(Ashley)
After Daniel leaves, I sit alone and think about what I just told him. About being careful. About not letting obsession make him stupid.
It was all a performance.
I don't actually care if Daniel becomes unstable. I don't care if his hatred consumes him or if Magnus thinks he's a psychopath. What I care about is Daniel staying useful long enough for my plans to work.
Because Daniel is a tool. A weapon I'm using to destroy Moonridge and position myself for whatever comes after. If that weapon breaks before I'm done with it, that's a problem.
Not because I care about him. But because I need him.
The truth is, I enjoyed watching Daniel threaten Aria at the border just as much as he did. Seeing the fear flash across her face when he talked about fragile babies. Watching Kael lose
