Chapter song: Prey - The Neighbourhood
Kenneth was a stubborn ass, as Lucien had so succinctly put it, and he could admit that.
But being called a coward wasn't exactly the C word he'd used to describe himself.
The morning air in Hagar was sharp and metallic, carrying the unmistakable scent of gunpowder that lingered long after several shots had been fired.
The ringing echo of a child's shallow, hurried breathing reverberated in his ears, a haunting reminder of what he couldn't bring himself to do. It was a moment he hadn't allowed himself to relive until now, and hearing the word 'coward' forced it all back with startling clarity.
He'd caved, gone weak, and felt relief when the task was passed on to Amir. And now here he was again, faced with a different but eerily similar situation. It made him angry.
His eyes flashed with rage as he pushed Lucien away from him. "Don't you dare," he started to say shakily, "push your own messed-up feelings onto me."
