Pierre's forehead creased in confusion. "What makes you say that?"
"Because she doesn't improve when she's with you," Shade stated bluntly, his smirk widening, a mischievous gleam in his dark eyes.
Eirin's eyes widened in alarm, a gasp catching in her throat. Pierre's mouth hung open in disbelief, his fork clattering against his plate. "What makes you say that? She's been showing marked improvement!"
"Because she's been—"
"No!" Eirin cut Shade off sharply, her face flushing with embarrassment, flustered by what he was about to reveal, by the intimate nature of her private training with him. "I'm just…" The hesitation was clear in Eirin's voice as she glanced at Shade. Once she saw his unrepentant smirk, the triumph in his eyes, she knew there was no way out but to be honest.
Eirin sighed, a sound of resignation, her shoulders slumping. "Shade's been helping me with my training," she admitted, her voice soft, almost a mumble.
