[Anton doesn't answer until he's seated opposite her, with a cup of tea of his own. This is a big leap he's taking, even though Raine may not understand the implication. Under other circumstances, any other, Anton would go to another Dead Man--to Corrival, or Dexter, or Saracen. He can't do that here. Here, he can only choose the most discreet person he can find--Skulduggery's healer.]

Skulduggery has a temper. People don't see it, because he needs to be controlled ... as controlled as I. He's dead. He's tied to his skeleton through emotion, and his rage is most prominent. He feels it always. If he ever loses control he will be consumed by his wrath and his magic will become that of death, and our adversary here won't have the chance to finish us. Skulduggery would kill us first, and he would enjoy it.

[He speaks evenly, letting the heat of the tea cover the heat of the gist in his chest. He's thought about this a lot over the past few days. He's put together all the pieces.]

We cannot allow that to happen. He needs to be cured of the taint.