But it was on him, in a way. If he hadn't gotten tangled in those damned tendrils again, Harding wouldn't have had to play distraction, even if that had been the plan all along. Lucanis knew death so well, and yet that one had hurt far more than most others. What made it even worse was the knowledge Rook was most assuredly blaming herself.

He kept a tight hold on her hand, thumb rubbing across her knuckles. "Rook." He said softly. "Whatever happens here, I will be by your side. You do know that, don't you?"