"You may be her mentor, but you can't expect her to live like a nun for the rest of her life, can you?"

"She's got her own life, hasn't she? She didn't sign her soul over to you or something, did she?"

Silas lounged back on the couch, looking nonchalant. Uriah grumbled, "She even told me she liked me, but I think it's just talk."

"So what? You don't like her. If you don't, she'll just like someone else. There's nothing wrong with that."

Silas stretched, a playful smirk on his face. "Seriously, what's your problem?"

"It's the twenty-first century, man. Nobody's going to judge you for marrying her. It's not like you're a schoolteacher running off with a student or something scandalous."

"You're about the same age, aren't you? If you want to marry her, who's going to say anything? If anyone does, I'll send them a couple of nukes and let them chat with Saint Peter." He shrugged, unconcerned, perhaps even a little envious.

Uriah didn't have to worry. Silas, however, wasn't sure how much time he had left with Callie. He could be gone at any moment. He'd already sacrificed more for her than anyone could imagine. But even if he had to leave, he'd ensure every obstacle was cleared from her path. He wanted her to conquer the world, fearless, with the whole world at her back, even without him. He was always planning for her future.

"But she's been with me since she was a kid!" Uriah protested.

"So what? Are you her dad or something? Childhood sweethearts often form the deepest bonds, don't they?" Silas snorted. "Stop being so uptight. If you hesitated this much in a real fight, you'd have been pushing up daisies a hundred times over by now."

Uriah stared, speechless.

"I need some alone time. Get out."

"And take your rabbit with you."

"My rabbit? I don't even own a rabbit!" Silas glared at the furry creatures, hands in his pockets.

But Uriah scooped up the rabbits, grabbed Silas by the arm, and shoved them both into the hallway. With a bang, Uriah slammed and locked the door.

Silas looked down at the two rabbits. He'd just seen them relieve themselves all over the place. He glared sternly. "If you two dare soil me, I'll turn you into rabbit stew, I swear."

Just then, Blythe strolled down the corridor. She spotted Silas and grinned. "Oh wow, those bunnies are adorable!"

"Silas, are these your pets?"

He sized Blythe up. "You think they're cute?"

"They're super cute!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing.

"Great, then they're yours!" Silas said, dumping the bunnies into her arms.

Blythe blinked, bewildered. Calliope emerged, witnessing the scene—Silas gifting the bunnies to Blythe. Blythe, initially surprised, lit up upon seeing Calliope, and loudly declared, "Silas, you really get me! I adore animals, especially bunnies. I love them so much! Thank you, this is the best gift ever!" She ensured Calliope heard. Silas had just given her a present!