Adam's heart fluttered with hope for a moment, before he quelled it. It was a beautiful illusion, the thought of Ronan in love with him, willing to give him everything, a place permanently by his side. But it was only that. An illusion.

He was glad, at least, that Ronan half understood why Adam had accepted the country estate on his behalf. It was freedom and ambition for him, a better position than he could otherwise hope to have in his entire life.

"I love you, too, Ronan," he said, giving him a melancholy smile, with just a hint of something patronizing, because he hadn't understood, and he thought Ronan meant it like he meant for Gansey. As a brother. A friend. A companion.

Not as his equal.