[ Aymeric laughed, too, shaking his head. ]

Ere he compromises our souls.

[ One of his hands dropped to Cain's back, the ridge of his nails tracing his spine, slowly. ]

The mimicry is convincing, but I do hope you never lose the natural way you speak. It has a kind of perfect, unassuming honesty — I don't know that I can pretend at it half as well. What was it that you said?

[ He paused.

Unlike Cain's skillful imitation, nothing in his voice changed, and the words were too languid, carefully pronounced: ]

"That'd be fucking vile."

[ It had made him question himself the moment Cain had said it. ]