( maybe she doesn't, but julian does. he notices every minute change in her expression because he's watching very carefully for... well, for lots of things. for a sign that this is all another elaborate illusion, or maybe that she actually secretly hates his, or—whatever. his own expression softens when morga's does. his heart aches. it's... god, how do you explain how it feels to have someone smile at you when you haven't seen one in so, so long?

but that all fades quickly. in an instant he's shaking his head, taking at least the one hand back, all his feathers ruffling at once. )

No—no! That's just the thing, don't you understand? If I'm here, that means the deal must have been broken. You're all in danger—all of you! What I should be doing is turning myself back in before he can find one of you and... god, I can't bear to think of it. You have no idea what he's capable of. I-I can't let that happen to you. To any of you.