“To take a step toward manhood and then leave me alone and run off. Quite the feat, Master Ethan.”

“Lilith, it’s not...”

“I didn’t expect you to sneak off like that while I was asleep. Did your inner Casanova emerge as soon as you threw off the shackles of pity?”

“Well, I’m not sure what a ‘Casanova temperament’ is, but it’s not like that, Lilith...”

“Now that I’m a ‘conquered woman,’ you’ve lost interest? If I had known it would be like this, maybe I should have teased you a bit longer. We could’ve waited until after you graduated from …