"But only one of my many talents," he said with an answering smirk as he tilted his head for her kiss. Following her to the sofa, he shrugged casually, the interruption of the lovers' tryst having been of little interest to him personally. "I was more concerned with returning to what I thought was a battle. No time to play, unfortunately. Had I known what was going on, I might have invited you to join me in a little sport."
It did amuse him that he had managed to slip past the authorities undetected. It left him so much more room to act if only Bella and the others of the Dark Lord's supporters knew his identity -- both on the Dark Lord's behalf and in his own pursuits. If there was one thing Walden knew even better than inflicting pain, it was how to work around the system to his own ends.