There's something about the way that he talks about it being dangerous, about wanting power and safety. Something about the way that Declan hadn't seemed to see how Gansey could consider him someone safe. He doesn't know the shape of his secrets, but there's a sense here that Ronan might not be the only one of the Lynch brothers that carries them.

His breath catches and he shivers at the way that his thumb brushes against his lip- mouth parting against the pressure. It feels different when it's someone else's touch, when it's Declan's fingers. He can't quite resist the way he licks against his fingertips.

Dangerous feels different when you know you're going to die in a handful of months. Knowledge that Gansey tries to keep from himself, to keep from thinking about it, but it's never too deep under his skin, a different sort of anxiety.

He doesn't ask the question when Declan says he can't risk indulgences, just drags fingers against his skin, leans in a little closer. "It's not quite that simple," he says with a crooked smile. "I want you more than I want indulgences." It still feels selfish. Maybe Declan's right and it's foolish, too.

"But I wasn't going to lie." Not about this, at least. Not like this. Maybe it wasn't the whole truth, but it was close enough.