Jason's eyes had a faint glow in the dark shadows,their purple depts still reptilian mostly just in case anything was hiding in the dark,and so he could make sure he could for sure keep his eyes on Grim and follow.

Puck made sure to match Ash's pace. "So its a competition now, huh?"

"If you want to call it that. Ive already lost one to you," Ash murmured, running a hand through his hair. Though his voice was light, an old pain flickered across his face and vanished. "I wont lose another. I plan to keep him, from everyone, for as long as Im alive. That includes you, the false king, and anyone else who would take him away."

Jason wasn't listening to them,his hood over his head again as he followed behind,head down a bit as he just let his mind wander for a moment,into darkness and calmness. He was stuck,though,thinking over how the oracle had spoken of him.How he soon would lose these two and be all alone again.And he didn't think he'd be able to even live without these two,he knew he'd shatter and die.He knew it,and he knew that no one would care,Lila would soon forget about him and the dragons would pleasure that another Multiwing was dead.They'd then go for Crysta and,now,Guppy.But he knew Snowball would do a good job of caring for the little ones,he knew it.And so he knew that...it would be painful both to eventually lose Puck and even Ash,and then he'd just shatter and drift away into an endless in-between of nothingness,his soul halves soon to rip apart and go to different planes,and so he'd fade from existence either way,no ending eternity truly for him.

They followed Grim through the city, down an unusually long, curving alleyway that turned pitch-black, and suddenly they were back in a familiar dungeonlike basement with torches set into the walls and leering gargoyles curled around stone pillars.

Grimalkin set a brisk pace down several hallways, where torchlight flickered erratically and unseen things growled and scurried about in the darkness. The first time they came there rushed to mind. Back then, there were more of them. Jason, Puck, Grim, Ironhorse, and three halfbreeds named Kimi, Nelson, and Warren. They were a much smaller group now. Ironhorse was gone, as were Kimi and Nelson, all victims of Machinas cruel lieutenant Virus. Warren was a traitor, working for the false king.

Jason felt saddened by the memory and his freckles turned sad dark blue. His tail tightened firmly on his left leg and it helped his limp a bit thankfully.

They followed Grimalkin up a long flight of stairs to Leanansidhes magnificent foyer, with the double grand staircases sweeping toward the roof, the walls covered with famous paintings and art. Reclining against the cushions, one slender hand gripping a sparkling wine flute, was Leanansidhe, Queen of the Exiles.

Jason felt nervous inside,twisting magenta and fluttering orange twisting with one another nervously in his freckles. He wasn't fully sure why,but he knew that he hadn't come right away to her as she'd wanted and he so was ready for his tail to get kicked like it had from every adult he knew in his life,no matter how long he'd stayed with them.

"Darlings!" Pale, tall, and beautiful, Leanansidhe smiled at them with lips as red as blood, bright copper hair rippling through the air as if it weighed nothing at all. She rose with liquid grace, her ebony gown swirling around her feet, and absently handed her wineglass to a waiting satyr, trading it for a cigarette flute. With the end trailing sapphire-blue smoke, she approached them with the grin of a hungry tiger.

"Jason, my pet, how good of you to drop by. When you didnt return from the last mission, I thought the worst, darling. But I see you made it out, after all."

Her cold blue gaze flicked to Ash, and she raised a slender eyebrow. "And with the Winter prince in tow. How--" she tapped her nails together, pursing her lips, "--tenacious." Her gaze narrowed, and a ripple of power shivered through the air, making the lights flicker, as Leanansidhe turned on Ash. "The last I saw of you, your highness, you were threatening to slaughter the boy's family. Be forewarned, darling, I dont care if you are Mabs favorite son. If you threaten any in this house, I will rip your guts out through your nose and string my harps with them."

"Id love to see that, personally," Puck muttered, smirking.

Jason felt a little,just a little put at ease for a moment before he pushed his hood back and spoke. "Ma'am,he's with us.He means no harm and is a friend." He said,calm and trying to stay respectful without getting all uppity and jumping between Ash and Leanansidhe protectively,though he didn't dare and besides,it would seem a little much from a friend. And he'd rather not see his guts stringed despite he was still trying to kill the hate that still was in him.But it wasn't as bad as before anymore.

Ash bowed. "Jason's right. Ive severed all ties to the Winter Court," he said evenly, facing the Exile Queens glare. "Im no longer 'your highness,' just an exile, like Jason. And yourself. I mean no harm to you, or anyone within your house."

Leanansidhe gave him a tight smile. "Just remember who the queen is around here, darling." With a nod to the rest of Jason's companions, she motioned us to the couches. "Sit, darlings, sit," she said in a voice that held an only thinly veiled threat. "I am afraid we have a lot to discuss."