He's surprised when Ronan steps forward, expecting him to - he's not sure. Stay out of it, stay neutral, or get angry maybe. But Ronan's always been angry when others are calm, calm when they're angry. It's infuriating, except when it's oddly helpful. Like now. Ronan's faith in him is, maybe, less surprising, but it's still enough to steady Adam, a little.

Gansey might not believe in him, but at least someone does. Adam doesn't need anyone to believe in him, not when he knows what he has to do and he's ready to do whatever it takes to achieve it, but that doesn't mean it doesn't help.

"I don't want to own anything, Gansey. That's not what I'm trying to do - that's not why I didn't tell you. It's not some kind of stupid power game." He's frustrated, upset, his accent slipping, but he tries to even it out. This isn't the time to sound like some dumb inbred hick. "Or are you saying that you want to die, that you don't want me to stop it? Because that would be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I'm going to stop it, whether you think it's impossible or not."