I pulled myself from his mind, day by day, piece by piece, memory by memory, until there was nothing of Ruby left to weigh him down or keep him bound to my side.

But inside or out, I was alone, and I was beginning to wonder if I always had been, if I always would be.

Real friends are hard to come by, and as annoying as Henry is, he'd throw himself in front of dragon's fire for you." "And that's the definition of a real friend?" "Oh, yes, just ask Owain." He laughed.

I can't do this anymore," I cried, "Why won't you just leave me alone?" Because you would never leave me.

I was just an okay person.

He held me against him gently, as if I was glass - as if I could shatter and fall away from him at any moment and leave him breathless and alone once more.

Clancy had taught me well.