[ Despite himself, he actually thinks about the answers to those questions she asks. It’s true that he assumed the worst, given that the worst is exactly what followed breaking the mirror. He’s been out of his head, exacerbated by the borrowed agony he carried around, but all of that had been self-inflicted. Whatever happened to her was squarely his fault, and so is anything that ultimately happens with Anurr.

It wasn’t his biggest mistake, but it’s up there, and the consequences are still ongoing. He felt guilty enough that he let it slip more than once that he broke the mirror, or at least said enough that they reached that conclusion, but he’d left out their argument and how he threw it directly at Winnie when it happened.

It bothered him that he didn’t know if she’d survived and assumed she hadn’t. And it bothers him now that she doesn’t so much as hold it against him.

He stews and crosses his arms, but nods, slowly. She’s right, he may be a killer, but there’s a difference to what he can and cannot justify about his actions. It’s weighed on him. ]

…He was grateful. [ Anurr. She already knows that, but he didn’t share the note he left him, or the gift. ] It’s probably a bad idea, but if we get into a bind, I have a way to call him. He wanted to do the same for you, but he couldn’t find you.

[ She deserves to know. He’s been thinking about telling her, so he might as well now. ]

I’m also pretty sure that he’ll find a way to kill me on sight if he ever feels betrayed, but that’s a problem for another time.