear. Who wins in a fight, a bear, or a little flimsy hawk?"

Ambrose waves them both off, eyes fixing on me. "Do we get to hear what form your elemental takes?"

The healer on duty is fussing with bandages of a girl a few beds over, so I wait until she heads back to her office and leaves us in relative isolation. Raith still seems to be sleeping, but I guess there's no use hiding it from him. He saw Typhon with his own eyes.

I have to take a few deep breaths, building up the willpower to tell the truth.

"Well… you guys remember that story about the terrifying water monster in Mirror Lake? And the huge dragon thing I told you about that nearly killed me during the Water Trial?" My pulse skyrockets, dread about their reactions crashing on me like a wave.

Ambrose leans forward so slowly I almost don't see it. Mireen's eyes start to widen. Beck scratches his nose, still oblivious to where I'm going with this.

"Is it okay if I tell them?" I ask Typhon. I'm still getting used to the fact that he can hear my thoughts.

His answer comes into my mind. "I am Typhon, first of his name. Tamer of oceans. Tidefather. Do you think I fear being known by fragile creatures made of meat and bone? Hah!”

I grin as my friends watch me, waiting for my answer. "People are tougher than you think. Stick around and you'll get a chance to see that."

"Once again, you forget I was among your kind for centuries. I know and understand humans, perhaps better than you do, angry human."

"Sure you do." I mentally roll my eyes.