Dahlia’s heart dropped as she watched Quinn’s budding confidence deteriorate, gone as quickly as it had come. She felt a horrible pang of guilt run through her—she’d asked, after all, knowing where it would lead, and how difficult the topic would be. Now here she was, having all but dragged Quinn back down. The people glancing at them seemed concerned, confused, a few looked embarrassed. Their eyes flitted away nervously. It was so [i]frustrating[/i], but it wasn’t Quinn’s fault, either. Dahlia had spent so long fighting enemies she could see, enemies she could grab and burn and [i]kill[/i] when they threatened her or the people she loved. This was different. Whatever promises she made wouldn’t matter. If she got into [i]Dragon[/i] right now, marched down to wherever the Loughveins were and stomped them into the dirt, it wouldn’t matter. Quinn’s enemy wasn’t a [i]thing[/i], it was [i]fear[/i]. A Modir could bleed, and roar, and die, but the only thing they had in common with fear was that they could not be reasoned with. It was killing her. She was failing Quinn without even knowing how. Hurting her without any way to heal. “[color=skyblue]I’m sorry,[/color]” she said, quietly. “[color=skyblue]You’re right. I can’t protect you—not in the way you need. I can try, and I can be there for you, but I’ll never be able to stand between you and the hurt they’ve already done.[/color]” She reached across the table, took one of Quinn’s hands from her face and held it. Looking at her hurt, terribly, but never lying meant that, sometimes, she’d have to speak awful truths, too. “[color=skyblue]We’re all broken, Quinn. Me, you, Besca, Roaki—everyone. We’re all broken in different ways, into different pieces, and all we can do is try to put ourselves back together in a way that we still recognize ourselves. And sometimes…sometimes there’s just not enough left.[/color]” she rubbed a thumb over Quinn’s hand, tried to lean enough to smile at her. “[color=skyblue]But that’s okay, too. Trust me. Cause even if you don’t have all the pieces, you can always use what you have to make yourself something…else. Something better. I lost a lot of myself in Hovvi, but you know what? I put myself back together, and maybe I’m a bit different, but I’m also your sister, now.[/color] “[color=skyblue]Whatever they did, whatever they took from you…don’t…mourn it. A thing is always stronger when it’s whole, and you [i]are[/i] strong. You are, even if you don’t think so. If you believe me about anything, ever, please believe that.[/color]”