(Oof, I forgot to tell you this. I won't be on Sylestia as much after tonight because I've been on my school computer, so if I'm ever on just know it won't be for that long.)

Ash didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he said, "I'm your enemy, Claire. Never forget that. If Mab tells me to kill you in front of the entire court, it's my duty to obey. If she orders Rowan or Sage to carve you up slowly, making sure you suffer every second of it, Im expected to stand there and let them do it. Do you understand? My feelings for you dont matter in the Winter Court. Summer and Winter will always be on opposite sides, and nothing will change that." Hey, at least he admitted having feelings for her.

She nods, hugging herself as she moves away from him. "I understand..." She says, she wouldn't look at him though.

There was nothing behind her. Mom had been staring at Lin

She gives her a confused look. "Are you okay?"

He stared at her a moment longer, then sighed. "You didnt hear a word I said, did you?" he murmured, closing his eyes.

She chuckles, "Of course I did. I'm just considering whether to be stubborn or not." She mutters, clearly thinking.

Her mom is fingering her ear, staring at Lin's pointed ones

"..Oh." She'd forgotten about that.

"You are usually infuriatingly stubborn," Ash muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "I dont know how Im going to protect you when you have no concept of self-preservation."