[h2]Esme Stirling[/h2]

Esme watched Duke intently as he took in what she had told him. She knew he was no stranger to knowing Empaths existed, but she didn’t know how he’d react knowing he’d been around one without knowing it and it was someone he knew. To say she was worried about how he’d take it was an understatement, but when he pouted his lip and nodded his head, some of that worry faded. It actually surprised her with how well he seemed to take the news. Of course, she knew he need some time to think it over more and let it sink in more, but she couldn’t have been anymore relieved to not have him freak out on her, especially when they were in a bath together. She released a silent sigh as she watched him and took in his next words, a small smile brightening up her face as she saw the realization hit him. 

“Yes, I was aware the whole time.” she said in a soft tone. She could still remember the time Duke and spent with her and Dean, and just how strong his emotions were when all three of them were together. It even came to a point where she tried not to be too affectionate towards Dean when Duke was around them, as to not stir up his emotions too much more than they already were. Then she had to find a way to tell Dean why she was being a bit standoffish without letting him on to how Duke felt about her, which wasn’t easy. “Awkward?” she questioned with a laugh as she dropped her head slightly and shook it gently. “Yes, it was, but there was more to it than that.” she said, lifting her head to look at him once again. “I had to fight to keep my own emotions in check when your jealousy rose. You felt it so strongly, it nearly took me over at times. That’s why I would suddenly say I needed to do something or walk off without a word.” she admitted to him with a small laugh. 

When Duke picked up the cloth, wet it, and brushed it over her head, she was about to lean her head back slightly when he tightened his arm around her and smirked. The smile she had on her lips grew as she looked at him and he spoke, then she nodded, not being able to disagree with him and to show she remembered. She tilted her head back slightly when he squeezed the cloth over her head before sliding it over her head, then looked at him when he said he didn’t see this was any different. “I remember the time in Flagstaff vividly. I was the only one out of all of us that was sure you wouldn’t turn. Dean thought I was crazy with how adamant I was. You don’t know how much it bothered me to have to chain you up that night.” she finished with a heavy sigh. Esme fell silent for a moment, her gaze shifting from his a moment as if she was thinking about something. 

She shifted her gaze back to his, her smile fading only a little as she looked at him. “Does it really not bother you to know what I am and what I can do?” she asked him, her tone growing serious. “I know you’ve heard about Empaths and what they are capable of.”