"Life always seems to find a way to do that," he muttered. It was not quite a joke--he'd used up his ability to roll with the punches early.

This development did alarm him. Whatever had passed between them, Ren should not be able to appear to her so clearly, and vice versa. And hadn't she said he'd seemed surprised, too? It bore more thinking on, and he'd have to determine the safest way to explore it without giving his own presence away.

Which meant she couldn't let on, either.

"Does he know you're with me?" And huffed a little, at the double meaning. "What I mean is, does he know where you are, or who you're with?"