Tears are not an option. Not for me.

But low simmering rage certainly is. I shift my hand, moving it up to grip my brother's arm gently above the elbow instead.

He doesn't stir. His skin feels clammy. His face is pale. His hair's a mess. He's bandaged, and bleeding through them in some places.

He's my brother. Who would dare do this to him? Everything I have done my entire life has been to protect him from harm, and here.

This.

Being trapped here, I have failed in my singular purpose.

Hiromu's words cut across my skin like a knife and I look up, eyes wild.

"Take him? Why? Who would dare--"

Majesté might, certainly. If the natural progression of events led Messiah to believe that I had been deactivated somehow, another avatar might be activated in my place, to perpetuate the mission. But to focus on Etienne, to make him a primary target.

"Impardonnable."