Elle Joyner
Fracturer of Fairytales
"Important to..." Blinking, Minette leveled her gaze on Thalion, and unbidden, color rose to her cheeks. She hadn't anticipated, not for a moment... the possibility that he might actually care for her. She had assumed that the reason he protected her was an effect of being better than his mother, of being, deep down inside, a good man. But that he might have guarded her so close because she was important to him? But then, it made all the sense in the world, didn't it? He had never been shown kindness, or compassion. He had never been special to anyone. She had made it a point to be different than what he knew. It was reasonable to assume that would impact him..
He rose, and Minette followed suit, her hands grazing the cloak as she inspected it. It would hold together - she'd only take a few inches from the lower end of it - but it would certainly do little in the frozen north. Still, there was a lot of ground, and a lot standing in their way. It would be difficult enough, making it there. The state of their wardrobe was simply something they would need to worry about when they arrived at the moment. If... they arrived. It had occurred to her more than once that she was holding him back, and now, more than ever that seemed painfully apparent.
Thalia would stop at nothing to win... That was her very nature, and if her victory rested on Minette being bait for him, it only stood to reason that Minette was more of a danger to Thalion than anything else he might face in the world of Evernight. She would get him killed, or worse, for the simple fact that he didn't hate her.
"...I never thought..." Frowning softly, she lowered her gaze, "I've been such a burden to you. From the moment I arrived... Thalion, I'm so sorry. I only ever wanted... Well, I don't know what I wanted, honestly. I just... At first you a means to survive, you knew the world and the creatures in it, and I knew with you I would be safe. But... but I can't imagine, now, facing Evernight without you." Her eyes focused on her nails, brittle and broken, caked in dirt, she sighed, "But I won't be the reason she hurts you. You should go... You should go, and leave me here. I... I'll only slow you down, and if she means to use me against you, I can only hope that something finds me before does."