Ronan's naturally pale face blanched more and mother as Saturday went on. Already poking at questions that shouldn't be answered. It didn't matter if Saturday had gotten attached to a magical artifact herself, all he could think about was what if he was wrong.

They weren't playing the game anymore but he didn't know if he could lie anyway. The drones were close to a religious experience, sensing the conflict in Ronan's mind and all the truths clashing with each other.

The third factor, what Declan was trying to protect him from. And his mother, who his father had provided for in his will. Because he knew what would happen to her. They never could have brought her to a hospital or any other facility. They needed to be able to hire and fire nurses at will, once they started asking questions.

He heard his brother Matthew, sad and tired, and what he'd said to Declan. "I went to soccer and all I could think about was how you said I might not have organs."

Declan wasn't just protecting Ronan, was he? Had he known that all along, just like he'd known all along his mother had been a dream? There were secrets kept so securely from everyone that even the holder of them didn't know them.

When he looked at Saturday, the look in his eyes shifted. There was only a faint flicker of fear before a carefully cultivated anger took over.

"Me," he spat. "Me and the world."

Both Ronan and Declan pretended that everything Declan did was for their brother. If Ronan died, what would happen to Matthew? He had to live. But if that was just another of Declan's lies, then he wanted to protect Ronan too because no matter what had happened between them, they were brothers.

As one the drones let out a relieved or exhilarated sigh.