Dorian's words were muddled in the cheerful chatter of the pub, rendering them incomprehensible to those sitting beside him, but Scorpius still insisted on lowering his voice. As much as he loathed subversive behavior, he found himself willingly listening to Dorian's remonstrations. They shared the same mindset, and Dorian's objections could help him shed light on circumstances he had been underestimating. He just realized, in fact, that the main consequence of his relation with Rose would be to appear weaker in the eyes of the Children of Salazar. He understood that he would have to act accordingly. He would stay with her, but demonstrate to the group that his authority was far from breaking.