Ashes of Honor, part 2/

Tybalt stalked away from Toby's home on Valencia, frustrated at her deflections and obtuseness. And, if he were honest, himself for attempting to not only talk of the lack of care she gave herself, but to hint at his feelings for her. In typical Toby fashion, she could see nothing beyond the quest before her.

Foolishly, he replayed the scene in his mind.

"I'm not lost, Tybalt. I know exactly where I am," she had said, looking down and avoiding his eyes.

"If I believed that, I would walk away and never darken your door again," he had replied. "I can forgive your foolishness only because I know how lost you are. But one day, you'll have to come home. When you do, I hope you'll find me waiting."

Sighing a near growl at himself, he shook his head and returned to the business at hand. There was a changeling girl lost, whether by design or accident, and he would do what he could to help, as he had promised. He knew his thoughts were not the best to speak within the Court of Cats--Simon, he knew would take advantage or attempt to--but the mortal alley cats and strays of his realm were a simpler matter to attend and so he began asking them to keep an eye out for any strange fae girls appearing and disappear.