It was a marked difference in their previous encounters -- although perhaps not to be unexpected given the way Kratos had been forced to manhandle her. But it did make Kratos raise his eyebrows at her.

"You're in my head, are you not?" he asked, remembering what she'd said about being an empath. He did not, perhaps, have a right to judge; but then, neither did Valdis.

He didn't generally opt to keep his wings out in public, but given Valdis's reaction, he might need them. "Do you think I intend to harm you?"

And he'd been having such fun five minutes ago -- a rare enough occasion. This was a rather unwelcome return to reality.