If this city and its blood effects can corrupt my ability to think clearly, then it will be up to you to kill me or drive me off. [He would not say that it couldn't happen, but he considered it unlikely even with these blood powers.] You've trained enough with me to know how to defend against me.

[If Fern or any of the others went off the rails thanks to this place, he was confident that he could play his part in putting that to an end if he happened to be aware of it. He was taking a more active interest in the household and its occupants, more so than he had in Deerington.]

I'm not certain what you are looking for me to say then, Fern. My assurances seem to not give you any confidence in me. If you are needing to put stipulations to my continuing to occupy a room here, by all means, do so. [He had known Fern for two years after all, and he had never previously garnered this bristled reception. Okay, so he easily pushed the kid for a fight, but that was how they operated and it was good to see how Fern had progressed.]