[He hears something threaded in that pause, although he cannot guess at what. It was strange, to share that dream, to live inside her head for a night and learn so much more about her.]

My apologies for worrying you. I haven't had any updates to share on my condition. No news is supposed to be good news.

Alina and Matt have both done a marvelous job of keeping me on my leash. [Alina, snapping on the gem-bindings each night, and Matt, offering the reassurance of his wards to allow Nikolai the opportunity to call out the monster and stretch his wings.] Of course, I'd like a sliver of the credit too.