The conversation should have ended there.
It didn't.
The gathering had already settled back into its rhythm after Darius arrived, but it wasn't the same as before. People spoke more carefully now, their attention divided even when they tried to hide it. Harren was still holding his position near the center of the room, composed as ever, though I had already seen enough to know that his control wasn't as complete as it had been earlier.
I could have left then. Eli had already suggested it, and there was no real reason to stay.
But something in me resisted that.
Not curiosity exactly. Something closer to... timing.
If this had been a test, then leaving too early felt like stepping out before the result was clear.
So I stayed.
That was when the second approach came.
