Erin's ears twitch, then droop. The taste in the air is wrong, and though Cass is good at masking, Erin is good at spotting masks; she wore so many in her life, after all, and in any event she was made into the kind of creature that does this.

For a long moment she considers just letting it go. Instead she draws Cassandra close, as close to a hug as can still be passed off as part of the dance, and murmurs words only for Cass to hear.

"...You know if I found a chance for you to go, I'd help. Even if it meant I had to stay behind, and lose you. I'd never ask you to stay."