He looks at me.
I don't flinch.
"Please."
The word comes out hoarse. I didn't mean to say it. Didn't mean to beg.
He looks at me. Looks at Daiven. Looks at me again.
The gun lowers.
All at once, dropping to his side. Renan follows his lead a half-second later, weapon disappearing back into his coat.
"This isn't over." Koshin's voice is raw. He doesn't take his eyes off Daiven. "When I find you again, you won't have a room full of witnesses to hide behind."
Daiven doesn't answer. His mouth opens and closes. Nothing comes out.
Koshin turns.
He grabs my arm and walks toward the doors. Renan falls into step beside us. War is already moving, Caius barking orders to his people.
Behind us, the Concord chamber erupts into chaos.
I don't look back.
We're through the doors and into the corridor and Koshin still hasn't let go of my arm. His grip is unsteady now. The tremors back.
"Renan." His voice is barely human. "How bad."
"Unknown. The message was incomplete." Renan is moving fast, checking corners, hand still near his weapon. "Main tunnels were hit. Multiple entry points. Coordinated."
"Casualties."
"Unknown."
Koshin's hand tightens on my arm. Just for a second. Then loosens.
We walk faster.
The marble halls blur past. Guards flatten against the walls as we approach—word travels fast, or maybe they can see Koshin's face and know to move. I can't see it. I don't want to.
I just stopped a god from killing someone.
My hands are unsteady. My whole body is unsteady. I notice it distantly. Not mine. Can't be mine.
The cold air of Arkenhold hits my face as we exit the Concord building. The city stretches ahead, distant fires visible on the northern horizon.
Discord's territory.
Koshin sees them. His grip on my arm turns bruising.
"Move," he says.
We move.
I should have pulled the trigger.
The thought runs underneath everything as we move through the Concord corridors—underneath my breathing, my footsteps, the weight of the gun still holstered at my side. I should have put a bullet in Daiven's skull. Should have watched his head crack open. Should have—
