Mitchell was relieved when they were alone, but that relief quickly turned to awkwardness, unsure of their relationship as it stood. He would always love Samandriel--always protect him, as his Master, even if they never touched again, but he wasn't sure he could face that possibility at the moment.
"I'm not sure I want to know what happened between you and...this Carrick," he said quietly, his voice tight. "But not knowing is driving me mad." He paced the floor between the kitchen and dining room and then moved back to the kitchen, turned on the kettle, because he'd never gotten around to it when their guests had showed up.