"You had me fooled then," he said, shifting, touching his arm where his wound had begun to itch. He brought up his sleeve to look at it, the sleeve itself torn and dried dark with blood, still a bit damp. He smoothed it back down, ignoring it for now, which of course meant the wound on his cheek began the same itching.

"I certainly took your goading in the gardens for that sort of behavior." Meaning when Gideon had told him about his tongue being torn out, but it was not the point now.

"Either way, I appreciate and understand your concern for Felix, but I would prefer you not take liberties." In other words? Don't.