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Darien fought like hell. He roared and thrashed and tried everything he could to get away, but?—

For the first time in his life, he was overpowered. Outnumbered. And before he had a prayer of stopping them, handcuffs—brimstone—bit into his wrists. Clicked shut.

His magic died out as the brimstone smothered every last spark of his power. He felt weak. Sick.

Three cops took his weapons, his phone. Then forced him to his feet.

Behind him, there was shouting. Footsteps. Glass crunching.

“What the hell is going on here?” said a male voice. It was Roark. With him was Taega. Their faces were twisted with shock, rage.

“Ah, Mister Bright,” Glen said with a cruel, mocking smile. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Where are you taking him?” Roark demanded.

“To Blackwater.”

“Now wait just a minute, you can’t do this?—”

“Actually, I can. And you, Commander—oops, I mean…Mister Bright—have no say here.”

Taega hissed, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Glen handed Roark a sheet of paper. “You’ve officially been demoted by word of the imperator, which meansexactlywhat I just said: You no longer have any authority.”

Roark scanned the papers, his face going bone-pale.

“Enjoy your early retirement, former commander,” Glen drawled.

And then Darien was being hauled away. Toward the open back doors of the prisoner transport van.

Roark rushed after them. He was shouting, but Darien could hardly hear him over the roaring of the blood in his head, the pounding of his heart that felt too weak.

His magic was threatening to burst out of his skin, but hehadto control it. If he failed… If a Surge happened?—

It would kill him. The brimstone would cause his power to backfire, and it would injure no one but himself.

“I’d behave yourself if I were you, Mister Bright,” Glen was saying as two officers shoved Darien into the back of the van. “You don’t want to end up like him, do you? You’re better than that.”

In the back of the van, the officers forced him down—forced him to sit on the hard bench that was bolted to one wall. Metal clinked as they fastened his cuffs to the chains that were attached to the bench.

His world shrunk and spun, his breaths thinning out?—

As the officers stepped out, he managed to find his voice.

“You’re not going to fucking get away with this!”he spat, chest heaving.

Glen sauntered over to stand in the open doors. He put his hands on his hips, his lips tipping up with a cruel smirk. “Look at you—right where you belong, I’d say.”

Darien lunged, but the chains snapped taut, yanking him back against the bench. “Fuck.You,”he seethed.

Glen’s smirk sank into an icy frown. “You’re going to Blackwater, Cassel,” he declared. “And if I have it my way, the only way you’ll be getting out is in a body bag!”

Part Five

THE ABYSS

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