I'll Do My Best

Ash sighed. "I'm sorry, I really can't—"

Ruby cut him off. "I don't know when I'm going to have my own place. You have time to practice. But no skipping out on me either. I fully expect you to stay in this castle while I'm out traveling so I can still come find you."

Practice? It had taken him centuries to be able to do even a partial barrier! What she wanted from him truly might not be possible in the next hundred years. He doubted she would be willing to wait that long.

Besides…there was a very good chance Ash would end up dying during his attempt at revenge. He didn't care about that as long as he managed to take all of the Cromwells down with him.

He might be dead before he got the chance to make that barrier for her. He didn't want to lie but this was his only chance. If he had every intention of fulfilling the deal in life, she couldn't be mad at him for not following through once he was dead. Even if she was, it wouldn't matter.