Page 144 of The Hunter's Empire

I hand it to him automatically. Only after he thanks me do I realize what he had called me.

Across the table, Theo slowly lowers his wine glass. His eyes move from Nico... to me... and then back again.

"I'm sorry." He says, unable to hide his amusement. "Did you just call herElf?"

I close my eyes for half a second. Of course he heard it.

Nico doesn't appear remotely concerned. "I did."

Theo leans forward, resting an elbow on the table. "I feel like there's a story there."

"There isn't."

He points between us with his fork. "People don't randomly invent nicknames unless something happened."

Theo looks expectantly at Nico.

Nico sets his glass down with infuriating calm. "She's short."

I narrow my eyes. "I am not short."

"You are."

"I'm average."

"Compared to children, perhaps."

Theo snorts into his drink.

Nico continues as though I haven't spoken. "She's stubborn."

"I prefer determined."

"She argues about everything."

"I do not."

"You just proved my point."

Theo lets out another laugh while I glare at both of them.

"And," Nico finishes, "she somehow manages to look furious even when she's doing absolutely nothing."

"I don’t look furious."

He studies me for a long moment. "You do right now."

Theo breaks into outright laughter. "Oh, he's right." He looks at me with far too much delight. "You've got that tiny but terrifying energy."

I fold my arms. "I don't know whether to be offended."

"You should be flattered." Theo grins.

Nico studies me for a moment before the corner of his mouth lifts. "You look like a little woodland creature that would absolutely stab someone."

"I wouldn't stab anyone." I say louder than intended.

The table falls strangely quiet. Keith arches an eyebrow. Anton coughs into his drink to hide a laugh.