"And me subjected to your mating-obsessed brain. Let the scarred human dock with you, place a baby inside your body, and be done with it. All this time spent imagining the act is time wasted. You could be thinking of your training, of⁠—"

"Typhon?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

Voss perches on the edge of his desk, long legs crossed and arms folded as he watches me. His silver hair is swept back from his face, revealing shrewd eyes that see too much.

"I should mention I heard about yesterday's confrontation," Voss says slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Veeni arrived at the healers missing an arm. She won't identify her attacker, of course. The stories we've gathered make at least one thing clear. It was Serena, two fires, and the waters against you and Raith Hollow with the rest of the fires. And Bastian, of all people, showed up in time to stop the fighting from getting worse, from what I understand."

I shift uncomfortably. "Something like that."

"Am I to assume... you bit Veeni's arm off? Or was it your flying fish, which seems rather small for such a significant wound."

My chest constricts, pulse hammering against my ribs. Does Voss know about Typhon? I've had no choice but to trust him with my unbound status, but I've managed to conceal the fact that I tethered a fucking ancient water dragon on Confluence Day. At least, I thought I had.

"I... don't know what happened to her," I manage. "There was nearly a fight, and then there wasn't. Bastian got there in time to stop it from happening.”

Voss cocks his head, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Nessa. I'm not a fool, so don't treat me like one. What happened to Veeni's arm? What really happened?"

His tone sends ice crawling up my spine. Shit. Has he seen through my "Oceanus" the flying fish lie? Does he actually know about Typhon?

"Should I prepare to strike, angry human?" Typhon's voice reverberates with dangerous potential.

"No. He hasn't given us reason not to trust him yet. Everything he's done has been to help. Let's... wait and see."

I straighten my spine, forcing calm into my voice that I definitely don't feel. "I would rather not say, Rector Voss."

He studies me for several excruciating seconds before shrugging. "Veeni will survive, naturally. With sufficient practice, she may even learn to conjure a relatively functional fire-based arm for short durations. Such things are possible with adequate skill."

"Oh." I inwardly curse myself for the relief I feel. Despite knowing she deserved every bit of what happened, guilt has gnawed at me since last night.

"I should have removed her head instead. Let her magically replace that!"

"Typhon, don't be a dick."

"Elementals do not possess dicks. We have a far more sophisticated organ known as⁠—"

I quickly block him out, refocusing on Voss who's watching me with undisguised curiosity.