"I can keep him in check when you're not in his business. When you cross that line, I've got a problem, Ash. You know how precarious the balance is. You've watched me manage it for the past four years."

"Yeah," she agreed softy and kicked at a shell in the sand before her.

"It doesn't seem like it, but there are boundaries. Some I shouldn't cross but will and some I simply can't."

"What do you mean can't? You're the most powerful person in the world," she said, gazing up at him.

"And you are a strong woman who deserves the right to make her own life choices," he pointed out. "You know what I could do to you? Fuck with your mind to the point you never have your own thoughts again? Make you forget who you are? Assign you a different personality?"

She nodded. Despite knowing what he was, she had never feared him. He loved Jessi - and her and Brandon - in his own way.

"That's a line I can't cross out of respect for you. With that comes the responsibility of not interfering in your life decisions. If you choose to go after Jonny, I'll make sure you survive, but I'll also make sure you learn for yourself how foolish such a move is. I won't stop you from fucking up your life, Ash. I'll help you fix things when Jonny fucks you up. Just keep in mind any danger you draw to you is also drawn to Brandon."

She listened, understanding she had the freedom to do as she planned - at a cost. Xander wasn't going to bat for her if Jonny followed through on his promise. She recalled Jonny's strength and ability to slow her down if he touched her. Brandon didn't have the luxury of being able to fight like she did, though he could at least become invisible to any and all immortals at will. The defensive mechanism was his only protection from Jonny and the Guardians.

"I won't let anything happen to Brandon," she whispered. "Jonny's too afraid of you to do anything bad to me."

"My influence has limits, believe it or not. He knows his actions have consequences. I don't know that you've figured that out yet," Xander said.

"I'm not stupid. I know that."

"Do you?"

There was no right answer. It was common sense her actions had consequences yet she suspected he was talking about something more than she understood. Jonny had changed in the past few years. Their short interaction was enough for her to realize this. She didn't know what made a person change so quickly, but she suspected it was a result of the consequences Xander referred to.




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