But when the door swung open again, it wasn’t Jensen or Coleman who stood at the entrance.

Although the multicolored bruises had faded from his face, the man who stood before him looked more disheveled than Trey had ever seen him. His blond hair hung in greasy strings around his face rather than tied neatly at his nape, and he had dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn’t slept in days.

His expression was haggard, his lips pressed thin, and his tunic was half untucked, like he’d yanked it out on his way there. But it was Eithan’s eyes that had ice engulfing Trey’s spine. His eyes were the same dead, emotionless blue they’d been in the dungeon. When he’d said little but done so much.

“What has you looking so perky and awake, Gibson? You pleased to see me?” he asked, voice eerily flat.

Trey swallowed, mentally urging himself not to shake or stammer a single syllable. Nothing that would give away what had just transpired. Because if they were lucky enough that Eithan hadn’t passed them in the hall, Trey sure as shit didn’t want to be the weak link that signed their death warrants. Not even Coleman’s.

“It does tend to get quite lonely in here. The walls aren’t the best at playing cards,” he pushed out, lowering back down.

Eithan chuckled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Walking silently across the room, he stopped at one of the tables against the wall, running his fingers along the edge as he admired Healer Perry’s tools and supplies.

Picking up a scalpel, he turned and rested his hip against the table, looking over to Trey as he spun it in his fingers. “I just had dinner with my father.”

Trey’s heart felt like solid iron in his chest. Eithan never referred to Sulian as his father, not so casually, and definitely not without a sneer or sarcastic raise of his brow.

He watched the sharp blade as it continued to spin in the bastard’s hand. “By your tone, I’m guessing he overcooked the pheasant.”

Eithan’s fingers froze, his eyes narrowing as he pushed off the table and ambled closer. “Since when did you start joking with me again, dear Gibson?”

Fuck. This is why Jensen needed to stay the fuck away from him. He’d shook him up, confusing him, and it’d only end horribly for them both.

“I told you,” he said, pushing all of his misery into his words, “it gets lonely down here. Even Healer Perry has stopped coming by as often.”

“Yes, I informed him his services weren’t needed anymore.”

A tingling filled his body, warning bells going off in every direction. “So, am I being moved to the guest suite now?”

“You could call it that. It’s certainly perfect accommodations for temporary guests, and much more entertaining since you’re so bored here. Lots to listen to there, at least.”

Trey’s eye widened. He couldn’t have blinked if he tried. His tongue felt three times its size as he got out, “And where is that?”