[He doesn't flinch, but he stills, staring into the slit in Emily-Helen's side.]

I was hoping you wouldn't ask, to be frank.

[After a moment he resumes his task.]

When Skulduggery attempted to throw out a death-aura, I had to counter him with the same or he would have taken me, and that would have destroyed the shield protecting you. I ... overlooked ... the fact that my shield, forged of my shadows, wouldn't have protected you against me.