Don't get her wrong. Gideon knows someone setting this entirely much of a stage isn't the freest or most informed of decisions. A light touch doesn't mean something isn't taken away. Getting hung up on that part isn't going to help Harrow. Focusing on that—that's another way to get manipulated and not actually make decisions for herself. Personal awareness sucks ass.

"Some of those people might be amateurs," Gideon says, "compared to someone like the Ancient. But I'll still take whatever length of leash I have and do what I choose to do." Harrow's the tightest leash of all, but the Ancient probably already knows that.

Gideon doesn't know Chloe well enough to know how a hug would go over. "If it helps, you made a good one," she says, "Coming over and talking with me."