There had been flickers, just the slightest hints of defensiveness sprinkled through Nisa’s latest toying with destroying all he cared about and then telling him that was how he preferred it.

But for the briefest of moments, he turned his head back to her with a look of utter, teeth-baring rage. He managed to reign it in to a lip curled in disapproval, but not immediately.

“Suit yourself,” he said, in what he hoped sounded like a boring resignation.