Page 85 of Bloom in Darkness

“They’re turning you against everybody who was there before them.”

“You weren’t there before them. You were customers.”

Rourke comes down the last two steps hard enough that the guard beside the stairs shifts toward him. Caelan raises one hand. “That’s far enough.”

Silas ignores the warning. “We’re taking Astra somewhere we can talk without the Kings standing over him.”

“No, you’re not,” Astra says from beside us.

Rourke looks straight at him. “You’re coming with us.”

The fighters near the wall stop talking as somebody kills the music. Astra lowers his arms, staring back at Rourke.

“No.”

Rourke moves before anybody answers, charging straight for Astra without warning.

I get there first, hitting him in the chest with both hands and driving him sideways before he reaches Astra. We slam into the edge of the ring hard enough to shake the ropes. Something black drops from Rourke’s waistband, hitting the concrete before skidding across the floor to Astra’s shoe. I catch the shape of the gun before Rourke swings at me.

I catch the punch on my shoulder and hit him back. His head snaps sideways, but he comes at me again, forcing me away from where the gun landed.

Behind me, Caelan swears. A metallic click cuts through the room, and I turn so fast my shoulder catches the ring rope.

Astra’s standing five feet away with Rourke’s gun in both hands, pointed past me at Rourke. His face has gone pale, his breathing coming too fast even though the gun stays steady in both hands.

Silas takes one careful breath. “Astra.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Astra doesn’t look at him, keeping the gun trained on Rourke. “He brought a gun into the Forge and charged me.”

“I know.” I move one careful step toward him as fear punches through the bond beneath all that fury.

Rourke shifts his weight, and Astra’s arms lock tighter around the gun. “Don’t.” Rourke stops before his next step lands.

I take another step with both hands where Astra can see them. His attention snaps to me immediately, fear burning through the bond beneath all that anger.

“Bryn.”

“I’m right here.” I keep moving slowly until I’m close enough that he can focus on me instead of Rourke. “Look at me.”

His breath catches. “He came for me. He had a fucking gun.”

“I know, sweetheart.” I don’t reach for him yet. “And you’re pissed. You should be. But you’re scared too, and I’m not letting you make this decision while you’re standing there shaking with his gun in your hands.”

Rourke starts, “This is fucking insane—”

“Shut up.” Caelan steps closer to him, and this time Rourke actually does.

I stop just outside Astra’s reach, keeping my palms open so he can see them. “Give it to me.”

His eyes flick toward Rourke again. “He doesn’t get to keep coming after me.”

“No.” I keep my hands open. “He doesn’t.”

Astra swallows again, the gun wavering for the first time. “We do this right,” I tell him. “Not because he deserves it. Because you do.”

For a second I think he’s going to argue, but his grip finally loosens enough for him to turn the gun sideways and put it into my hand. I keep the barrel pointed at the floor, passing it grip-first to the guard.

“Give that to Forrest. Nobody touches it.”