"I figured as much. And I'll pretend I didn't hear you ask me that and instead that I heard you agree to hanging around with Class VII." Basically: I heard you, but I am completely ignoring the fact that you asked me that at all.

He would protect Rean for as long as he could and hide it. Bury it, let it rot, and never look back at it again until he had no choice but to accept it.

Smile wide and true, Crow lets his thoughts consume him for a moment - about his opportunities if he stays and his opportunities if he goes, both things he doesn't actually care about because he has to tie up loose ends, too - and eventually decided that he would tell Rean.

Rean deserved to know.

"Giliath Osbourne wants me, too."