For the first time since he met her, he would see her smile at him. Her eyes crinkled in the corner with the action, childlike dimples marking her otherwise regal face. "You're a genius."
He laughed slightly. "I wouldn't go that far. I'm just glad I didn't have to completely sacrifice it and we can return it here."
She frowned but shook her head. "That will not do. Nevermind. What tests would you like to do first?"
He observed her before getting up and getting a few things, going to a wall of what looked like habitats behind glass. He opened one of them and took something out of it. "Take a seat."
Her brows furrowed with worry and she slowly sat down, her posture stiff and uncertain as she watched him apprehensively.
He set down an anemone looking creature in front of here. It was a bit small, but a vibrant yellow with soft pink tendrils. "This is one of my favorite specimens."
Her expression softened and she studied the creature intensely, leaning down slightly to take a look. "Oh," she said, her voice softening. "Hello, you." She looked up at him, that childlike smile returning. "Could I touch it?"
He scooted it closer to her, coming around and taking her arm gently. "You may, but use your other hand, okay?"
She nodded slowly, gently brushing her other hand through the hair of the creature. Her tattoos lit up when he took her arm, magic swirling against her skin in response to his touch.
He sat to the side with her arm, using her distractions to draw blood. She would likely not even notice.
Her blood was the color of seaglass, swirling in the syringe with a texture similar to velvet. It glowed with a similar light that he had seen from her magic.
She turned to look over at him curiously, still coddling the smaller species. "Already? I'm surprised," she said, her voice still soft as her gaze fell on the syringe. "What does your blood look like?"
